As a teacher it is my responsibility to instruct and reinforce all classroom rules and procedures. To do this I believe in actively integrating the meaning and steps accompanying each of the rules/procedures into daily tasks and lessons. In doing this students are able to fully understand and acknowledged expectations. A general practice of the rules and procedures will be done daily during the morning meeting until students have them mastered. Once mastered, students will be reminded of these expectations throughout the year by continued practice and application. Below I have listed two examples of how I plan on teaching my students classroom rules and procedures.
Example 1: Classroom Rule Two
We will treat others with kindness and respect
This rule will be reinforced through the school year starting on day one. Because the first part of my school year is focused building a classroom community, discussions surrounding respect and kindness will frequently be held. Students will be asked questions like what does respect look like? Or, What are some ways you can show others kindness. The process of reflection will also be incorporated. In extreme situations students will fill out a reflection sheet, which helps them evaluate what went wrong and what can be changed for next time. In addition to these teaching strategies, posters displaying this rule will be located in the classroom and the class motto will be read daily. These aspects help encourage the idea of treating other kindly and respectfully.
Example 2: Dismissal Procedure
The dismissal procedure will be practiced everyday for the duration of the school year. This means establishing a strong foundation is essential. To do this I will break down the routine into smaller pieces. At the beginning of the year each steps will be done one at a time collectively as a class. This will be done until all the students have mastered the steps. Once mastered, envelopes collection and packing will be done individually at the students own pace. Aside from slowly teaching the procedure in stages, a poster will be displayed listing all the steps to successfully end the day.