Classroom Culture

   Classroom Culture is just my preferred way of saying "classroom rules."  But it is not really rules per say, but more "this is who we are."  I personally think rules are ineffective, because there is no end to what someone can do wrong.
  Rules are  like those old arcade Whack-a-Mole games where you have the mallet and you are trying to hit the heads of the Moles popping out of their holes.  The problem is that as soon as you hit the Mole, another one pops-up.

 As you can see by the look on this guys face, it is a very exhausting process...
As an example, say Clinton hits Adrian with a fist in the shoulder.  I, the teacher say, no hitting in the classroom, that is a rule (One mole whacked).  Clinton then proceeds to slap Adrian on the back of the head.  "I didn't hit him!" We then get into a semantic argument about what hitting means--Does the open hand count? I'll just kick then. Can I use my elbow?  (Whack-A-Mole-Whack-A-Mole-Whack-A-Mole)

  It is much more effective to say in this classroom we are "kind" to one another or that we "respect".  These types of words are very abstract, and not a very effective word if you just say it without any sort of definition.  Learning any word you need to see examples and equally important is non-examples. In the case of Clinton hitting Adrain this is a non-example of respect or kindness. It is also very important to teach stories, and incorporate the principles of our classroom culture in the curriculum that will help illustrate and define what things like respect, kindness, grit, communication mean.  The hope is that students will learn not to just follow a rule, but to develop the characteristics.  This is a positive approach as opposed to a negative approach.

  Having said that, I almost must emphasis that my classroom is not a void of rules.  In fact, I believe in a tight and structured classroom, particularly in the beginning.  However, these characters serve as guiding principles or a culture that all other guidelines can flow from.

   In order for the students to really develop these characteristics it would be most efficient that they can be reinforced at home.  Please see the tabs at the top for the principles or characteristics we will be working on for our classroom culture.  We will be adding examples and non-examples for each characteristic as the year progresses.