one afternoon

This afternoon i read the essential 55 by ron clark.  It is entertaining, thought provoking, and inspiring. 
The philosophy of the list of rules made a lot of sense with one of the biggest problems i have with classroom management.  He says he was raised in a way that a lot of these things seemed like common sense but he soon realized that some kids did not have the same kind of home life.  The kids dont have the same background and support system as I did growing up so i have to start from scratch and create the basis that i want my kids to have.  I  I enjoyed the reminder that i need to teach expected behavior explicitly.  Role play good and bad from day 1.
These rules need to be explained to the kids.  They need to know exactly what is expected of them and be aware of the consequences.

Here is my list of rules, some of his 55 dont apply to my classroom, the way my school is set up, or my teaching philosophy.
1) Respond to adults with yes ma'am/no sir
2) Make eye contact while in a conversation to show respect and give importance to the person.   this will help with class meeting and group lessons.  it MUST be modeled explixitly with a converstaion about why it is important to look at someone in the eyes and how dishonesty can be detected by where you are looking while talking.  along the same lines, if someone is talking you cannot raise your hand because you are not thinking about listening you are thinking about talking.
3) cheering classmates accomplishments.  again, teach explicitly.  teach how to clap.  if one person starts clapping for someone everyone continues it.
4) Show interest "if you are asked a question in conversation, ask a question in return"
5) Do not show disrespect with gestures or facial expressions
6) always say thank you when given something.  if not...i'll take it away
7) Surprise others by performing random acts of kindness.  i'm not sure how to make this a rule...but i really really like it.  I guess from the model i present they can learn this rule?
(  ) when grading other students papers give only the correct grade (I feel like this one is good, but i wouldnt put it on THE list of rules, it fits into some of the others quite easily.)
(  ) Follow along when we read in class.  (again, I think its a good idea, but its not one for THE list.
8) answer all written questions with a complete sentence.  Even better if you explain your reason as well.  Develop, post, and teach 4 steps: repeat the question and answer it.  give a reason. support your reason and answer.  repeat the answer.
9) Do not ask for a reward.  You should want to be good for yourself so you can be proud of who you are, not for rewards.
10) you must complete your homework everyday.  He had a banner displayed in the hall outside the classroom with a count of all the days that every student completed all the homework.
11) Transitions/pack up will be swift, quiet, and orderly
12) when work is assigned to not moan or complain.  it will double if you do.
13) follow the specific classroom protocols.  the protocols he mentioned were things like DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR SEAT, FOR ANYTHING.  and he reminded me to be VERY VERY VERY strict at the beginning of the school year, and maybe by november they could have the priviledge of getting up to blow their nose without asking.
14) when walking in line keep your arms at your sides, move quickly, and quietly.  Not even the teacher can talk.  the line that is closest to the wall enters the classroom first.  the other line waits for command to slide over the wall and then to enter.  do not leave the classroom until everyone is silent and in line, not matter how long it takes.
15) never cut in line.  he uses this rule to emphasis the point that when someone does something and you make a big fuss, you will get in more trouble than the person who did the thing.  so... dont make a big fuss.  fix the problem quietly or let the teacher know politely and quietly and the teacher will fix it.  My problem with this one is that I dont know how to deal with all the little silly things the kids bring to me to complain about....
16) ***RULE 47*** make a silly random rule to keep the mood light.  "no Doritos in class" for example, and he smashed every bag of Doritos he saw.
17) if anyone in the school is bullying you, let me know.  this is an to show the class that we are a family and I will protect and stand up for them whenever they need me.
18) stand up for what you believe in
19) be positive and enjoy life
20) live so that you will never have regrets. i dont know how i feel about publishing this one.  i think it is similar enough to carpe diem, but the kids would twist it so easily and annoyingly
21) learn from your mistakes and move on.
22) be honest.  no matter what the circumstances
23) carpe diem
24) be the best person you can be

What i learned day 23

You need to try something 14 times to determine if you really dont like it.

What i learned day 22

Faulero is another word for tramposo, both of which mean cheater

what i learned day 22

I joined facebook on june 13, 2005

two comments on a wednesday

#1 i have two homes.  honestly sometimes i get so homesick for the United States.  Watching music videos makes me think of hearing these songs on the radio and i get homesick.  internet shopping make me homesick for the stores.  pictures on facebook make me homesick for the people.  news about the weather makes me homesick for the local news.  reading the bible makes me homesick for spiritual companions.  yet i know that at the same time if i were to move to the the US i would be homesick for mexico.  long drives to work would make me homesick for walking everywhere.  watching music videos would make me homesick for catching a soundbite of those songs while on the street.  pictures on facebook would make me homesick for the people.  pictures in travel media would make me homesick for the natural beauty.  So what do i do?  be where i am until i am somewhere else, huh?

#2 I am not good at the "what i learned" thing.  how is it that when i go to school it takes so much work to think of something that i had learned.  isnt school for learning?  but, on the days i dont go to school it doesnt take so much to write what i learned that day.  we could make a lot of conclusions from that, but i think i'll leave it alone for now.

what i learned day 21

I learned that pretzels are boiled in lye before they are baked.  LYE.  that's crazy.

What i learned day 20

Griega is crack in spanish. AND the space between tiles are not cracks or are they? The Kids had a big disagreement about that today.