P is for Pirate

I just got and read P is for Pirate: Inspirational ABC's for Educators by Dave Burgess and Shelley Burgess. Great, short, easy read. One "letter" and idea really stuck.

I was intrigued by this...what five words would I want? I decided that I would give my 2nd graders a little "pre-test". I asked them to write 5 words describing what they thought or felt about our classroom. I really didn't give them any other guidance. The responses were interesting and pleasing. The most used word...

Not only was it the most used word, it was the word that is most important to me. My first and foremost concern is my students happiness, their emotional well being. I want them to feel safe, secure and to know that I care about them. I have been thinking a lot about what I want my five words to be. I have run many words through my mind, and go back and forth. I will begin my list here! (Notice the exclamation point? I am trying to be confident...)

1. Happy 

I want every person in my classroom to feel that our classroom is a happy, fun place. I want a POSITIVE classroom culture. Even when things are serious, I want the children to know that I first and foremost care about them.

2. Safe

I want all students to feel safe. Not only physically safe, but emotionally safe. They will be respected and treated with love and compassion. They will not be demeaned or talked down to by any student or any adult, including myself, ever. I also want them to be safe to take educational risks, try new things. I want them to know that it is okay to fail and feel safe in doing so. 

3. Empowering

Students WILL be confident and resourceful. They will do these things together, not exclusively. For example, they will find the answers because they know that they can. They will search and not feel fearful of failure or uncertainty. Try, try, try.

4. Student Led

Students should know that this it THEIR classroom. I would ultimately like them to control as many of the daily routines as possible. I would also like them to take responsibility for their learning, to realize that they have a voice in our classroom.

5. Engaging

I want students to WANT to be in our classroom. I want students to be intrinsically motivated to learn, to crave more, and to be active participants in their own educations.