How to Create Classroom Rules

I'm proud of my classroom rules this year.  I've always enlisted the kids' help coming up with a set of rules, but I always "guide" them to include rules that I feel are important (and I think it would be irresponsible not to!) but I would also omit those rules that I thought were redundant.

Well, this year I rethought that system.  My principal is really into Responsive Classroom.  And though I've always worked on explicitly teaching social skills, he makes me think about it even more.  I wondered, "if a student brings up a rule, why should I call it redundant?  Who is this list of rules REALLY for?"  Maybe if a child requests a written reminder for a rule like, "Don't sharpen your pencil with scissors," I need to give that to him!

Of course, that creates the problem of having "rule overload."  Here was our first draft:

Same sort of thing as the first draft of our rules every year.  But this time I thought to myself, "How did I originally create my set of rules for the class?"  And the answer dawned on me!  I looked for main ideas; EXACTLY the skill that I always find so hard to teach my fourth graders!  This was going to be the perfect teachable moment.

I copied each rule onto legal sized paper (for cheap sentence strips).  Then on my own, I practiced grouping them into categories.  Sometimes a rule seemed to fit more than one category, so I played with them for a while until I came up with 4 main ideas:

*Safety

*Noise control

*Respect

*Learn

and a 5th category of "Misc."   Which was related to respect for things, as opposed to people, but for my class I felt like allowing a misc category when trying to organize is a lifelong skill so I kept it.

 

With the rules paper clipped into groups, I gave each group of students a set, and told them they needed to see if they could find one strip that had all the other rules inside it.  If not, they had to make their own.

This was not simple.

Especially with a group that was coming off a summer vacation lull.  They were out of practice when it came to discussing their ideas in a small group, respectfully disagreeing, and so on.  I made a mental note of where things fell apart for Morning Meeting tomorrow, because it didn't get TOO heated. 

And except for the "noise control" set (which the kids gave an overly general label of "Don't be Disrespectful,") they did a good job coming up with topics.  I gave them their props, but let them know we'd come back to that 1 poster tomorrow to rethink the "title."

I remembered a trick the special education teacher told me for main idea, that I originally dismissed as being unrealistically simple (she's a good friend, so I can respectfully disagree with her!).  She asks the children "What word do you see the most?"  Well, in this case, the trick WORKS.  In the majority of the rules on that poster, the word "talk" or "talking" appeared.  So when I asked the kids which root word appeared 4 times out of 6 they got it right away.  Within minutes of discussion about a "title" that uses "talk" in it, they got the idea that it was about volume and when they can talk.  So we revised our poster.

So now when I remind the kids of the rules, I make like we only have 4.  Learn, Know How Loud and When to Talk, Respect Others, and Safety.  As the year goes on, we'll talk about commands and turn "safety" into a rule that matches the others in structure.  But for now, they get the message, and I didn't dismiss anyone's rule.

I update my Classroom Rules and Student Rights for my class each year.  And it's editable if you need a framework to get you started.

New Character Education "Poster"

I saw this inspirational quote and I thought it embodies the sort of prosocial, make-your-school-a-better-place sort of mantra my principal wants.  I'm the type of person that LIKES inspirational quotes, but I fear the idea of littering my room with them to the point that they lose meaning.  So it was with careful consideration that I chose, "Be the kind of person you want to meet."

It seems like just the right message, developmentally, to send a group of kids who are starting to notice the attention of their peers, but aren't quite at the point where the pressures have petrified them from being themselves.  Oh, and plus it's the fun colors and design I use

How to Make This Functional Display

First of all, the squares are actually paper plates from Target!  They match my classroom colors and they were on sale.  I still have a few more that I'm sure I'll find use for (I'm thinking a bulletin board heading).






Next, I went through a bunch of free fonts I downloaded from daFont.  After printing on lime green paper and trimming them, I used Post It note glue to attach them to the plates (so I can reuse the plates if I need the plates for something else later in the year).  And viola!  An eye catching sign with a positive message.

Morning Routine Directions

When a brand new group of kids walk into your classroom on that first day of school, they need to know what to do.  Explicit instructions will help them feel secure.  You'll see fewer nervous children who are afraid of disappointing adults and therefore clam up or cry, and you'll see fewer boisterous children, who in the absence of rules, do whatever comes natural (and a ten year old's idea of natural behavior is probably not your idea for the classroom!

On the first day of school, we meet the children in the cafeteria.  We hold signs with our name, grade and room number so that any students who are new to the school have a better chance of finding the right adult to go to.  We introduce ourselves to each child, and then bring the whole class upstairs together.

But along with greetings and introductions, going over routines is also important!  That's why before we enter the classroom, I always pause at the door, and tell them what to do when they enter the classroom.  I let them know that those directions are written on the board in case they forgot any.  Then I let them enter 4 at a time, to stagger the wandering/desk finding.

Having a repeat of those directions written on the board is useful.  Highlight key information, for those fourth graders who aren't proficient in reading and following multi-step directions.

Reading a lot of text off the board early in the year can be tricky, which is why I tell them verbally first.  Watch for who is helping their peers, and who are looking lost.

Just keep in mind that not all shell shocked fourth graders stay that way year round.  Some have more difficulty with a new context.

I think the process of putting away things into desks BEFORE going to the closet help kids get established, makes them less likely to drop things or make repeat trips to the closet, and helps stagger how many kids are in the closet at once.  Also, I always have Morning Work for them to help them get settled, and give me time to do attendance and lunch count.

I give parents a copy of my expectations and behavior policies as well.  I have it available for you, and best of all it's editable! 

What does your first day morning routine look like?

10 Tips to a Great First Day of School

I had a GREAT first day today.

Why did it go so well?  Did I luck out with a great group of kids?  Well, I told them that was why, but I know from last year's teachers that as always, I have a mixed bag of personalities and abilities.  Was it because I was so well rested after a long summer?  Nope, I had my usual nightmares the night before school (This one featured the kids completely ignoring me and hiding to avoid working).  Was it because of the caffeine?  Well, yes it was partly because of the caffeine.  But mainly the reason my day went so well was...PLANNING. 

1. I plan my first day of school starting the last week of school the previous year.   The way I pack textbooks (or rather, the way I enlist students to put away their own textbooks) is designed to facilitate easy distribution for the next year.  The books are numbered, and I collect them in reverse order.  That way book 1 is on top, ready to go to next year's student #1. 

2. I have a carefully designed back to school to do list (free to download if you're interested) that helps me stay on track in terms of time and task (for example, instead of daily trips to the laminator the week before school, I have a list of everything to do at once in July).  I aim to be "ready to start" the week before the kids arrive, and keep the "It would be nice if I could..." tasks for that week.  That way I feel very relaxed and ready well in advance.

3. I learn names early through repetition and practice.  I must write each child's name 17 times before they walk in my room, on folders and journals and workbooks and bulletin board pieces.  So even though I can't put a name with a face for every kid, at least if someone says, "Is Johnny in your room?"  I already know.  And it makes learning names a lot easier (I could identify every child within the first hour today when I asked them to cover their tags and quiz me; a new personal best!)

4. I have a system for "surprise students" that are switched to my room, or who moved to this city over the summer, so that although I have to write their name on everything, everything they need is accounted for.

5. I carefully plan the day's flow, and change it according to cues from my students.  Of course we do this every day, but it's never more critical than the first day.  The children aren't the only ones who need to make a good first impression.  I need to come across as organized, calm, good at explaining things (in this case routines), fun, but not TOO fun, interested, nurturing, but not babying, smart, but not unapproachable, authoritative but not terrifying, and so on.  I keep a list of things that MUST be discussed and done on the first day, and check it off whenever I have a spare moment, but I keep in mind that the rest can be done later in the week.  The important thing is to balance me informing, with kids demonstrating what they remember/can do, with movement to different parts of the room.

6. I decorate.  It makes me feel happy to be in my classroom.

7. I use a lot of "us."  For example, "Think of 2 to 5 rules you had last year that you want us to have this year."  The way this directive is phrased is a little Jedi mind trick.  "You WANT rules and structure."  "Yes, here are rules WE WANT, teacher..."

8. Of course, I have my own set of expectations about why we have rules and what those rules need to be already firmly in mind, so as the week goes on, their list gets tweaked.  I'm open to change, but I always keep my goals of safety and learning at the forefront.  That's what helps me decide what I need to make sure to tell them about that first day and week as well. 

9. I drop in little tidbits about myself, but only in the context of learning about THEM.  Our school does Morning Meeting, so I have a pretty widely used "Find someone in the room who..." type paper, and in passing mention "I have 2 cats too.  I don't really have a favorite color either, since I love all fall colors the best," and so on.  I figure they'll hear my voice enough the first day because they are so dependent on me in their brand new surroundings; they don't need to hear my bio too (yet they need to START to get to know me too, in order to make a connection they care about). 

10. *NEW* I ended the day in an uplifting way.  This is not something I'm always good about doing...I tend to be rushed at the end of the day.  But this time I ended the day with a 1 minute whole class activity.  After everyone packed up, we met back in our Morning Meeting area, and I asked everyone to think about ONE word about today.  "Put your finger on your nose when you've thought of one.  Ready?  Because we're all going to say it at the same time (waits a few more moments until most kids signal they are ready...) 3, 2, 1"  "ALLSHOUTATONCE!"  The kids left on a high, feeling part of a new group, having heard lots of loud, mostly positive words, right before walking out the door. 

I look forward to tomorrow being a place the kids are happy to come back to.  I'm looking forward to it.  Back to a routine, back to making a difference.  If only I had more hours in the day...

Every Day Counts Calendar Area Upgrades for 2012

I really needed to redo my calendar bulletin board.  

It just wasn't my first priority when I was setting up my classroom last fall.  I was too focused on learning the new Math in Focus program, and didn't realize at first that we were supposed to teach the Every Day Counts calendar program TOO.  "Surely they wouldn't make us learn TWO new math programs in the same year?" 

Wrong. 

So it got off to a slow start, but after I signed up for additional training I got more excited about it.  By the end of the year I had made learning centers out of the measurement and fraction activities, which I was proud of.  But my display needed some work.

So this year I've moved the calendar over and doubled the amount of space for it so that all the parts are together.  I upgraded the labels so that they are actually visible (and colorful) from a distance.  And although it's empty for now, I'll keep you posted with how the display evolves with student work. 

And the "counting tape" to show the multiples for each day of school had to go.  I needed a system that would result in the graphics not being damaged (so tape is out) and not falling off (like paper clipping them together in a chain, which didn't work so great last year).  So I used my old standby:  cutting slits for paper clips.  It never fails!  Here's the result:

Yeah...that was a lot of slits to cut.  Still, easy enough task to spread out over a week in the summer.  And now it's done, sturdy and clean looking thanks to the powers of lamination, and hopefully those multiples icons won't fall off.

***Update as of February***

Here is how the new Every Day Counts displays are progressing:

Not bad!  The fraction circles look a lot better now, and so do the labels.  I quickly realized the depositor money didn't work on binder clips, and the paper cups work better than the short lived plastic disposable ones that cracked.  They're not as pretty, so I might need to work some Duck Tape magic on them.  I think a few changes are needed for next year, though:

• I did realize I need to work from right to left in order to end with the shorter columns above the doorknob.  
• Also, I don't think I will keep the blank measurement pages posted; it looks too cluttered. I'll relegate them to my worksheets filing tub. 
• I think I might just need a third panel devoted to math next year.  The vocabulary terms alone need at least half a panel as the year goes on, and I'd like to do a better job of organizing them. 
• My Depositor Record sheet just didn't work for this group!  They are having such a hard time with the concept of keeping a running tally, adding a new total to the old total.  Yikes.  For now I'm going to keep modeling, but I know I need to come up with an easier way to help them learn it faster.
• The management system needs an overhaul if next year's class is anything like this one.  This group is just not at all independent, and although the goal is to have students run the calendar, it's still very teacher directed at this point in the year.  I think I'll need a "math job chart" instead of leaving it to early finishers to select a task and do the updating.  I might do "at a glance" tips that change specific to the month in order to help kids remember what to do, as well.

How have you set up your Every Day Counts board?

Setting Up My Classroom

This is the first year in about 5 years that I've been able to set up my classroom at my leisure.  

Previously, I'd be calling at the beginning of July asking if the floors were done and furniture back in so that I could get it all done before my trip to England to visit my fiancé.  But now that he's living here (we got married in February) I've been able to go in as often as I please (he even came in with me to clean all the desks!) 

I've kept my lime green, teal, and white theme since it goes well with the existing colors in the room.  These photos are from 2 years ago but they're mostly the same:

I wish my desk stayed that neat all year!

If you can't tell, I got the inspiration for my classroom color scheme (and blog theme!) from this tablecloth (a Target special, haha).

I chose these colors mostly to tone down the pre-existing 70s color scheme of brownish floors, avocado bookshelves, and teal student chairs/desks.

I think the overall look is harmonious and cheerful, so until they switch out the furniture and give me the thumbs up to paint the shelves, the theme stays!

 And I've kept most of the layout the same, though I've added a few upgrades here and there.  One small thing I'm proud of is my hand sanitizer bathroom passes (available for purchase in my TPT store).  I think back to all the times my passes got lost, or worse...WET) and attempting to use unpleasant but memorable passes, like a globe (my principal at the time did not see the humor in that).  Finally a colleague tipped me off:  have them leave the pass on their desk.  No more lost passes!  Well, that worked perfectly well last year; I didn't have to replace those bathroom passes (which you can download free!) once. 

But then I found an even better idea: wrap your bathroom pass around a bottle of hand sanitizer!  I'll keep you posted, but I'm excited about this little nugget.  I used to keep a bottle beside the bathroom passes, but I'm hoping that if they actually have to pick them up, they'll be much more likely to use them if they forgot to wash. 

The next thing I always have to rearrange slightly is my classroom library.  Since I always buy new books, I have to alter my book bins and labels.  

 I've got the baskets in an order that's workable for me, but the labels are in need of a refresh.  I have a few new series in need of pictures, the font is not clear enough far away, some are not even laminated, and the pink and purple have got to go!  I'll keep you posted on these as well.

The next little upgrade was my homework board.  Originally I had manila sentence strips with labels, but this year I used my book shelf label design to upgrade the look.

I wish my white board was magnetized so that I could use these for the schedule as well, but this is a nice start.

Finally, I upgraded my hallway bulletin board.  The leaves are the same as usual; I made those years ago because there are fewer things that make me as feel happy to be alive as a sunny day of foliage-watching in the fall.

Names blurred to protect student privacy

Well, my old yellow fabric was ratty, my border didn't really go, and my store-bought sparkly gold letters looked dated.

So I made leafy letters that coordinated and changed out the rest.

We (teachers only) start back next week and already I'm just about ready for the students to start back.  I might even have time to do a few more fun Pinterest inspired projects before they arrive. 

Anyone else excited about "classroom upgrades" for the new year? Join our Linky Party!