Rules and Procedures…
According to Marzano et al, the most obvious aspect of effective classroom management is classroom rules and procedures. They give students the structure they require to feel safe in their environment. A rule identifies general expectations or standards; a procedure communicates expectations for specific behaviours (Marzano, et al pg5). An example of a rule can be “respect other students and their property” a procedure about respect can involve “returning books to their appropriate place in the classroom”. Many schools have a whole school approach in terms of anti-bulling and discrimination.
According to Dr Mac, it is a good idea to set up rules during the first day and to devise no more than 6 rules. He recommends not reinstating rules that are already school wide as students will already be expected to know them. State rules in a positive manner, if the rules sound silly then they probably are and students will never follow them. Respect your students and get them involved in the decision making. The key is to clearly explain the reasons behind each rule so that students are able to understand what consequences will go with each rule and their importance. It’s a good idea to display the rules in the room clearly visible to everyone in the class, that way if students forget the rules from time to time you are able to POINT to the poster and say “what should you be doing at the moment” (McIntyre, 2008).
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS?
Values and Responsibility...
Values are central to effective behaviour and discipline management. Values are core beliefs that guide our actions and are reflected in our behaviour (Mackay, pg7). In Australian Schools today, values education is of great importance with particular emphasis on civics and citizenship education – creating informed and responsible citizens for the future as well as an emphasis on personal learning and interpersonal development in the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.
http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/
It is important to help students understand what responsibility is and isn’t. As teachers we must embrace diversity, our response to everything that occurs in the classroom is affected by our values and ideologies (Rowan, et al). Students walk into our classrooms with their own ‘virtual schoolbag and funds of knowledge’ this concept is derived from Luis Moll as the “Historically accumulated and culturally developed bodies of knowledge and skills essential for household or individual functioning and well-being” (learn nc p. 133). In your first few months of teaching you will be a learner as well, getting to know students and their families and using these funds of knowledge (culture etc) to plan lessons that ‘tap into students prior knowledge’ and interests. At the same time it is also important to be equitable in your interactions with students.
YOU CAN DO IT PROGRAM (link provided in resource list)
This program is becoming very common in schools; it promotes a whole school culture as well as social and emotional wellbeing. The framework has 5 keys that ‘drive’ positive behaviour, relationships and emotional wellbeing. I have also seen these 5 keys displayed on large key shaped posters in the classroom. They include:
- Getting along
- Organisation
- Persistence
- Confidence
- Resilience
There are also 12 ‘habits of mind’ that are also commonly used in Australian Schools and integrated throughout the curriculum they also include:
-Accepting Myself
-Taking Risks
-Being Independent
-I Can Do It
-Giving Effort
-Working Tough
-Setting Goals
-Planning My Time
-Being Tolerant of Others
-Thinking First
-Playing by the Rules
-Social Responsibility
Below are some useful resources on values education:
