Classroom Etiquette:
During the first period, eight grade science class, two boys sitting in the front row were laying their heads down. The teacher asked them “Do you need to go to the nurse?” They replied with a no, so the teacher asked them to sit up.
In the middle school classrooms I think this is something that will happen more often than in other grades, because of the amount of energy the student’s bodies are using to go through puberty. I highlighted this moment because the teacher did not allow the students to sleep. Instead the teacher asked if the boys were in need of special attention and then expected them to live up to the classroom etiquette standards that he has put in place.
Rewarding Good Behavior:
During the sixth grade science classes, the students were going to be numbered off and put into groups of two for the dissection that we are working on this week. The teacher told the students that if they had their goal sheets and had the sheets marked as having had their third quarter goal reached, they could pick the partner they wanted to work with.
I am not one who normally believes in rewards and I am not sure if, or how I would use a reward system. I did think, however that if there was a way to use rewards this would be one I could apply. I like the idea that the reward was for setting and meeting a goal. I also like that the reward was not a tangible item, but rather an experience. An experience that was created by them obtaining their goals. That to me is real life.
Character Counts:
During the 6th period, sixth grade science class, there was a time the teacher stressed that the experience was giving the students an opportunity to build an important character. We were examining the exterior of the grasshopper, and it came time to take a moment and participate in classroom discussion. As part of an effort to lessen the noise, he asked that they put all of their utensils down. It was AMAZINGLY difficult for some of the students to do this. Each time a student would pick up a utensil, he would ask them to put it down and explained how “this would be a great time for them to practice self control. “
This stood out to me as a great way to incorporate character counts, which this school does not do, into application. I think it is important for us to show that these characters can and should be used in and with all situations. Pointing out, how to apply a character trait, to the students can assist them in mastering this trait.
During the first period, eight grade science class, two boys sitting in the front row were laying their heads down. The teacher asked them “Do you need to go to the nurse?” They replied with a no, so the teacher asked them to sit up.
In the middle school classrooms I think this is something that will happen more often than in other grades, because of the amount of energy the student’s bodies are using to go through puberty. I highlighted this moment because the teacher did not allow the students to sleep. Instead the teacher asked if the boys were in need of special attention and then expected them to live up to the classroom etiquette standards that he has put in place.
Rewarding Good Behavior:
During the sixth grade science classes, the students were going to be numbered off and put into groups of two for the dissection that we are working on this week. The teacher told the students that if they had their goal sheets and had the sheets marked as having had their third quarter goal reached, they could pick the partner they wanted to work with.
I am not one who normally believes in rewards and I am not sure if, or how I would use a reward system. I did think, however that if there was a way to use rewards this would be one I could apply. I like the idea that the reward was for setting and meeting a goal. I also like that the reward was not a tangible item, but rather an experience. An experience that was created by them obtaining their goals. That to me is real life.
Character Counts:
During the 6th period, sixth grade science class, there was a time the teacher stressed that the experience was giving the students an opportunity to build an important character. We were examining the exterior of the grasshopper, and it came time to take a moment and participate in classroom discussion. As part of an effort to lessen the noise, he asked that they put all of their utensils down. It was AMAZINGLY difficult for some of the students to do this. Each time a student would pick up a utensil, he would ask them to put it down and explained how “this would be a great time for them to practice self control. “
This stood out to me as a great way to incorporate character counts, which this school does not do, into application. I think it is important for us to show that these characters can and should be used in and with all situations. Pointing out, how to apply a character trait, to the students can assist them in mastering this trait.