Agreements NOT rules

We all know that setting rules on the first few days of school is VITALLY important.  Students must have a clear picture of  behavioral expectations in order for the classroom to run smoothly. 

A few years ago I stopped calling classroom expectations, rules.  Instead, I call them agreements. 

Why?

First, lets explore the definition of rules.  Rules, according to Merriam Webster, are the laws or regulations prescribed by a founder for observance of its members.  In other words, rules are imposed.  Rules are put into place by someone with power who is "above the people."  They are made for compliance and punishment.

Now lets explore the definition of agreement.  An agreement is an arrangement that is accepted by all parties.   Agreements are negotiated and set for a purpose of collaboration.  

After thinking about these two terms, I decided I wanted my classroom to be a place where we ALL work together.  I didn't want my classroom to be run like a dictatorship.  So, I changed from rules to agreements.  

On the fist day, I ask my students one question....

1. What should our classroom look and sound like if we are safe and doing our best learning? 

As kids brainstorm ideas and share, I jot them down on chart paper.  When we are finished, we categorize them and filter them down into three simple agreements that all students can agree to.  

Finally, we make out three agreements "official" with our signatures.  Going through this process collaboratively with students makes them motivated to exhibit positive behavior.  Students are invested in the agreements, as they worked to make them.  Inside my four walls I want students to be safe, learn and feel valued.....and co-creating agreements is the first step to achieving that goal.

First Day of Small Group!

As a learning support specialist, I don't have small groups on the first day of school.  My groups start when we have analyzed the benchmark screening data to determine which students are most at-risk.

So....the students I see get two first days!  They get a first day with their classroom teacher, and then they get a first day with me!  It is very important for students to walk away from my small group with a positive first impression and a sense of belonging.  After all, we are a small family!

Using a "welcome to my group" treat tag is a perfect way to make an impact and greet the new faces in my classroom.  The kids love the treat....and I love that they are inexpensive to put together! :) 

In addition to the fun snacks, the first day of small group is spent getting to know one another, familiarizing the students with the classroom and dialoguing about our classroom agreements.  I also read Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen, which is a wonderful book to help build a sense of community within our group.  It helps create a culture where students feel safe, included and loved.

Are you interested in treat tags for your small group's first day, or even your first day in the classroom?  If so, click the image below!

The Starfish Story: A Teacher's True Purpose

Many teachers across the nation are preparing to head back to school in the upcoming weeks, while some have already began their year.  Once the school year begins, teachers quickly get bogged down with never ending to-do lists, supplies to buy, curriculum to learn, and professional development to attend to.  The list keeps going......  

This overflowing educational plate is all the more reason teachers spend time reflecting on "why" we chose this profession.  Each year I elect to read (and keep posted in my classroom) a poem adapted from Loren Eiseley's work titled "The Starfish Story."  It is a perfect message for teachers to recall why we do what we do.  We are here to invest in youth.  Invest in our future. 

Often I present professional development to first and second year teachers, and I like to give them this poem as they leave training.  Attached to the poem, I glue a small plastic starfish to serve as a reminder  of our true purpose in education.  I know all teachers reach point in the school year when teaching seems too hard and they feel as if they are barely keeping their head above water.  My hope is that they will look at that little starfish, and take a moment to refocus and realize the impact they are making. 

If you would like to share "The Starfish Story" with your colleagues, click the first image above or click here to download the poem for free.  If you are wanting to hand out little starfish--I purchased a 30 pack of of starfish from Amazon for under 10 dollars.  You can find the plastic starfish by clicking here.  

Self Care

When the back to school season hits, many teachers quickly forget about the importance of taking care of themselves.  Educators are SO BUSY getting their classroom ready, creating routines, thinking about schedules, new curriculum, old curriculum, standards, data..... All of that back to school brain busyness results in personal care getting put on the back burner.

So, this is just a friendly reminder that it is okay to make yourself a priority. It isn't selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself and make yourself happy.  It is necessary.  If you are constantly giving your all to everyone and everything, you will eventually burn out.  Your cup will be empty and you will have nothing left to give.

Take a moment and read through the 50 self care actions you can take to nurture yourself.  Pick your favorites, or try all of them! If it takes you scheduling personal care time on your calendar--then DO IT!  

If you are interested in tips on how to create a plan to keep you mentally healthy this school year, check out the Teacher Self Care.  This post gives four great tips on how to create a self-care plan. Another way to stay emotionally aware is by doing to a self-check using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid.  Check out this post which give great reflective questions for each level of Maslow's pyramid.   

Click the image below, where you can download the self care printable.  If you know of someone (spouse, friend, colleague, student) that needs self care--SHARE IT!