In the previous pages, classroom rules and procedures were discussed, but how do we go about teaching the students these things? When learning any new things, practice and repetition are key to success. In order to teach my students about the rules and procedures they need to follow to function in the classroom, I will be using a lot of repetition and practice during the first few weeks of school. In the younger grades, students need more reminders on following procedures because they are just learning the "system." However, as students get older they start to realize that most of the rules stay the same, and are just general things they should follow. For the older grades, it would be wise to tell them the rules and have them practice, but the practice doesn't need to happen for the same amount of time as it does in the younger grades. Younger children will need to have the rules and procedures reminded to them quite often. They may not have figured out the system, and thus will needed to be reminded more often. Practicing these rules will able be vital to the success of them. For example, if the class is learning how to line up for library, it may take 10 tries to get it right. If students talk when they are not supposed to, then I will have them start over so that the procedures get ingrained into the students minds. If students are allowed to slip up on the directions to follow, then they will never learn the proper way, and management will become much more difficult. This ties into consistency. If the directions and procedures are not consistent every time, students will learn that they can slip up or misbehave because there are no consequences. In the first few weeks of class, when classroom management is being established, consistency is so important to keep the kids on track the rest of the year.
When I am teaching my students the rules and procedures I will also used a rewards system that will slowly be cut back as time goes on. The tangible reward for following directions can help get students motivated to do what they are asked. This is especially important in the beginning of the year when students may not understand the importance of following rules and procedures. As the students learn the rules and time goes on, the rewards will slowly be cut back. At first, almost everything might be rewarded somehow. This is a behavioristic approach to reinforcing the desired behavior of following directions. At the end of the year, the rewards will almost be totally gone. Every now and then I will reward to keep motivation up, but not everyday like the beginning of the year. |
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