Comments on: Are Classroom Rules Needed? http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: DrPezzhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-7260 DrPezz Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:17:58 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-7260 I also teach at the high school level, which may give me a bit of an advantage. :) I also teach at the high school level, which may give me a bit of an advantage. :)

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-7255 Joel Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:13:52 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-7255 Linda, it sounds like you found something that worked for you. I am moving from the 7th/8th grade classroom to an exclusively 6th grade room this year. There will be some rules in my class for sure! Linda, it sounds like you found something that worked for you. I am moving from the 7th/8th grade classroom to an exclusively 6th grade room this year. There will be some rules in my class for sure!

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]]> By: Lindahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-7254 Linda Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:48:10 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-7254 I think you are male, probably bigger with natural authority. That is why the kids did not eat you alive in a class with no rules. OK - I love the dreaming session. That definitely should happen!!! Then, just extend it. Say that we have rules to help people keep on track and achieve their dreams. Give half a dozen simple and easy to understand ones that work for you. - One year I tried a "no rules" approach. I told the kids "the only rule is to only do things that help you and other people learn". And yes, we talked about why they wanted to learn (graduate, help families etc., was mentioned, but not in the exact way you explained). Very bad behavior that year. I went back to "six of fewer simple rules'. I think you are male, probably bigger with natural authority. That is why the kids did not eat you alive in a class with no rules. OK – I love the dreaming session. That definitely should happen!!! Then, just extend it. Say that we have rules to help people keep on track and achieve their dreams. Give half a dozen simple and easy to understand ones that work for you. – One year I tried a "no rules" approach. I told the kids "the only rule is to only do things that help you and other people learn". And yes, we talked about why they wanted to learn (graduate, help families etc., was mentioned, but not in the exact way you explained). Very bad behavior that year. I went back to "six of fewer simple rules’.

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]]> By: Mrs D.http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-5668 Mrs D. Fri, 08 May 2009 21:17:20 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-5668 This is the first year I haven't had rules in my classroom. For the last couple of years I've had a couple, they've hung on the wall for a while and then been replaced by something else. This year, though, I have a Grade 5/6 class, and we just never needed rules. I ask them to be considerate -we share classroom space with another class and we try not to disrupt their learning (can't say the same for them) - in fact, consideration is the key to everything in our classroom, from lining up neatly so I can check everyone is there, to working with everyone in the classroom, to keeping your possessions neat. I get nothing but positive reaction to my students from specialist teachers, supply teachers and even other teachers just wandering by. One of the things I found with a focus on consideration is that their good behaviour does not end when I'm not there, it continues for others. I've still got more work to go - I get cranky too quickly and don't always explain why certain consequences are coming into play, but I think we're definately on our way to a considerate classroom. This is the first year I haven’t had rules in my classroom. For the last couple of years I’ve had a couple, they’ve hung on the wall for a while and then been replaced by something else. This year, though, I have a Grade 5/6 class, and we just never needed rules. I ask them to be considerate -we share classroom space with another class and we try not to disrupt their learning (can’t say the same for them) – in fact, consideration is the key to everything in our classroom, from lining up neatly so I can check everyone is there, to working with everyone in the classroom, to keeping your possessions neat.

I get nothing but positive reaction to my students from specialist teachers, supply teachers and even other teachers just wandering by. One of the things I found with a focus on consideration is that their good behaviour does not end when I’m not there, it continues for others.

I’ve still got more work to go – I get cranky too quickly and don’t always explain why certain consequences are coming into play, but I think we’re definately on our way to a considerate classroom.

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]]> By: Jenniferhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-3869 Jennifer Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:41:37 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-3869 Hi, I found your post extremely interesting. I completely agree with you that if student respect each other and their teachers, there will be fewer discipline problems. I like the idea of having no rules in the classroom; however, I am studying to be an elementary teacher and I don't know how well that would work for my future students. Great post though and I will give it some thought. Hi, I found your post extremely interesting. I completely agree with you that if student respect each other and their teachers, there will be fewer discipline problems. I like the idea of having no rules in the classroom; however, I am studying to be an elementary teacher and I don’t know how well that would work for my future students. Great post though and I will give it some thought.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-3330 Joel Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:05:06 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-3330 Emily, I'm so excited to see the growth you have made this year! :) Emily, I’m so excited to see the growth you have made this year! :)

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]]> By: Emilyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-3320 Emily Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:13:06 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-3320 I started my second year of teaching going down the wrong track by making rules but then not sticking to them and disaster soon ensued and rippled through my second years band class. thus I lost many things including students. When I set out for the second half of the school year, I decided my attitude needed adjusting (thanks to to Joel's comments that he posted in his band room). You know what? It works on every level. I made up four simple rules, spelled out a list of Rewards and Consequences and applied them to each of my band classes from elementary to high school. Something miraculous happened: chaos calmed down to a minor hum of happy children. Discipline = peace and contentment. I didn't understand this concept fully when the school year started and because of my stubborn nature, I didn't want to believe it. But learning the hard way proved itself loud and clear. I started my second year of teaching going down the wrong track by making rules but then not sticking to them and disaster soon ensued and rippled through my second years band class. thus I lost many things including students.

When I set out for the second half of the school year, I decided my attitude needed adjusting (thanks to to Joel’s comments that he posted in his band room). You know what? It works on every level.

I made up four simple rules, spelled out a list of Rewards and Consequences and applied them to each of my band classes from elementary to high school. Something miraculous happened: chaos calmed down to a minor hum of happy children. Discipline = peace and contentment. I didn’t understand this concept fully when the school year started and because of my stubborn nature, I didn’t want to believe it. But learning the hard way proved itself loud and clear.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-2954 Joel Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:09:17 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-2954 Samantha: It's funny how the things that we think of as being common sense sometimes aren't! I think the key is explicitly explaining and then modeling good behavior. Samantha: It’s funny how the things that we think of as being common sense sometimes aren’t! I think the key is explicitly explaining and then modeling good behavior.

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]]> By: Samanthahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-2935 Samantha Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:18:18 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-2935 This is a great post. As a future high school teacher, I don't believe I would post rules. Simply because I feel like my students should have matured enough to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion. I would establish how I would like for my students to act on the first day of class, and as you stated, "model it". My main rule would be to make your decisions wisely. If everyone was to make the same choice that you're thinking about making, what kind of outcome would that be? For example, if you choose not to respect this person, what kind of outcome would that be if everyone had that same attitude? I would not set rules that I would fail to follow as a teacher. I think most of the rules that teachers post are really "common sense" anyway, for example: follow directions, ask permission, treat others like you would like to be treated, etc. So that's one reason for my rule... think about the outcomes and make your decisons wisely. All those traditional rules in a nutshell. This is a great post. As a future high school teacher, I don’t believe I would post rules. Simply because I feel like my students should have matured enough to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion. I would establish how I would like for my students to act on the first day of class, and as you stated, “model it”. My main rule would be to make your decisions wisely. If everyone was to make the same choice that you’re thinking about making, what kind of outcome would that be? For example, if you choose not to respect this person, what kind of outcome would that be if everyone had that same attitude? I would not set rules that I would fail to follow as a teacher. I think most of the rules that teachers post are really “common sense” anyway, for example: follow directions, ask permission, treat others like you would like to be treated, etc. So that’s one reason for my rule… think about the outcomes and make your decisons wisely. All those traditional rules in a nutshell.

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]]> By: Miss Profehttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/are-classroom-rules-needed/#comment-2522 Miss Profe Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:29:07 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=529#comment-2522 I've been doing some reading by Marvin Marshall re: the very topic about which you post. He echoes many of the same sentiments, such as how we as teachers need to shift our thinking from rules to responsibilities. I agree with this. I’ve been doing some reading by Marvin Marshall re: the very topic about which you post. He echoes many of the same sentiments, such as how we as teachers need to shift our thinking from rules to responsibilities. I agree with this.

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