At the beginning of each semester, I pass out my class syllabi. My syllabus includes all of the expected things: units by topic and date, classroom procedures, hard and fast rules, contact information, etc. I also include something that has come to be a central part of my classroom management strategy: clear and understandable expectations.
Students often say that they know the rules. Of course, they say! Be respectful! Do your work! Come to class! But when it comes to what those expectations really mean, they have a much harder time defining them. What, for example, constitutes DISrespect? Is it enough to simply be physically present in the classroom? How much work is enough?
That’s why I try to use clear and concrete examples showing students not only what I expect from them, but also what they can expect from me. My classroom has five simple expectations: Be respectful. Be…
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Kalanjiam 