Class Rules| Fall 2012
Artifact Description
This artifact was a class rules assignment for SPED 405: The General Educator's Role in Special Education. I created a class rules sheet with the ideal learning environment I will continually strive to facilitate. This assignment allowed me to consider what kind of rules and procedures I want in my classroom and how do I expect students to behave in the classroom so that we can facilitate an inclusive learning community. This class rules sheet is a document that I would hand out to my students at the beginning of the school you on the first day of class. I structured the rules sheet with clear classroom expectations with general descriptions under each expectation, daily class procedures, and rewards or consequences. There is a reflection at the end of the class rules that summarizes what I thought was the most challenging part of creating the class rules sheet and what I thought was more straightforward.
Satisfying the Standard (Indicators: 4G, 4I, 4J)
This artifact models this standard because it entails a classroom environment that I hope to facilitate in my classroom. I want an inviting classroom environment in which students feel comfortable sharing their ideas to one another to promote their learning. Therefore at the beginning of the class rules sheet, I have one of Albert Einsten's quotes: "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." Underneath the quote I explained the reasoning of why I wrote the quote saying, "Part of learning and exploring the mathematics requires us to make mistakes in order to discover new ideas. In this classroom, we will make and encounter mistakes, but we will persevere together in resolving them." By creating a class rules sheet with clear expectations, procedures, rewards, and consequences, I have started to shape a classroom with a safe and healthy learning environment. Organization and clear expectations are key to developing a strong learning environment for all students. By including a section on my class rules sheet that identifies rewards and consequences, I have demonstrated knowledge in strategies to implement behavior management and behavior intervention planning to ensure a safe and productive learning environment. For instance, under Positive Reinforcements, students may have the opportunity to turn in one late or missing homework assignment for full credit while one consequence would be contacting the students' guardians if misbehavior continues. Moreover, the class rules sheet, through defining an inclusive learning community where all students must respect one another, provides a structure in creating a safe and healthy environment that maximizes student learning. By providing a description under each expectation and rule, I have created clear expectations and procedures for communication. In particular, I provide students my contact information at the beginning and end of the class rules sheet for any questions, concerns, or comments they may have. Moreover, I define the difference between an "In-class question" and an "out of class" question that will be conducive to learning on the class rules sheet.
Professional Development
This standard is very important when considering how can I create an inviting classroom that promotes productive learning in the classroom. In order to create a safe and healthy learning environment for all students, having clear rules and expectations for students is a key step. In order to have meaningful mathematical discussions in the classroom, it is important to communicate to students the expectations of how to treat others. Therefore as a teacher, I will take into consideration the many rules, procedures, and to clearly define them for my students of what I expect out of them. I know that an effective and inviting classroom environment takes constant effort and I will continually strive to try and create an inviting classroom for all students so that they feel comfortable to ask content related questions openly to promote their learning, and to solidify their understanding.
Go back to Standard Four