With the combination of knowing that educators in our own division are opening their classrooms to students tomorrow, and reading Joan Young’s post on expectations, it made me really think about this process that we go through every year. There are still many educators that simply tell students the “rules” of the classroom, yet more teachers are talking about how students are helping develop these expectations and have “ownership” over the process. I guess I always wonder about that notion because many classrooms come up with very similar rules that contain notions of “respect others, respect yourself, etc.”, which I think are important things to discuss to help build character, but are they the things we should be starting our year off with? If you were a teacher in a school, or an employee in a business, how inspired would you be the first day going over the “rules”, whether you help make them or not? I have always just felt uncomfortable with this notion but was never sure why.
Then a lightbulb moment.
How about the notion of asking students what type of work that they want to do in the year? What if we started off the year asking kids what success would look like to them and they having them discuss the environment that they would need to be successful? Why not have them envision the projects or type of learning that they could do in the year and then have them think about what they need to be successful? This is obviously somewhat age appropriate, but I guess I would think that I would LOVE if a principal asked me as a teacher about the things that I would envision doing in my classroom with students and then asking me how they, and others, could support me in being successful in this process. Many educators would be blown away by this and probably it would help to build a much better environment within your school. Do you think it could work with kids?
How are you going to inspire your kids to think about the possibilities of their learning on the first day? How you are going to let them know how you will support them?
I think it is definitely worth the conversation.
Food for thought. You're a chef!
This could not have been a more timely post, George! I was contemplating how I was going to deal with rules in my Grade 6 class. I was thinking about what Pernille's done in the past. I really like this idea though. Then it's truly a focus on the positive. I want success for all of my students, and I can't wait to hear what they think they'll need to be successful.
Aviva
Great post! Definitely something to think about in these last few hours before the students arrive.
Creating an environment for success or a list of rules – I know what I would choose!!!
Timely post by Joan and you. Just finalizing my opening assembly for tomorrow and it lends itself to asking more questions and seeking input from our students rather than outlining the 'rules'.
I teach 3 and 4 year olds in a split Preschool/PreK classroom. It was interesting to read this post because we are right in the middle of doing some of what you are talking about. Here's how its looking so far- the 2 weeks ago we named our class and picked a symbol and a song – They went with Preschool SuperStars, a star and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. The next part has been coming up with answers to "how are we going to be the Preschool SuperStars?" "What do SuperStars do?" "Why do SuperStars do ( blank)?" I do have "rules" in my classroom (mainly because I believe that the visual cue and the black/white concept of rules) helps some children (and parents) but this year instead of just telling (or developing) the rules – I am introducing them to the students as they come up with the way they want to be or the activity/environment they want – I am already starting to think of them as expectations instead of rules. Like I said – new to me this year and I do teach little ones but so far, so good. Would love to hear thoughts. Thanks for posting on this topic.
George,
I could not agree more. You might be interested in my suggestion for that first day of school, understanding our heroes and why we want to be like them; I wrote about this a few weeks back and included a portion of my book that speaks to this very point: http://wp.me/p2gT3m-99. Just yesterday a teacher in Dallas called me to let me know he used this lesson his first day with great success! He plans to have his students blog about it and I will post that link when I get it.