Norms of 7 year olds Good for All

Because school is taking place at home, students are really missing their classmates, their teachers and their classrooms. Yesterday, I went throughout each classroom and took several photos that were then posted on Facebook. Seeing their classrooms provided great comfort and a sense of connection to that which they are missing.

In our 1st/2nd grade classroom, I snapped a photo of the Classroom Norms that they had collectively written. Their teacher Ms. Cornell wrote down what students felt was most important in creating their classroom culture. As I read through their top ten list of norms, I realized how much better of all of us would be if we adopted the norms of our 6 and 7 year olds.

In big bold letters, using a thick marker, the teacher wrote: Classroom Norms. Each norm was written with a different color marker so it stood out as important in it's own right. The norms they wrote included the following:

1. Play nicely
2. Make eye contact when talking
3. Have a sunny attitude (my personal favorite)
4. Cheer people up
5. Always include people
6. Be flexible
7. Listen actively
8. Use a kind tone of voice
9. Follow directions the 1st time
10. Say "Please" and "Thank You"

How empowering for our young students to participate in writing the list of what they hold most dear and then living those norms out, every day at school.