Mod 4:Unit 3:Act 3: My classrooms and rules, norms, and procedures

Establishing rules, norms, and procedures is the most important part of classroom management and should be implemented early on in order to avoid problems in the future with students. This sets the tone for the whole class experience. Teachers sometimes have the misconceptions that students dislike rules or that if you have too many rules, the students will find you too strict. The truth of the matter is that students expect the teacher to be in charge (Mccleod 75). That being said, students look to the teacher for ways on how to properly conduct themselves in the classroom. They expect you to teach and guide them through your personal expectations. If the teacher is lax with the way things are run in the class, individual students will start to act out and it won't be long before you lose control of the class as a whole. Once that occurs, it is very difficult to get them back. The placement of rules, norms, and procedures doesn't occur overnight, it takes time and patience for it to become second nature to the student.

As a teacher, I have tried two different techniques when it came to establishing rules and procedures in the classroom. When I first began teaching, I was pretty much a dictator and the rules that I had were ones that I established myself and I enforced them very strictly and I didn't give the students a say in the decision process. Although this method worked for some students, it didn't work for others. Later on, I decided to have the students involved in the decision process: a more democratic way of going about it. During the first week of classes, I place the students in groups and I get them to think of rules that they feel would make the class run more smoothly. One they are done with that, we discuss them and decide which ones are most beneficial. The rules are then written on a bristol board and placed in front of the class for all to see. I find that by allowing the students to have a say in what the rules are, they are more willing to abide by them.  I also get to students to sign a contract that states that they all understand the rules and they know the consequences for the various infractions. 

Some common rules that usually come out of these brainstorming ,

1) Enter the class quietly and sit down right away.

2) Make sure your bring your pencil, notebook, and textbook

3) Raise your hand when you want to ask a question or answer one

4) No eating or drinking

5) Do not use your cellphone

6) Stay alert and pay attention

7) Try to speak English (as much as possible)

8) Respect your classmates

9) No scribbling on the desk

10)  No gum

All of the aforementioned rules are non-negotiable and as mentioned before, if they are not respected then they will be punished accordingly. During my reading I came across the fact that "rules should be stated positively" (McCleod 77) although as you can see by my list there are a few No's. I don't really know how to rephrase "No gum" or "No scribbling" to make it into a positive rule...any ideas?. Same thing with the no food and drink. Perhaps I can phrase it like"  Only bring the things that you need to study with"??

One thing that I do in my class to encourage students to adhere to the class rules is by setting up a sticker chart system. If the group doesn't break any of the rules during class, then they are awarded stickers which can lead to a certain prize at the end of the semester. This system really works well with the younger kids because they end up policing themselves as they tend to listen to one another more than teachers.

The procedures in the class are also taught at the beginning of each new semester. Since there are many different procedures depending on the task, this does take a while to go through. But once established, the students know how to conduct themselves. 

Some of the procedures of my class are:

Entering the class: All students line up outside of the class in two rows, the person beside them is their partner (our class has two per table). They wait until all the students from the previous class have left. They enter quietly and sit down right away. They may speak to their neighbors quietly during the break.

Sharpening Pencils: The students must raise their hand and ask to stand up and use the pencil sharpener. They can also ask their partner to borrow a pencil. I also tell them that they should bring more than one to class just in case.

Getting into Groups:  The students must stand up and move around the class quietly. They must arrange the desks. They must not start talking to others in the class while walking around. They must put their hands on their heads when they are ready to start the activity.

Handing in papers: The student sitting in the last row must stand up and collect the papers from the students in front of them to the front row. The student will then hand in the papers to the teacher. This must be done quietly. If someone doesn't have their assignment done, the student must tell the teacher.

As with the rules, the stamp system is also in effect with the compliance of the procedures. If a student doesn't follow the proper procedures, then stamps will be taken off his/her group's chart.

It is important to note that when establishing  rules, norms, and procedures, there are several guidelines that should be followed so they can be effectively taught. The first one is that they have to be clear to the students and projected in a positive way (avoid using "Don't"). The students must be aware of the behavior expected from the teacher.The second one is that they have to be reasonable. For example, if only one child is doing something bad, there is no point drawing attention to the issue by making up a new rule and announcing it to the class. It is best to just address the issue with the individual.Lastly, the rule must be enforceable. Don't make a rule that is impossible to carry out or takes away too much or the teacher's time.

I find the best way to ensure the students abide by the rules and procedures in the class is by first creating a positive classroom environment that is filled with love, respect and fun. My experience has taught me that a happy student is more apt to following the rules. Enforcing rules and procedures, especially with younger students takes time and patience. It is all about repetition and consistency. Once they have been established,things in the class will run smoothly and then you have more time to concentrate on what it is you are supposed to be doing.....teaching!


Reference

McCleod Joyce, Fisher Jane, Hoover Jinny: The Key Elements of Classroom Management. ASCD. 2003