Comments on: If You Really Must Have Classroom Rules…Simplicity Is Key http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Katyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-6263 Katy Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:00:19 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-6263 After several years of teaching without posted classroom rules, we have been required to have a posted "official" set of classroom rules. I've decided on two general rules supplemented with several more specific expectations. Here they are: Rules: 1.Be respectful of instructors, visitors, and fellow students. 2.Be responsible for yourself, including what you say and do as well as your materials and the school's materials. 3. Maintain your own integrity; be honest and exhibit self-control at all times. Expectations: 1. Remain seated, feet on the floor, from bell to bell unless instructed otherwise. 2. Return books and other materials to their designated places at the end of the period. 3. Throw away all food, drink, candy, etc. upon entering the classroom. 4. Sign the attendance sheet only for yourself, and sign in and out when leaving/returning for the classroom. 5. Use the computers only for completion of class assignments. 6. Do not "mess" with other people or their "stuff." 7. Notify your instructor privately if you believe anything inappropriate has occured in the classroom. After several years of teaching without posted classroom rules, we have been required to have a posted “official” set of classroom rules. I’ve decided on two general rules supplemented with several more specific expectations. Here they are:
Rules:
1.Be respectful of instructors, visitors, and fellow students.
2.Be responsible for yourself, including what you say and do as well as your materials and the school’s materials.
3. Maintain your own integrity; be honest and exhibit self-control at all times.
Expectations:
1. Remain seated, feet on the floor, from bell to bell unless instructed otherwise.
2. Return books and other materials to their designated places at the end of the period.
3. Throw away all food, drink, candy, etc. upon entering the classroom.
4. Sign the attendance sheet only for yourself, and sign in and out when leaving/returning for the classroom.
5. Use the computers only for completion of class assignments.
6. Do not “mess” with other people or their “stuff.”
7. Notify your instructor privately if you believe anything inappropriate has occured in the classroom.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-2779 Joel Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:33:15 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-2779 Wow, these are tons of great ideas. I love how so many of the rules you have all laid out are so minimalistic. In reference to John's comments about "respect", I would like to mention that I generally hate ambiguities such as respectful and successful because they are so undefined. This is why I have had class discussions in the past about what respect looks like. To simply put it out there leaves plenty of room for error. When we define it decide on the whole thing as a group, it makes it much easier later on. Wow, these are tons of great ideas. I love how so many of the rules you have all laid out are so minimalistic. In reference to John’s comments about “respect”, I would like to mention that I generally hate ambiguities such as respectful and successful because they are so undefined. This is why I have had class discussions in the past about what respect looks like.

To simply put it out there leaves plenty of room for error. When we define it decide on the whole thing as a group, it makes it much easier later on.

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]]> By: javabeanboyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-2767 javabeanboy Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:53:28 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-2767 the three rules in a Boys Town style school here uses "Follow Instructions", "Accept Consequences" and "Express Yourself Appropriately". If a student has particular issues they might receive a personal fourth rule dealing with leadership or gossip, some real life skill they can work on. But it's a token economy focused on the hidden curriculum, earning privileges like outside/inside recess, movie time, or whatever. the three rules in a Boys Town style school here uses “Follow Instructions”, “Accept Consequences” and “Express Yourself Appropriately”. If a student has particular issues they might receive a personal fourth rule dealing with leadership or gossip, some real life skill they can work on. But it’s a token economy focused on the hidden curriculum, earning privileges like outside/inside recess, movie time, or whatever.

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]]> By: Nancy Boschhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-2722 Nancy Bosch Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:57:11 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-2722 Is it the KIPP schools that have "Be nice, work hard" as their motto? That about says it all. I teach in a pullout program for gifted (top 1%) kids so we don't need "traditional" rules. Mainly, our rules take care of stuff that irritate the heck out of me like "no whining", "don't raise your hands when others are speaking", "don't change the subject in the middle of a discussion", "don't say won't, can't or bored", and so on....I do refer to the the rules on occasion!! Is it the KIPP schools that have “Be nice, work hard” as their motto? That about says it all. I teach in a pullout program for gifted (top 1%) kids so we don’t need “traditional” rules. Mainly, our rules take care of stuff that irritate the heck out of me like “no whining”, “don’t raise your hands when others are speaking”, “don’t change the subject in the middle of a discussion”, “don’t say won’t, can’t or bored”, and so on….I do refer to the the rules on occasion!!

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]]> By: Beckyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-2721 Becky Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:42:49 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-2721 I teach high school English (my second year of teaching), and this year I decided to have two classroom rules: be respectful and be responsible. I always go back to those two rules and ask if a certain behavior is being respectful/responsible. (Following directions covers both.) It has worked for me so far! I teach high school English (my second year of teaching), and this year I decided to have two classroom rules: be respectful and be responsible. I always go back to those two rules and ask if a certain behavior is being respectful/responsible. (Following directions covers both.) It has worked for me so far!

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]]> By: Mary Ellenhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-2716 Mary Ellen Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:51:43 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-2716 Thanks for an excellent, insightful posting. I completely agree with you about great teachers being defined by the clarity of their expectations. There's something more, too, I'm not sure I can define it simply, but I think it has something to do with vision or passion, the thing that pulls students in and draws them forward. Love your reduction of rules to their most basic 2: Be good. Be kind. Those rules very much embody what I would want from my students. I had a really hard time last year managing my first-ever classroom. Not in a classroom this year, though I hope to return. I had the right beliefs, but somehow ended up with chaos. Wrestling with a terrible sense of failure. Thanks for an excellent, insightful posting. I completely agree with you about great teachers being defined by the clarity of their expectations. There’s something more, too, I’m not sure I can define it simply, but I think it has something to do with vision or passion, the thing that pulls students in and draws them forward. Love your reduction of rules to their most basic 2: Be good. Be kind. Those rules very much embody what I would want from my students. I had a really hard time last year managing my first-ever classroom. Not in a classroom this year, though I hope to return. I had the right beliefs, but somehow ended up with chaos. Wrestling with a terrible sense of failure.

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]]> By: Jonathanhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-2715 Jonathan Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:43:14 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-2715 I keep ugly, eraserless golf pencils in my room. Last year, when there was a class of 'forgetful' kids, I put a handful in a dixie cup 'of shame' that kids could walk up to and just take. They didn't like to, and the pencil problem got better. I also keep nice little hand sharpeners lying around. No annoying grinding noise, and the kids are remarkably good at taking them, using them, passing them around, and returning them. I keep ugly, eraserless golf pencils in my room. Last year, when there was a class of ‘forgetful’ kids, I put a handful in a dixie cup ‘of shame’ that kids could walk up to and just take. They didn’t like to, and the pencil problem got better.

I also keep nice little hand sharpeners lying around. No annoying grinding noise, and the kids are remarkably good at taking them, using them, passing them around, and returning them.

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]]> By: Jonathanhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-2714 Jonathan Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:33:39 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-2714 Yeah, I think we are all on the same page: "Everyone in this class, students and teacher, will come prepared, alert, and ready to work each day. Consideration, respect, and the free sharing of ideas will help maximize learning in a pleasant environment." I tinker with this each year, but that's about it. Yeah, I think we are all on the same page:

“Everyone in this class, students and teacher, will come prepared, alert, and ready to work each day. Consideration, respect, and the free sharing of ideas will help maximize learning in a pleasant environment.”

I tinker with this each year, but that’s about it.

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]]> By: Margarethttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-2710 Margaret Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:16:37 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-2710 I've found the more specific a rule is, the quicker it flies out the window. My most specific rule 'raise your hand to get permission to do ANYTHING' only lasts for about the 1st week and a half, because I learn what I can trust them to do w/o asking and they learn to use good judgement to keep their freedom to leave their seats while I work with small groups. My second-most specific rule, 'keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself' lasts all year and usually only needs refreshing before & after holidays and in the spring squirrely season. "Practice the Golden Rule", and "love your neighbor as yourself" cover everything else. Every group of kids is different & it's hard to custom-tailor a set of rules for each. Generalities with discussion of what they mean is much easier. (even a second grader knows you're not supposed to talk when Teacher is talking) I’ve found the more specific a rule is, the quicker it flies out the window. My most specific rule ‘raise your hand to get permission to do ANYTHING’ only lasts for about the 1st week and a half, because I learn what I can trust them to do w/o asking and they learn to use good judgement to keep their freedom to leave their seats while I work with small groups. My second-most specific rule, ‘keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself’ lasts all year and usually only needs refreshing before & after holidays and in the spring squirrely season. “Practice the Golden Rule”, and “love your neighbor as yourself” cover everything else. Every group of kids is different & it’s hard to custom-tailor a set of rules for each. Generalities with discussion of what they mean is much easier. (even a second grader knows you’re not supposed to talk when Teacher is talking)

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]]> By: John Thompsonhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/if-you-really-must-have-classroom-rules/#comment-2708 John Thompson Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:00:27 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=607#comment-2708 "respectful" -- I see "respect" in many classroom rules. I'd suggest making it less nebulous as "respect" is too vague and open to interpretation. You want classroom rules (4-6 only) to be observable and measurable so kids know what's expected. “respectful” — I see “respect” in many classroom rules. I’d suggest making it less nebulous as “respect” is too vague and open to interpretation. You want classroom rules (4-6 only) to be observable and measurable so kids know what’s expected.

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