Student Generated School Rules

“School” belongs to the students! Therefore, shouldn’t they have a lot to say about how and what they learn? If they are going to learn effectively shouldn’t they have the opportunity to establish the expectations of the environment where they feel they can be successful?

This year, we gave that opportunity to our Lower School students. A committee of two students from each 2^nd through 4^th grade class came together for three sessions in order to determine our School Wide Rules for the Lower School. These rules, or expectations, will guide our students’ interactions throughout the school, especially in our common areas like the cafeteria, playground, and the specialist area classrooms.

Mrs. Hall, the Lower School Director and I guided the students as they collaborated during each session and took full ownership of the process. At the first session students brought their classroom rules. These classroom rules were generated at the start of the year, through the hopes and dreams process of the Responsive Classroom approach. One by one, the committee, in small groups, discussed each rule. They then looked at themes to determine the different categories represented for example, responsibility, respect for people, and for materials. In the second session they took each and every classroom rule, cut them into separate strips and posted them to the correct category. (Wow, little qualitative researches!) Finally, during the last session they looked for overlap and commonalities; little by little, they funneled out repetitive information and re-worded each statement until they agreed on a set of rules they felt the whole Lower School community could commit too. Here is the final product, which the committee presented to the Lower School students at Inspiration (a community building and sharing time in the Lower School)

                       FLINT HILL LOWER SCHOOL RULES

·           Be responsible for yourself;

·           Be respectful of others;

·           Be responsible for and respectful of your own property and the property of others. 

One fourth grade student summed it up nicely, “These aren’t strict rules; these are ‘our’ rules and they will keep us and others safe.”

As educators we must look for the many opportunities for students to take charge of their learning. The rich conversations that occurred as students analyzed each rule, what they would look like if implemented, and the importance rules have in guiding the community to care for themselves, others and the community, was transformational and hard to describe in this short blog post. Give students the opportunity to lead and they will!

  
(I don't know why it is in different colors; but I will work on that later, I am still learning :)

Let Mandela’s Legacy Guide Our Journey

As we embark on Black History Month 2014 I want to take a moment to share a letter I wrote to my colleagues on the December 5^th, the day Nelson Mandela passed. Our Lead Learner, Sheena, is South African, and all of us, especially those who work very closely with her, have felt the influence of Mandela’s leadership on hers.

From a personal stand point, Nelson Mandela’s story has helped establish the moral compass that guides my leadership: a moral compass that includes compassion, courage, respect and responsibility. Leadership is an ongoing journey; my moral compass guides the way.

As we honor Black History month here in the United States we should remember Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom. Our country is still walking toward a more just and equitable existence. It is our responsibility to courageously and respectfully continue on this journey.

Dear All,

For many reasons I think it is important as a Lower School adult community, to take a moment to reflect and mourn the death of Nelson Mandela, and to appreciate the lessons, values and leadership qualities that Mandela has shared with the world.

There are absolutely no words that I can share that have not been recorded, reflected upon, or published on the impact that Nelson Mandela has had in regards to acceptance, humility, reconciliation, hope for equality and peace in the world. He has been by far the most influential world figure in the lifetime of many of us. Mandela is a global hero; however, we all know the impact he has had on his people, the people of South Africa, and we cannot diminish that direct impact, pride, and gratitude of South Africans.

Most folks will concentrate of his world legacy and his ability to transform a worldview, which of course, is what we all want and need in our interconnected global society. But many of us directly, and all of us indirectly have experienced his spirit, sense of hope, humility, and inspiration as a leader through Sheena and her model of sincere, humble, compassionate leadership. We all know that Sheena would say, this is not about me; this is about celebrating an extraordinary leader.

But Sheena, I want you to know, and it is my belief that I speak for a few others, that I have been able to more deeply appreciate, understand and connect to Nelson Mandela’s lessons, through your stories, your examples, and your modeling of his leadership traits. The most influential lessons that I have learned through your leadership, and ones that I believe are emulated directly from Nelson Mandela as a leader are: we are never to give up on “our people,” that there is good inside of every human being, and that each of our students should be cherished and supported to reach their full potential, and that we, as adults, should also never give up on our own hopes and dreams as individuals.

Sincerely,


Margo