
Are you reading Unshakeable by Angela Watson? This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in an online book study on this book, and it has been enlightening, inspirational, and transformative. Each chapter has had some major “aha” moments and some “oh, I knew that” moments. Many of the ideas and thoughts in the book are tucked away in my brain for use later this school year, but some I am really putting into use on the first day of school. One of these is from Chapter 14 – Construct a Self Running Classroom That Frees You to Teach. Now I know that for some control freaks (you know who you are), this concept is unimaginable – a self running classroom? But, when you really think about it – it is absolutely possible. How do I know this? Because, my class is partially run by my students and I know that if I give them a little more control – it’s going to make my life much less stressful which is a good thing.
First, let me explain how my classroom is “partially run by students “. All students in my class have a job. Everybody. The difference is that the job is held for 4 weeks, not 1 week as I had done in the past. Remembering to change jobs is easy – at the interim report day and the end of the 9 week grading period. That means that my 3rd graders get really good at their job – take ownership and pride in doing that job – and I don’t have to be constantly training them! The best part is – they train their replacements.
YES! Great post.
Kristen