Classroom Agreements and Job Chart

It may sound strange that we are just starting our classroom Job Chart in February! Here's why. I've had several parents request more explicit social-emotional learning and social skills lessons, so we are using the wonderful book The No-Fault Classroom: Tools to Resolve Conflict & Foster Relationship Intelligence by Sura Hart and Victoria Kindle Hodson.

In Lesson 1, which we did last week, we wrote our Vision Statement.

Our vision is a welcoming, calm & productive learning environment where people feel safe & happy. Everyone can communicate respectfully. Each person’s needs are met in a way that is kind & fair.

In Lesson 2, which we did on Monday (a great tie-in to the Protector Archetype), we wrote the first draft of our Classroom Agreements. This is meant to be a living document, which we can revisit and revise as needed.

After brainstorming things in a classroom environment that would make us feel physically or emotionally unsafe, and a review of the primitive/reptilian brain and the frontal lobe, etc. and how the brain works in stress (ie. when you do not feel safe YOU CAN NOT LEARN), we decided on a set of classroom Agreements that we all were comfortable following. This was a long meeting and took our entire afternoon work time. However, it was the favorite activity of many of the children, and most of them wrote it in their gratitude journals as the best thing of the day... better than the field trip to the Fire Station!

Little Bluestem Agreements
2019 - 2020

Stop and listen when others are talking. Stay present.

Don’t interrupt.

Think before you speak or act.

Use respectful language that is comfortable for everyone.

Be honest and keep your word.

Do no harm.

Be kind and thoughtful.

Try to notice if other people are being excluded.

Respect another person’s privacy.

Take good care of your physical and emotional needs.

Take good care of shared space and shared property.

Apologize for your mistakes and try to make amends.

Speak up calmly when something isn’t fair.

Treat people the way you would want them to treat you.

We also decided on the various tasks in our new classroom Job Chart.

Materials Managers
Plan Book / Colored Pencil / Clipboard
Pencil / Paper / Eraser
Gratitude Journal / Handwork Bag

Animal Care Experts
Rabbit Water & Food
Rabbit Bedding
Dog Water & Walk

Cleanliness Crew
Lunchbox / Water Bottle / Backpack
Mop / Sweep / Vacuum
Trash / Recycling / Art Sink

Most of these jobs function as a part of the end of the day routine, with a person assigned to double check that each classroom material or area has been tidied up. The animal care jobs take place in the middle of the day.

On Tuesday, students wrote me their job application letters!

In these letters, they were to explain which job they were applying for and why specifically they thought they would be a good fit for that job. Each child was also asked to include two additional classroom jobs they would be willing to have. The children will have these jobs for a month and, at the end of the month, they will train their replacements. This is how master teacher Jan Szymaszek at the Smith College Lab School (I was extremely fortunate to student teach under Jan in her third grade classroom when I had my teacher training at Smith) did her job chart and it worked exceptionally well.

Here are their letters:

I feel that I would do well on bunny duty because I have two cats and a dog and I take my dog out, and feed him and water him once a week. And I keep him company when he is scared. I feed my chickens and peacocks! I can volunteer for plan books and colored pencils.

~

I would love to walk the dog and give him water. Because I have three dogs but one of them needs walking. Lunchbox. Rabbit.

~

Bunny Food & Water
I think I should give the bunny food and water because I like bunnies and I think I would be good at it.

Bunny Bedding
I would like to do the bunny's bedding. I just like animals! I think that I would be good at it because I have a guinea pig and I have to change his bedding so I have experience.

Dog Walk & Water
I think I should give the dog water and walk because I walk my dog.

~

Rabbit Water & Food
I want to have the job of feeding and watering the rabbit. I would be good at this because I always take care of pets. I have experience with cats, dog, hamster, guinea pig, lizard, and a mudpuppy.

Dog Walk & Water

Sweeping & Mopping

~

Pencil / Paper / Eraser
I always find pencils.

Mop / Sweep / Vacuum
I sweep and vacuum all the time at home.

Planbook / Colored Pencil / Clipboard
I find planbooks and colored pencils on the ground a lot.

~

Dog Walk & Water - #1 Choice
I think I should help take care of Archie because I have taken care of Archie over the summer and I like taking him on walks.

Lunchbox / Water Bottle / Backpack - #2 Choice
I could also do this job because it appeals to me. Ummmmmmmm. I could hand out / make sure everyone has their stuff.

Rabbit Food & Water - #2 1/2 Choice
This job would also be fun because I like to help take care of animals. It would be fun to feed Chia every day.

~

Planbook / Colored Pencil / Clipboard
I remember to feed my dogs so I think that I can remember to do this job. I think that I can be careful with the supplies.

~

I have applied for the job Materials Manager because my mom usually comes late and I have extra time.

In the next few lessons the book has us make our IOS Power Panels (to help us monitor our Feeling Thermometers), learn about Energy Shifters (how to get back to Calm Alert), and start to practice exactly how to use the appropriate steps and language from Non-Violent Communication to handle a frustrating situation. I'm eager to see how these explicit lessons on SEL and social skills make a difference in how the children talk to one another!

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