"Kids' Pride"

Jamie has reiterated something important from her most recent post as followed, "While they (kindergartners) will test every limit, at the end of the day, all they want if for you to tell them they've done a good job. If we hold strong to our expectations, our students will work with us to learn, and even have a little fun in the process" (11/6/2009). Although I still cannot locate the page number that I read from "The First Days of School," it instilled a concept in my head for some time now, as I have used it recently in the classroom, that is, kids love not only for their names to be said, but also, to see their name on the board. What I am trying to get at is by having the kids take pride in their name on the board, if not verbally said, this can both help implement classroom management and have them work with the teachers to learn and more.

I was soon reminded about this concept mentioned above when I started to write down the kids names on the board during lunchtime when I felt they have listened to my instructions and complied to my expectations. Not surprisingly, I witnessed kids whispering to their neighbor to lower his/her voice so that their name could be on the board soon after I jotted down a name at a time. Sooner than later, I was able to have all the kids comply to my expectations without a word having been said. To maintain this environment, I decided to place a check mark or erase the name when the child continued to follow my expectation or vice versa.

Ultimately, I found this to be a reminder of how much kids take pride in their name. In doing this method, it became difficult for the child to test me since there were no signs of a power struggle to begin with. There were fifteen other classmates who were "implementing" the same expectations, as I had asked for.

Implementing Classroom Management

Classroom management is something I feel is constantly on my mind. I am always thinking of new ways to be more effective in managing the classroom. Something might work one day, and the next it's a completely different story. Being flexible and able to juggle these inconsistencies is essential to creating an environment most conducive to learning. At the same time, however, having consistent expectations shows the students the correct way to behave in the classroom.

Page 83 in First Days of School discusses the notion of consistency as being one of these essential components. Students must know the class procedures and teachers should be consistent in implementing them. I feel this is something I'm working on every day. Last week's Love and Logic seminar also touched on this with the notion that teachers should not use threats of consequences they cannot follow through with. One that is breached, it is almost impossible to have effective classroom management skills.

Luckily, and this is especially true in Kindergarten, students want to be accepted by their teachers. While they will test every limit, at the end of the day, all they want is for you to tell them they've done a good job. If we hold strong to our expectations, our students will work with us to learn, and even have a little fun in the process.