"You Run A Tight Ship"

In the past week, two parent volunteers have spent some time helping out in my classroom. They are guardians of different students and each of them have independent of one another told me, "you run a tight ship."

I'll be honest, I didn't know what that phrase really meant. So I looked it up.
In case you're like me, the definition according to thefreedictionary.com is: to run a ship or an organization in an orderly and disciplined manner. I took that to be a very high compliment. 

It got me to thinking about my teaching philosophies and practices, and what I've learned about children in my teaching career thus far. Here's just a few tidbits from what I've learned (and am still learning and trying really hard to practice):

• CHILDREN NEED DISCIPLINE. Now I'm not talking about corporal punishment or anything of the sort. I'm talking about establishing set rules and corresponding consequences, and holding to them. If a child makes a mess in my classroom, they clean it up. If they say a rude comment to anyone, an apology is required. I'm not perfect at this, but I do my best to establish expectations with my students and uphold the consequences. Now, I hold myself accountable to these expectations, too. When I make a mistake, I apologize to the class and I do all I can to fix it. Additionally, I'm learning that I can't relent on these expectations because when I do, I lose the integrity of the system we've established and the class turns to chaos (true story, written from experience). Mercy has it's place, but it usually looks like the child and I cleaning up the class TOGETHER when a paper-tearing-hey-day ensued. 

• Note: I am not a mean teacher if I sternly uphold my rules. I am a teacher expecting great things. The moment I lower my expectations is the moment I lower my students' ability to reach the incredible. 

• CHILDREN NEED KINDNESS. I don't believe in yelling. I believe in please and thank you's from children talking to adults as well as adults talking to children. I believe in using gentle tones to correct someone, unless it's an emergency (my students know the only time I yell is during fire/earthquake/lockdown drills when they aren't doing what they're supposed to and I'm concerned for their safety). I believe in giving compliments often and correction when needed. I believe in celebrating birthdays, celebrating friendships, and celebrating success. I believe in giving a child a second, third, fourth, and fifth chance--as many as it takes for them to be able to master a skill.

• CHILDREN NEED BOOKS. They need to be read to, they need to be read with, and they need time to read on their own. If you can read, you can tackle any subject. Their growth is dependent on their literacy.

• CHILDREN NEED AN EXAMPLE. The phrase "Do as I say, not as I do" it total rubbish. Dumbledore once said "It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities." (Thanks for that, J.K. Rowling). Children need an example to follow. I show my students reading is important by reading to and with them. I show them writing is important by writing to and with them. I show them kind words are important by complimenting them.

• CHILDREN NEED TO DO CHORES. My students wipe their tables, pick up trash, organize the bookshelves, put the computers away, and stack the chairs. Our custodians do a lot too, and my colleague Megan knows that our computer cart is rarely left perfect, but helping to keep their area clean helps them to appreciate the resources they have. 

It is my great, great privilege to be a teacher. I am still pretty new at it, and I flub up sometimes, but I'm doing my best to give my students the education they're so deserving of by giving them discipline, kindness, books, good examples, and chores.

You might agree with some of my ideas, and you might not, and I'm open to listening to your thoughts if you want to comment.