The Best Rules

The best class rules—invoked as precepts and procedures—are those co-created by teacher and students. Cooperation in creation confirms this co-ownership and guarantees an adherence that does not come with imposition. If children are involved in the development of class rules, this shared ownership will validate their relevance and meaning to all class members.The best expectations are those designed to add to classroom comfort because the children consider each other. Quality classroom environments have a powerfully positive impact on children’s learning.

Flexibility in application should be inherent in the rules put into place. To make everything absolute and untouched can be too unbending because, on occasion, there may be exceptions that should be considered.  An example might be a child who has to leave the room suddenly and without gaining permission because they are about to vomit, have diarrhoea and so on.

 Rules apply in normal circumstances. Empathy and understanding should imbue the group’s thinking if exceptional circumstances affect some class members. Children accept particular circumstances as part of the accord, embracing the group.

Conclusion

Rules, regulations and procedures c are not ‘nailed onto’ classrooms as restrictive devices. They must be considered and embraced as a cv part of the operational and cooperative thesis upon which good classrooms are predicated.

Appreciation:

Thanks to Ms Louise Wright, Mrs Fran Selvadurai, Ms Bev Quinn and my wife Margo Gray for source material, thoughts and ideas.