Hopes And Dreams/Rule Creation - 2011/12

There are just never enough bulletin boards, are there? This is my "Hopes and Dreams" board from last year, which was a big piece of paper and boarder masking-taped up to the wall. I considered it very negative symbolism when the whole thing would be on the ground in the morning and I'd have to add another 20 pieces of tape to the bag and re-stick it up before the kiddos arrived. However, now I see it as a symbol of what we teachers do daily. We remind everyone of why we're at school and keep our goals in sight. We uplift and inspire, and occasionally stick everything back up when it all comes crashing down! It's too bad that this photo wasn't a video - you'll notice the bulging corners of the "board" because the whole thing was about to slide off and bite the dust. I'm happy to say that I have a new bulletin board (a real one!) for our Hopes and Dreams this year!

"Hopes and Dreams" are a part of Responsive Classroom, by Origins from the Northeast Foundation for Children. I am trained in Responsive Classroom and believe in it's validity and ability to empower teachers and students. Here's a link to find out more: http://www.originsonline.org/responsive-classroom .

"Hopes and Dreams" are a part of the Rule Creation process:
1. Establishing why we come to school.
2. Listing our hopes and dreams.
3. Brainstorming a whole bunch of rules!
4. Sorting the rules into Place, Self, and Each Other.
5. Grouping them into positively stated, general rules (no more than 3-5).
6. You add a rule as the teacher.
7. Publishing and displaying the rules with class signatures.

There they are beneath the pumpkin! This is the list from last year. (I didn't get a picture until October? No time!) The beauty of student created rules is the ownership that comes with them. Students are more connected to the guidelines and understand their purpose more clearly. The signatures are great when it's time to point out that we agreed to follow the rules. (Rule number 2 actually came from the kiddos! Score!)