Long ago, when I first started in the classroom, there was a thing called, "Assertive Discipline". It was a theory of classroom discipline based on a behaviorist model from a book by Lee Canter. In essence, it listed positives, negatives and the consequences of each in groups of about five. That is, there were five rules, five expectations, five consequences for breaking the rules and five rewards for following directions. It was, for me, a great method for establishing my classroom discipline.
Fast forward, as the years seem to do, to now, and you will find one, very small trace of that method remaining on my walls. I long ago realized that I only need one "rule" in my classroom, and that is what you see centered over my white boards, "Show respect to yourself and others."
That covers it, doesn't it? That means you don't take what isn't yours. You don't cheat yourself, you keep your words honest-- it covers pretty much the whole host of behaviors that society expects of one.
That is the official rule of the classroom, but, as your students have heard, I have far more things to say about behavior than that-- but most of them don't get published on the walls for the parents to see. I thought I would share a few of those with you.
Go Beyond the Obvious
First, here is a favorite of mine, "Go beyond the obvious." I teach a smart bunch of kids and finding something new to teach each other can be a daunting experience. Still, it is what is expected. If it was the first thought in their head, it probably was the first thought in the heads of those around them. To be unique, one has to take the next step and go beyond the obvious. Don't just tell us what we already know, or don't write the story that is easy to write, think it through one more step and surprise us with something we didn't know.
Humor is always making fun of something.
We laugh a lot in my classroom. At least I do, and I hope your child sees it that way, as well. There is something funny around almost every corner. But humor, no matter what kind, is making fun of something. Sometimes we make fun of ourselves, sometimes other people or creatures. The trick with acceptable humor is knowing when and how to illuminate the joke without hurting someone. That is a sophisticated skill, to have a wit that can amuse people without harm. And that is a skill I wish for your child.
From everyone, I learn something, from some, I learn what to do, from others, I learn what not to do.
I teach stories, and stories aren't always filled with good people. But every character can be a role model, if you know what you are looking at. Even the bad guys have something to teach us. Watch, learn, pick and choose mindfully what parts you want to add to your personality and which parts you want to discard. Learn something from everyone and everything.
Learning to write is so much more than putting words on paper. It is even more than learning to think logically. It is an immersion into the human experience that turns the superficial thinker into caring and thoughtful person. I am lucky to be able to see that growth in your children, because they, in turn, teach me to be a more thoughtful and caring person, as well.
