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Post by Morrow on Dec 20, 2013 21:57:37 GMT -5
What are the benefits of involving students in the Social Contact? Students want to be heard, not just dictated to. In fact, we all want to be heard. Sometimes we forgot that our students feel this way just like adults do. They come from homes where their voices are not heard, so it is a pleasant surprise when we are willing to listen. Students take more ownership of the "rules" and consequences when they have developed them themselves. Sue- I agree with you that "students want to be heard, not just dictated to." By allowing students a voice in the class, they are getting hands-on experience with learning how to be leaders.
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Post by Morrow on Dec 20, 2013 22:02:06 GMT -5
What are the benefits of involving students in social contracts? Children can have an opinion on rules instead of one size fir all. Everybody likes to have some kind of say about how things are done.Sometimes we forget that you never know what a person is going through.When students work together on rules and consequences everyone benefits. Roz- I agree that students and adults want a say in how things are done. This allows them to take ownership of the class. You are right that we never know what a person is going through and we need to constantly remind ourselves of that fact.
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Post by ashleyehorn1987 on Jan 10, 2014 19:45:33 GMT -5
When you allow students to be a part of the rule making process they are more likely to take ownership and follow the rules. When the students are helping to develop the rules they have a better chance of understanding the rules and consequences, because they are using language and terms that are familiar. It also allows the students to have a say in what goes on in the classroom so they don’t feel like they are just being told what they can and can’t do in the school. The teacher’s role in creating rules would be to give a general goal or rule and have the students paint a mental picture as to what that rule or consequence might looking like in a school setting.
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Post by ashleyehorn1987 on Jan 10, 2014 19:49:20 GMT -5
What are the benefits of involving students in the Social Contact? Students want to be heard, not just dictated to. In fact, we all want to be heard. Sometimes we forgot that our students feel this way just like adults do. They come from homes where their voices are not heard, so it is a pleasant surprise when we are willing to listen. Students take more ownership of the "rules" and consequences when they have developed them themselves. Sue- I agree with you that "students want to be heard, not just dictated to." By allowing students a voice in the class, they are getting hands-on experience with learning how to be leaders. I agree with you Ms Saylor. I think that students not only have a better understanding of rules and consequences when they are able to help create the rules, but they also have a better understanding of the importance of rules and consequences in a learning environment.
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Post by ashleyehorn1987 on Jan 10, 2014 19:56:21 GMT -5
What specific elements make up a social contract?
connect the rules to values / principals identify the rules needed to have an effective classroom involve the students in the process rules should be specific and clear consequences should be tied as closely to the rule as possible consequences should be formed to guide the student in making good choices rather than just punishment consequences should include a range for violations to ensure that teacher can match the consequence to individual student circumstances Be flexible and seek to do what is educationally sound Update the contract regularly to ensure effectiveness
I agree and like the idea of social contracts. I think it is important for the students to help develop rules. I like when it states "be flexible". As students develop social and academic skills throughout the school yeah it might be a good idea to just refresh the kids on the rules and make changes. Instead of using rules the teacher could use goals.
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Post by ashleyehorn1987 on Jan 10, 2014 19:56:52 GMT -5
I agree and like the idea of social contracts. I think it is important for the students to help develop rules. I like when it states "be flexible". As students develop social and academic skills throughout the school yeah it might be a good idea to just refresh the kids on the rules and make changes. Instead of using rules the teacher could use goals. I like when it states "be flexible". As students develop social and academic skills throughout the school yeah it might be a good idea to just refresh the kids on the rules and make changes. Instead of using rules the teacher could use goals. HORN
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Post by ashleyehorn1987 on Jan 10, 2014 19:57:22 GMT -5
Sue- I agree with you that "students want to be heard, not just dictated to." By allowing students a voice in the class, they are getting hands-on experience with learning how to be leaders. I agree with you Ms Saylor. I think that students not only have a better understanding of rules and consequences when they are able to help create the rules, but they also have a better understanding of the importance of rules and consequences in a learning environment. I agree with you Ms Saylor. I think that students not only have a better understanding of rules and consequences when they are able to help create the rules, but they also have a better understanding of the importance of rules and consequences in a learning environment.
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Post by Crippen on Jan 11, 2014 16:19:33 GMT -5
The specific elements that make up a social contract are: establishing classroom values and principles then creating specific rules based on those values, having a range of consequences for each rule, allowing student input for creating the rules and consequences, having a test to ensure student understanding of the rules, a time investment, communicating the classroom rules and consequences with parents, and having the support of administration.
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Post by theresamatheny on Jan 12, 2014 15:28:49 GMT -5
While reading this chapter I kept thinking about how little feedback we give the students. A few years ago we stopped using the stop light system in the lower graders. I wonder if something like that could be an option again. My son's teacher uses, green= good work, blue= brilliant, star=super, Then, yellow= warning (with a note about what can improve) and red=parent contact. In the beginning of the year she sent home a contract with rules the students agreed on and all of the parents signed. I have received a report every single day this entire school year. When he is on yellow he tells me exactly why and can articulate what he needs to do better. When he's on blue I can reward him at home. Even the substitutes use it. The calendar is right in his agenda.
I'm not saying this is the only system but I can't really remember why we were told to stop using this because it seems to hit all of the points of this Social Contract: clear classroom values, student input and comprehension, great communication with parents and its easy to use for anyone else in the classroom.
For Andrew is was also great data to bring and analyze at a parent teacher conference. Would it be possible to consider this system again? I also used it when I taught K and found it really helpful encourage students to improve behavior.
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Post by Frail on Jan 29, 2014 10:40:33 GMT -5
2. What are the benefits of involving students in developing rules and consequences?
I like having students help develop the rules and consequences at the beginning of the year. By doing so it shows students opinions of rules being negative (ex: no talking. No touching.) By creating them together teachers are able to take their rule and make it positive. We also get to discuss how we can follow this specific rule and why it is a good rule to have. As for consequences, I'm not sure kindergarten understands yet how to relate a consequence to a broken rule so this is always used as a teachable moment.
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Post by fyu1988 on Feb 14, 2014 12:11:16 GMT -5
2. What are the benefits of involving students in developing rules and consequences?
Students are more likely the follow the rules when they have the opportunity to make them. Last year was the first year I allowed my students to create a "Class Constitution." They were able to work together in groups to decide what rules we should have in our classroom. They also had to discuss which rules were going to make it onto the constitution. If there were any disagreements, students had to justify their responses, explaining why it was important to place onto the document. In doing this, I was already creating a classroom culture; letting the children collaborate, therefore building our family in a sense. When the students were finished creating the rules, they were also responsible for coming up with consequences should the rules be broken. Once the constitution was complete, each of the students signed their first and last name, indicating they would follow the rules. I have found that in doing this, the students have healthier, happier relationships with one another and with me. If you take the time to explain the importance and relevance of rules, students will make the effort to choose positively!
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Post by fyu1988 on Feb 14, 2014 12:15:32 GMT -5
I agree with Ms. Frail's statement. "I like having students help develop the rules and consequences at the beginning of the year. By doing so it shows students opinions of rules being negative (ex: no talking. No touching.)"Turning negative statements into a positive is something I think all teachers have difficulty with! I like putting the positive statements onto the class rules :-)
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Post by Kelsey on Feb 26, 2014 18:14:03 GMT -5
Some elements that make up a Social Contract are: - established classroom values and principles - rules based on the above values and principles - creating consequences based on the rules - consistent parent communication - updating the contract as the classroom evolves to ensure the rules (and consequences) match the students' needs *ALL classroom workings (rules, expectations,values, consequences) must co-exist with each other and address the needs of your particular classroom and students.
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