Perspective

The photocopier decided to eat my resources for this particular lesson. 10 minutes later it regurgitated them, as if spewed from the machine in disgust. I was late...

As I walked into my classroom I had the sense of being in one of those claustrophobic Edwardian plays where the whole world is reduced to one room. To the right of the scene one student was throwing paper aeroplanes, at the back was another student held up against the wall by another and I had time to note someone who might be a new student having an argument on a mobile phone. Then the tableau came to life...

After a bad day, I find it so reassuring to turn back after I have left the school gates and remember that it is just a building with people in it; that even when things have gone disastrously wrong, there is a world outside the classroom walls.

Self determination

We must resist against those that try to define 'us': the educational system, our schools, our leaders etc. We mustn't allow others to define our world for us, as they will make our world too small.

More on expectations...

Michelle Pfeiffer demonstrates her faith in the potential of every single member of her class in 'Dangerous Minds' by telling her class of disaffected students that they all have ‘A’ grades. To quieten the shouts of derision, she goes on to explain that it is up to them whether they keep it or lose it. I liked this!

The choice

This strategy tends to avoid confrontation very well. The idea being that it is up to the children to sort out their own behaviour. The role is not so much about forcing them to do what you ask; instead it is about putting the decision in their hands. When a student misbehaves, a statement about the desired behaviour is useful. Then, if they refuse to comply, offer a choice, outlining both the benefits of doing as you ask, and also the consequences of refusing. Once the choice has been offered, walk away, leaving the student to consider their options. If they have not the sanction needs to be applied.
Ideally, we want our students to take responsibility for their own actions, and for the consequences of those actions. This is also vital in helping young people prepare for their lives beyond school.

The scene of the crime

Another idea pinched from Sue Cowley—the scene of the crime—and I adapted this for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. This grabbed the attention of one of the rowdiest classes and they were more than happy to go along with the fiction of the lesson.

When they entered the room the students enter a crime scene, clues are scattered around the room and they must examine the scene, discuss their findings in groups and then report back. Great!