Gaining Respect
in the Intermediate Grades Julie
Dermody
The best way to have your students
be respectful to you as the teacher is to be respectful
to them. I start the year with a discussion about individual
differences and how we can respect these differences within
our class. From this discussion class rules are developed.
These rules basically boil down to respecting each other
on the outside (personal space, not fighting), on the inside
(feelings), and respecting each other's personal property.
I hold regular classroom meetings to get my students' feedback,
ask them for their opinions, and share any concerns I have.
If class problems arise, I ask them for possible solutions.
If I do not have the answer to a problem, I am honest with
them and tell them. I also have a suggestion box in my
room and I encourage their signed and unsigned comments
and constructive criticism.
The students realize that I
care about their feelings and opinions. I have changed
class routines as a result of student suggestions. I also
explain if what they suggest is "out of my control" --
e.g.. not wearing hats in school is a school policy, not
a classroom policy -- there is nothing I can do (but I
will tell them who to contact if they would like to comment
about particular school rules).
Developing a sense of community
within the classroom helps build respect. Just as I have
responsibilities within the classroom, my students are
responsible for jobs. These responsibilities include filling
out a "While You Were Gone" sheet for class members that
are absent.
The most important way I obtain
feedback is through report cards--the report cards that
they fill out on me. Every time I fill out report cards
on them, they fill them out on me. My report card format
changes every year since each class designs it. At the
beginning of the year I review the report card format I
will fill out on their work and effort and they brainstorm
to come up with a report card that they can use to "grade" my
work and effort. Each year "fairness" and " being nice" are
leading qualities for a good teacher in their eyes.
It takes time to build a caring
community out of the class list that you are given at the
beginning of the year. The goal is to have students treat
you, themselves, and other members of the class with respect.
The time you invest at the beginning of the year in getting
to know each one of your students and listening to them--building
relationships--is worth every minute, as fewer problems
will arise as the year goes on.
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