Teacher’s Corner

The prompts below can be used for writing about or discussing class rules and consequences. 

1. If someone asked you why you have classroom rules, how would you answer?
2. Select one of your classroom rules . Consider what a reasonable consequence for breaking that rule should be. Explain why you think your consequence would be a good one.

Sometimes rules and consequences are decided by the teacher or school administrator because they believe they believe that is what is best for students—what will keep them safe and learning what they need to learn. Sometimes students can help establish what rules and consequences are necessary because they have shown self-control and a willingness to act in ways that are good for others as well as themselves. 3. Can you think of an example of each type of rule? Explain why you do or do not think both types are necessary.

Teachers, you can use this blog in classrooms. Here are two ideas about how.

1. For middle or high school parenting or child development courses:
   • Use the blog for discussion topics
   • Require students to research the topics and agree or disagree with what the blog is suggesting.
2. For all courses, especially English Language Arts:

• Use the blog for writing prompts for paragraphs, theme papers, journal entries, class starters, etc. Have students read the blog and respond to:
• Do you agree with what is being said about kids? Do kids really act, think or feel that way?
• Do you agree with what is being said about parents, grandparents, teachers and child caregivers? Do or should they act, think or feel that way?
• What would be your advice on this topic?
• What was left out of this article?
• If you were a parent, would you use any of this information? How?

Why can this blog be a useful teaching tool?

• Students that see connections between their coursework and their lives do better in school.
• Most students will either be parents one day or have children in their lives that they care about, so the topical information can help them build their knowledge about children and parenting and develop a positive image of the type of parenting they want to do.
• The new core literacy standards adopted by most states call for frequent writing in all courses.
• Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can think critically. These prompts help students practice critical thinking.
• Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can analyze what they read. These prompts help students practice analysis.