Establishing CLEAR Classroom Expectations from Day ONE!

It is my belief that classroom culture is defined not by what is celebrated, but by what is tolerated. This concept suggests that the behaviors a teacher allows or ignores, even unintentionally, have a more significant impact on the classroom environment than the behaviors they actively promote or reward.

Here's how this idea unfolds in the sources:

• Tolerance Shapes Culture: If a teacher tolerates unwanted behavior, such as students being off-task, not working, or talking when they should not, these actions become normalized and contribute to a negative classroom culture.
• Students Test Boundaries: Students will naturally push boundaries to see what is acceptable. If the teacher doesn't address these behaviors, students will continue to cross the line.
• The Teacher's Role: Teachers may feel worn down by student behaviors and might let some things slide, thinking it's not worth the fight. However, by doing so, they are contributing to the problem.
• Consistency is Key: Teachers need to address misbehavior immediately and consistently, no matter how tired they are. If teachers do not consistently call out unwanted behaviors, the classroom culture will deteriorate.
• Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Students pay attention to what teachers do, not just what they say. A teacher can tell students to be quiet, but if they don't enforce that rule, students won't take it seriously.
• Proactive Planning: To avoid tolerating unwanted behaviors, teachers need to think carefully about their expectations for every part of the school day. Teachers should plan for what students should do when they enter the classroom, during lessons, and during activities.
• Systematic Approach: Teachers need a plan for how to respond to student misbehavior, including consequences. By being systematic and consistent, teachers can create a more positive and productive classroom culture.

The behaviors a teacher chooses to overlook or accept have the biggest impact on the classroom culture, and so it's important for teachers to be consistent and thoughtful about what they tolerate.

To watch my latest video in which I talk about this in more detail click on the image above.