Explain, rehearse, reinforce
- Practice routines: no student will remember a rule or routine on the first try.
- Post visual reminders of rules, such as lists on the walls, to help students remember.
- Give verbal reminders to help students stay on track and avoid rule-breaking situations.
- Reinforcement should be positive, punishment avoided.
Consistency
- Establish rules consistent with other teachers and within the school.
- Apply, explain and reinforce rules consistently. There can be no exceptions or exemptions.
Student ownership
- Allow students to develop a classroom agreement, incorporating what they think is necessary for a classroom, so that rules reflect what is important to them..
Classroom organization
- Establish groups and classroom areas by organizing desks and furniture logically.
- This is also an important element of the next goal, Classroom Community.
Brainstorm: What makes a great student, teacher, class and school?
Essential Agreement: the guidelines discussed and written as a class, developed from the brainstorm.