The First Day
Rules vs Procedures
|
Teaching Classroom Procedures
Most learners have been well trained on how to adequately behave in a traditional classroom. Consequently, modeling appropriate classroom procedures for group work, resource exploration, and learner responsibility will be necessary. I will not tell them what to do, but I will show them how effective learning occurs in diverse settings. |
THE FIRST CLASS
setting the stage for a healthy classroom environment
Teaching the tenets of my management plan and philosophy to my students will be one of the first pieces of instructions I give learners. From this brief overview, they will be aware of their responsibility to make their own decisions about their learning and behavior in the classroom. We will go over Glassner's Five Basic Needs to create boundaries, decide on the curricula and grading, get to know one another, and set the tone for our time together. I will establish my absolute rules and the school's discipline policy regarding them, then the learners will establish the rules and consequences for their learning environment. After we discuss Glassner's Five Basic Needs, I will explain features of the environment I have made available-- water, various seating arrangements, etc-- and they can expand upon them to make the environment their own.
Glassner's Five Basic Needs
SurvivalThis need mandates that we behave in ways that produce food, shelter, and safety.
Gaining PowerThis need demands that we learn-- gain knowledge and skill to use in our lives. The more we know, the more we can do. Knowledge and skill are the basic ingredients of self-esteem.
|
BelongingThis need requires that we be connected to our world: to be with people who know and care about us and to be accepted –or even better, appreciated.
Having FunThis need charges that we behave in ways that bring joy and satisfaction into our lives. Having fun strengthens us psychologically and physically. It results from accomplishment, recreation, and entertainment.
Being FreeThis need obligates us to be in control of our lives; to set goals, to make plans, to choose behaviors, to evaluate results and to decide what to do next.
|