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Letting Students Establish the Classroom Rules

How do ‘rules' work in your classroom?

Do you already have them established before students enter or are you on the other end of the spectrum where you allow the students to make the rules?

If you are like me, you are somewhere in the middle.  Let me show you how.

I always start with a simple list of rules I have set as classroom expectations.  They are pretty basic and should honestly be followed not only in class but throughout the school.

On the first day of school, after students have had about an hour to get comfortable, I walk over to the generic list and read what I have written.  Afterward, I open the floor for discussion about what the written list means and how it can be seen, or used, each day.

Then, I ask students to take about one minute to think of anything they think should be added to this classroom list.  After a minute or so (sometimes they are truly thinking and need to find the right words to use), I call time and ask students to raise their hand and give me their ideas of things that should be added.  All the while, I am reminding them that this list of rules is something I expect our community to abide by, almost like taking an oath.  We discuss each item that is brought forth, many of which fall under one of the generic rules listed, however, it is great grounds for starting a new year.

After new ideas are added and the list is finalized, I copy the list on bright paper in bold print and hang it in a space where students can access it the entire school year.

In the end, students have worked hard together to expand on the rules already listed and have created a bond, and made a promise, to abide by the rules they helped establish.

CLASSROOM DEMOCRACY!

I truly believe working together as a whole group system can work, but every now and then it doesn't hurt to have class leadership that the students can trust in.  Snag this freebie of my classroom democracy questionnaire!

Classroom Democracy

Comments

8 Responses

  1. This really resonates with me! I’m a strong believer in having students be involved when it comes to determining behavior expectations. Very effective in getting them to have more buy in!

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