User:Zaire.Matthews

Norms In our classroom as a class we came up with “classroom rules” that are norms of how our class is run. “Rule” #1: “We Take Care Of Our Classroom”. This means that we clean up whatever we take out and treat all components of our classroom with care and respect. “Rule” #2: “Be Mindful”. In Our classroom being mindful has so many different meanings. Being mindful in our classroom is based on different questions like “Am I helping myself or my class by doing this?”, “Am I using our materials responsibly or am I being wasteful?” “Will what I do or say hurt someone else?”. In Our kindergarten class we want our kids to think with empathy while making decisions “Rule” #3: “We Use safe words and kind words.” In our kindergarten class we use safe bodies by never hitting or harming others. Students are not allowed to kick or hit anyone in our room. They are also expected to only say kind words that will encourage their peers. “Rule” #4: “Take Care of Your Feelings”: Some kids come to school with so much baggage or just have a rough time at school. When necessary students are expected to take care of their feelings whether this means going to take a break, going to take a rest, writing and submitting thoughts to our worry jar. Whatever kids need to do to take care of their feelings is allowed as long as they are being safe.

Once we agreed upon these “rules” we wrote them and designed a poster so that we always know what the expectations are.

Pictured above: Left: Students are working in stations. Middle: Teacher grabs chime. Right: Teacher rings chime, students freeze, put their eyes on the teacher and wait for transition announcement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw_h6sbUS6Y&feature=youtu.be (above is a video of how I approach transitions, and gives great examples of how to approach transitioning, and other aspects of the classroom) Expectations No matter what I grade I teach or work with I set high expectations for each student regardless of race, socioeconomic status, gender, or ability. In my class I expect and push students to do their absolute best, even if their best is not what their classmates’ best looks like. Students are encouraged to give opinions on topics, and our class is a safe place where even if opinions differ they are heard and respected. All people, and ideas are welcome in our classroom. No one is treated as if they are inferior to their classmates. Often African Americans, women, math novices and spanish speakers are treated as inferior to White people, men who are math experts. We set up a classroom where all are welcome and expected to put 100% effort into all that we do.

Citations

Finley, T. (2017, March 13). Mastering Classroom Transitions. Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/mastering-transitions-todd-finley

Strauss, V. (2014, May 06). What 'setting high expectations' for all students really means. Retrieved November 12, 2018, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/05/06/what-setting-high-expectations-for-all-students-really-means/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1338758da36b