Classroom Rules

I decided that instead of asking the teacher this question, I would take a look around the room and ask the kids the questions. It was definitely interesting this way and fairly simple. Just by looking around the classroom I could see part of the wall designated for class rules. It was really cute, it had pictures and words describing the few classroom rules that they had. The rules were move quickly and quietly, treat others how you want to be treated, and treat the teacher with respect. I saw one specific way that she put these to use. When the kids were supposed to line up to go to an assembly, they did it quickly, but they were really loud. Mrs. M made the students go back to their desks and try it again. They did it a lot quieter that time.

When I asked the kids, they couldn’t think of what happens if they don’t follow the rules, but they definitely knew why they wanted to! Mrs. M has a few systems that she uses in order to help students want to be good. The first is individual incentive. When she sees you doing something good, she will ask you to put your name on a secret number chart. It is a chart from 1-100, and once it is full, she draws a number and that person gets a special prize. Next she has a stick on a base that she puts nuts on when the kids do something good in their table group. At the end of the week, whatever group has the most nuts, wins something. Lastly, there is the class system, which is similar to the group system. If the whole class is good, she will add nuts to the stick, and if they do something bad, then they get some of it taken away. I love that system because kids really respond well to it. It makes them want to be better and helps them and each other be accountable. I also like that Mrs. M doesn’t really have a lot of classroom rules, otherwise they would be harder to remember, making them harder to follow.