How can you create more of a self-running classroom by giving students more responsibility? (If you are an administrator, how you can create more of a self-running school by giving staff more responsibility?) In your personal life, how can you create more of a self-running home?
How can you create more of a self-running classroom by giving students more responsibility? In your personal life, how can you create more of a self-running home?
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the school year, I created jobs. Attendance taker, absent helper, paper collector and organizer, supplies distributor, supplies gatherer. I also, when needed, have delegated the task of guard for password checker to enter the classroom. I would like to make a corrected papers distributor but I don't want them to see everyone's scores.
Self-running home. The best (only) way I do this is by making a family size recipe of soup and freezing it in individual portions for my lunches during the week. I suppose I could make a chore schedule so I know which day I'll clean what to take off the mental load of it all.
How can you create more of a self-running classroom by giving students more responsibility?
ReplyDeleteI assign students jobs every day. I have attendance helper, supplies manager, paper passer, etc. If there are other jobs that I think they can handle as third graders, I utilize them and have them help me. They actually really enjoy being able to help and take leadership in the classroom and it helps every day activities run smoothly.
In your personal life, how can you create more of a self-running home?
At home, it's only my husband and I and our 10 month old daughter. My husband and I know the things/household tasks that need to get done and work together to make things run smoothly at home. We are a great working team and realize when we're struggling or just need a break. We make things easier for each other and are extremely supportive and helpful when we know it's necessary.
I love the idea of a more self running classroom, but that is hard at Kindergarten. They do know that every morning the daily work will be at their table spot and needs to be completed before they can do some coloring sheets while I do lunch count and attendance. They also know that when they complete any work that we are doing--instead of telling me they are done--spelling words are on the white board for them to practice. At lunchtime, they know that they have to get dressed for recess depending on the weather.
ReplyDeleteAt home, it took me longer to let people help with chores at home. But now I ask them to help or love it when they surprise me and unload/load the dishwasher.
As a high school special educator I can play support system or I can play safety net. But working on handing over the responsibilities is, I believe, one of my main jobs. Ideally, my students will be able to work independently using the tools and phrases that they need to help them all. Each week, I go through and write out missing assignments, it occurs to me that I could train them to write assignments that are missing-- this is an accountability measure, but who better to be accountable than the actual student.
ReplyDeleteI am a mother of a 6 year old and holding him accountable for things like picking up toys, laundry, and helping with prepping supper is something that NEEDS to happen. It will only make him better. I struggle with the continual yelling at him to start and finish each task. I am not a very good house keeper at all, but training my family to be in charge of some tasks to take off my plate my allow me to do others with less frequency.
As a TK teacher my students have responsibility and know what to do each day. They have jobs and I change those jobs daily because when you're little, waiting a week or more before you get a 'job' is a really long time to wait. They learn expectations at the beginning of the year and then we review those expectations when it is necessary. Students know what the consequences are if the rules are not followed. At home, it is me being a perfectionist, thus, it's hard for me to delegate. My husband is wonderful and helps any and every way he can - it's just hard for me to let go of things and let him do chores or jobs. I'm getting better with age, yet, I still find myself doing things over when he's not aware.
ReplyDeleteA self running classroom is about setting routines. One example of this in my room is our calendar time. For the first two weeks of school I run this, but after that the leader of the day runs calendar. All students know what is expected of them during this time. People could come in to talk to me and it would continue, because the kids know how to do it.
ReplyDeleteAs for a self running school, I suppose an administrator would give staff more responsibilities as well.
I'm not a teacher or administrator - but I do lead a team of six in an educational non-profit. I REALLY struggle with Superhero Syndrome. I want things done my way and it's hard for me to ask for help when I know others won't do it to "my standard". I've been in my organization for 19 years... and when I stop to think about it, some of the tasks I'm still doing, I started doing when I first started. There is no reason others on my team couldn't take over those tasks. I need to create a list of things that I can delegate, and then implement a process to ensure they are being accomplished.
ReplyDeleteAt home, I have a 4 and 6 year old... we just got a new fridge and it's allowed us to change many processes. For example, we got a Britta with a pourable spout rather than a pitcher so that the girls can get their own water. (We also moved their glasses out of the top cupboard to a lower shelf.) This has motivated my husband and I to brainstorm additional ways they can be self-sufficient - recognizing this is good for both them and us! It's all about being intentional and sometimes making small changes to accommodate new processes.
For me, in both my personal and professional life, the key to running more self-sufficient is to be more mindful of my organization and planning. I need to look ahead and foresee when I may need others to help, when there are jobs that others can easily do, and to clearly state my expectations. This is very difficult for me as I like to just do everything myself.
ReplyDeleteHow can you create more of a self-running classroom by giving students more responsibility? In your personal life, how can you create more of a self-running home?
ReplyDeleteIt definitely resonated with me when the author talked about not allowing kids to help with certain things that I have been concerned about it being done right. Giving students more responsibility with tasks like mail, checking their own work, and switching out supplies for the week. I really like the idea of having designated groups of students for things like technology issues or helping new students. For me that would take classroom jobs to a next level.
In my personal life, I could put let responsibility on myself for things like dishes, cooking, and deep cleaning and give my husband more opportunities to help with those tasks. I like doing certain tasks on the same day each week and could add in more of that to have more of a routine that I don't have to think about as much. This could include things like laundry, meal prepping, and deep cleaning.
Responsibilities give my students in the classroom are helping with milk break, ipads (making sure they’re plugged in at the end of the day), hallway leader, and mailbox helper (students are in charge of sorting daily work that goes home). These are all things that help keep our classroom running and the students look forward to these jobs each week. In my personal life, I do my best to keep my family on a schedule. Our weekdays all look very similar. We also have recently moved to a new home and downsized our things immensely before moving in. This was the best thing we did to create a self-running home. Less stuff means less to keep up with! My kids and husband also help keep our house running smoothly.
ReplyDeleteHow can you create more of a self-running classroom by giving students more responsibility? (If you are an administrator, how you can create more of a self-running school by giving staff more responsibility?) In your personal life, how can you create more of a self-running home? I have jobs that students do every day. I also have the enlist the assistance of paraprofessionals. For example, there are certain hours of the days that I have paraprofessionals in my room I will have them stop at the printer on their way down to my room (I don't have prep this year until the afternoon) if I printed something. I will have them bring papers to other teachers when they leave my room if I can't leave for a while or get to it.
ReplyDeleteAt home-I have my son be responsible for more of his items and things he needs to do. He is getting older and I am letting go of that feeling that I am responsible for everything. He will need to learn how to do all of this soon, so he might as well start now.