#9 Classroom Pledge/Promise

Every new school year, I have my students help me create rules that they think would be appropriate to follow in our classroom.  I involve them as much s possible, and guide the discussion when needed.  I guide the discussion by creating a tree map, labeling the top categories as how we can be respectful, safe, and responsible.  The students then help me write rules that they think are important under the three categories.  We all promise to follow these rules and each student signs his/her name.  Throughout the school year I refer to the rules, or maybe bring a specific students attention to a rule that they might have broken.  However, looking back I feel like there is more that I can do, more ways to make the rules and expectations clear and important for each new day in our classroom.  I found a few resources where teachers call them class promises, or class pledges and they turn their classroom rules into a chant that they recite daily.  I really liked this idea, and feel like I want to use it next year.  Again, I think I would change this class promise to maybe fit my students needs and maybe create a new one each year as it is different for each class.  However, this is a class promise I came across when looking into different ways to maintain strong classroom expectations. 

We are peaceful with our words and our actions.

We are respectful of people and things.

We are responsible for all we say and do.

We are enthusiastic learners and always work with excellence.

A personal goal I have for myself for the next school year and all of the school years to come, is to stay true to my expectations as a teacher.  I start the school year so strong and clear with my expectations, procedures, rules, and then as the years goes on I feel like I become lenient and then I get mad at myself for letting go of my high expectations.  This year I want my students to know that I have high expectations for them because I know they can reach them.  I want to start the school year strong and end the school year strong!