best rules come from the kids

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Home : 2001 : August : 26

best rules come from the kids
By katherine

I spend the first weeks of school discussing and eliciting what the kids think their behavior should be for all of us to get along and learn. I too am in an urban school and year after year, through guided discussion and role playing, they usually come up with the same4 or 5 positively phrased rules:
Absolutely No Violence or Hurtful Words
Listen When Someone Is Speaking
Respect People's Bodies, Property and Ideas
Remember to Share
Try Your Best
I've had great success with this because they're not just my rules, but everyone's. It's very satisfying to hear one child remind another of one of the rules when they make them their own.