Everything that I had learned in graduate school I was ready to put in place. I wanted to find ways to properly present my classroom management plan and begin teaching. I learned that presenting my classroom management plan was a lesson in itself, the longest lesson I’d ever taught (about 2 weeks).
I genuinely believe my classroom management plan blossomed after the shared vision, code of cooperation, and SOPs were introduced. Our classroom shared vision is “We will learn so we can get an education, get a job, make money, take care of ourselves, and help others.” My class values the shared vision because each student can see their voice in it. The shared vision is what I consider “long-term goals for right-now learning.” My students recite their shared vision daily during our morning meeting. They all can state the shared vision without looking at the poster display in class. The Code of Cooperation aligned with the shared vision and serves as a “how to” for students to ensure that they are working to meet the shared vision. My students signed their name on our code of cooperation on August 27, 2014. They love seeing their names written on the code of cooperation poster!
It would be great one day to know that these very 3rd graders who created a vision for themselves actually live it out. I always encourage my students and say to them it would be the greatest feeling in the world to have them call me 10 years from now inviting me to their high school graduations. When students finish high school and go on to college they have already committed themselves to the beginning components of their shared vision.