Our Classroom is a Community
Classroom procedures and expectations
Classroom Management
Every classroom, like every community, has its own distinct culture, values and rules. By building a classroom community, teachers can create a common and predictable cultural experience to help students feel connected to the teacher, each other and the classroom. Establishing a sense of community in the classroom also allows the teacher to address students' social, emotional and cognitive development. Additionally, just as every teacher gets new students each year, a new classroom community must also be established each year to represent the shared interests, values and goals of its members. It is my personal goal to establish a welcoming, nurturing, safe and productive classroom community that best fits the diverse needs and interests of my students each year.
Being a part of a classroom community teaches students the values of respect and responsibility and how to relate positively to one another while becoming successful learners. It also helps students to feel accepted and loved, as well as safe and comfortable. When a student feels accepted and secure in their environment, they are more likely to engage in learning and contribute to the community.
Establishing a classroom community begins on the first day of school. It is my job as their teacher to immediately establish rules, routines and norms that fit the particular group of students, so students know exactly what to expect in the classroom. Moreover, it is equally important for the students to play a prominent role in creating the classroom community. Students should be allowed to voice their expectations of the classroom, the teacher and each other, as well as help establish classroom rules. To help students engage and take responsibility in the classroom community, jobs should also be established for the students to fulfill.
Overall, I believe a classroom community should be authentic so students can take what they have learned and apply it to their everyday lives.
Being a part of a classroom community teaches students the values of respect and responsibility and how to relate positively to one another while becoming successful learners. It also helps students to feel accepted and loved, as well as safe and comfortable. When a student feels accepted and secure in their environment, they are more likely to engage in learning and contribute to the community.
Establishing a classroom community begins on the first day of school. It is my job as their teacher to immediately establish rules, routines and norms that fit the particular group of students, so students know exactly what to expect in the classroom. Moreover, it is equally important for the students to play a prominent role in creating the classroom community. Students should be allowed to voice their expectations of the classroom, the teacher and each other, as well as help establish classroom rules. To help students engage and take responsibility in the classroom community, jobs should also be established for the students to fulfill.
Overall, I believe a classroom community should be authentic so students can take what they have learned and apply it to their everyday lives.
Behavior Management
Throughout my experiences in a variety of classrooms, I have witnessed some fantastic behavior management systems. Not any one strategy will work with every class, which is why I like to have a repertoire to choose from.
Positive Reinforcement
Surprise Box:
At the start of the year, I stock a treasure chest. Whenever a student goes above and beyond his/her duties in the classroom or has a particularly good day, reward them with a surprise of their choice from the box.
Points System:
Using a class dojo/tickets/Classtag/Classcraft, students receive points for being respectful, completing tasks on time, being quiet in the library, etc. This is a team and individual reward system. At the end of the week, points are tallied up and exchanged for “Class Cash” students can then use their “cash” at the Class Store.
Clothespin System:
Each student’s chair has a lanyard with a name tag at the end ties to their chair. Whenever they do something extraordinary, a clothespin is added to their lanyard. After 2 weeks, the student with the most clothespins gets a reward.
Golden Time:
Print out letters that spell “golden time” on white paper. Cut the paper around each letter to make a square. Have the papers laminated. Sticky-tack them facing backward to a blank wall. Whenever the class as a whole behaves extremely well, flip over a letter. Once all letters have been flipped (this takes a while), the class receives a reward as a group to have free time and play games for half an hour.
Classroom Rules
In the beginning of the year, I like to set the rules with my students. This gives them a sense of ownership of the rules. Some “must haves” are: Listening to the Adult in the room. Keeping hands and feet to ourselves. Using kind language. The Golden Rule.
I also have expectations for my students which I post for them: Be Prompt, Be Polite, Be Proactive, Be Prepared, Be Productive.
Consequences
I like to follow the rule that “everyone deserves a second chance”. Students receive a warning, if it continues; individual students will be kept during lunch/recess to discuss what is causing the behaviors and what can we do to fix it. If the student is still causing disruptions, a phone call/note home to the parent is in order as well as notification to the Principal. Consequences are also, always consistent.
Positive Reinforcement
Surprise Box:
At the start of the year, I stock a treasure chest. Whenever a student goes above and beyond his/her duties in the classroom or has a particularly good day, reward them with a surprise of their choice from the box.
Points System:
Using a class dojo/tickets/Classtag/Classcraft, students receive points for being respectful, completing tasks on time, being quiet in the library, etc. This is a team and individual reward system. At the end of the week, points are tallied up and exchanged for “Class Cash” students can then use their “cash” at the Class Store.
Clothespin System:
Each student’s chair has a lanyard with a name tag at the end ties to their chair. Whenever they do something extraordinary, a clothespin is added to their lanyard. After 2 weeks, the student with the most clothespins gets a reward.
Golden Time:
Print out letters that spell “golden time” on white paper. Cut the paper around each letter to make a square. Have the papers laminated. Sticky-tack them facing backward to a blank wall. Whenever the class as a whole behaves extremely well, flip over a letter. Once all letters have been flipped (this takes a while), the class receives a reward as a group to have free time and play games for half an hour.
Classroom Rules
In the beginning of the year, I like to set the rules with my students. This gives them a sense of ownership of the rules. Some “must haves” are: Listening to the Adult in the room. Keeping hands and feet to ourselves. Using kind language. The Golden Rule.
I also have expectations for my students which I post for them: Be Prompt, Be Polite, Be Proactive, Be Prepared, Be Productive.
Consequences
I like to follow the rule that “everyone deserves a second chance”. Students receive a warning, if it continues; individual students will be kept during lunch/recess to discuss what is causing the behaviors and what can we do to fix it. If the student is still causing disruptions, a phone call/note home to the parent is in order as well as notification to the Principal. Consequences are also, always consistent.