Rules and Class Charter
To create an environment conducive to growth and learning, we will have 7 main rules in my classroom.
Love yourself, Love your Classmates
Respect your self, Respect your Classmates
Be Safe
Be Thankful
Have Self-control
Be Patience
Be Kind
These 7 rules will help the students and I keep ourselves accountable for our own actions during the school year. We will also discuss and come up with examples of each rule. For example, “Love Yourself” looks like encouraging yourself not to give up. This sounds like, “No matter how hard this is, I can always ask for help from my classmates and teacher" or “I would like another opportunity to do better on this assignment because I know that I can.” Taking a week to go over each rule in depth will help each student know and understand the rules and why they are so important for our growth in life overall.
Once we have collaborated, I will write out the class charter on a big piece of poster paper. We will all sign our names on the charter, and I will post it in our classroom. “Involving children in the process (of rule setting) is a way to help them acquire the skills to negotiate situations. They have to listen and contribute with a group of others who might hold diverse views. They have to work through conflict toward consensus or compromise.” (Pinto, p. 79)
Obstacles to Implementation:
Students have different rules, expectations, and consequences at home and in the various other places, outside of school that they spend their time. We will need to work together to understand what the expectations at school and in our classroom are. They may be very different then the expectations at home, but I have confidence that every student will be able to meet the high expectations for safety, kindness, and respect in our class.
Some students might be hesitant to contribute to our Class Charter for various reasons. I will make every effort to include these students in the process. Some students may prefer to share their ideas with me privately or in writing. I want every student to feel like their interests are represented in our Charter. No one should be signing a Classroom Charter that they do not feel applies to them. “Classroom communities are stronger when students actively and meaningfully participate in setting rules.” (Pinto, p.82)
References:
Pinto, L. E. (2013). From Discipline to Culturally Responsive Engagement:45 Classroom Management Strategies. Corwin Press