Every year we do the same thing as public school teachers for classroom discipline: create rules for students to follow. We model them and talk about them at length throughout the year. When kids follow them, we reward them and when they break them we deliver consequences. This year I have a new experimental set of rules for me instead of my students. They are in the form of promises:
To my students of 2009-2010 school year I promise to:
- Have standards-based lessons prepared aimed at helping students improve daily.
- Audio or visual aids on the big screen or through the document camera to help you “see” what I am teaching you.
- An EDI or other proven structure for the lessons.
- I will provide weekly rewards for those who have positive behavior as well as consequences for student behavior problems.
- Understand that good classroom management means when a student misbehaves, discipline will be given in a brief, consistent manner.
I sometimes get bogged down by what the kids are supposed to be doing and forget to ask the question “what should I be doing.” I’ve made the above 5 promises to my kids after much forethought and re-drafting. I know I can do them and I intend to keep them. What do you think of making promises to your kids during the rules and expectations period of the school-year. I believe disclosing your own commitment as the teacher can produce a buy-in to follow your classroom management program more consciously.
2 Comments
I think its good for teachers to know what kids can expect of them. I’m sure you’ll be able to fulfill your promises :)
Thank you Chelle. After a couple days implementing this as “teacher promises” my kids are behaving so much better. Now keeping the promises is my main challenge. I really summarized all my feelings on this topic when I wrote:
“I believe disclosing your own commitment as the teacher can produce a buy-in to follow your classroom management program more consciously.”