freedoms and responsibilities1

NovaQuest International School; 12 F.C.C. Maratab Ali Road, Lahore, Pakistan. Phone: 042-577-804, 807NovaQuest International School; 12 F.C.C. Maratab Ali Road, Lahore, Pakistan. Phone: 042-577-804, 807 11

Classroom ManagementClassroom ManagementFreedoms and Freedoms and

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Aurangzeb BhattiAurangzeb BhattiNovaQuest International NovaQuest International

SchoolSchool


A “Star Teacher” knows in their mind A “Star Teacher” knows in their mind that they want a balanced classroom that they want a balanced classroom environment environment

They want students to have a voice, They want students to have a voice, but they don’t want them to take but they don’t want them to take advantage of the teacher’s “Good Will”. advantage of the teacher’s “Good Will”.

The goal is for an The goal is for an atmosphere of mutual atmosphere of mutual respectrespect. But how can you make that . But how can you make that happen?happen?

Freedoms and ResponsibilitiesFreedoms and Responsibilities


Take a page from the founders of Take a page from the founders of successful and respected countries - who successful and respected countries - who developed a unique government. Those developed a unique government. Those people had the foresight to “people had the foresight to “Empower Empower the People with Freedoms and the People with Freedoms and Temper those Freedoms with Temper those Freedoms with Responsibilities”Responsibilities”.. That same solution That same solution will work for you in the classroom as well. will work for you in the classroom as well. (An example is the United States of (An example is the United States of America, where teachers often refer to America, where teachers often refer to the founding fathers who set an example)the founding fathers who set an example)



When people are oppressed, they tend When people are oppressed, they tend to be sullen, until they finally rebel – to be sullen, until they finally rebel – children are no different. children are no different.

Whether we are talking about a Whether we are talking about a country or a classroom, that is a simple country or a classroom, that is a simple fact of human nature.fact of human nature.

If you choose to run your classroom If you choose to run your classroom like a dictatorship, ruling with fear and like a dictatorship, ruling with fear and oppressing students, you will develop a oppressing students, you will develop a classroom environment of resentment. classroom environment of resentment.



In a “dictatorial” environment, will In a “dictatorial” environment, will students obey you? Reluctantly, yes, but students obey you? Reluctantly, yes, but only out of fear of retribution. only out of fear of retribution. Eventually, students will begin to rebel Eventually, students will begin to rebel in small ways. in small ways.

Those small rebellions will strengthen Those small rebellions will strengthen them, and soon you will find control of them, and soon you will find control of the classroom and your composure the classroom and your composure slipping through your fingers.slipping through your fingers.



On the other hand, when people are given a On the other hand, when people are given a completely free reign, chaos tends to occur.completely free reign, chaos tends to occur.

With no accountability, any behavior With no accountability, any behavior becomes acceptable and thus overlooked.becomes acceptable and thus overlooked.

The leader is treated no differently than The leader is treated no differently than anyone else in the group. In fact, any initial anyone else in the group. In fact, any initial respect is soon lost as the people see that respect is soon lost as the people see that their leader is unable to maintain control. their leader is unable to maintain control.



Unfortunately, this happens all too Unfortunately, this happens all too frequently in the classroom, when frequently in the classroom, when students make all the rules and/or the students make all the rules and/or the teacher does not hold students teacher does not hold students accountable for their actions. accountable for their actions.

No matter how fun and interesting your No matter how fun and interesting your lessons are, without structure your lessons are, without structure your class will be in constant chaos. class will be in constant chaos.

You even might find yourself pleading You even might find yourself pleading with students to behave - Be aware; in with students to behave - Be aware; in that moment, they are the ones in that moment, they are the ones in charge of your classroom.charge of your classroom.



Your goal should be to empower Your goal should be to empower students to take a part in their own students to take a part in their own learning while being held accountable for learning while being held accountable for their behavior and work product. their behavior and work product.

This can be accomplished only when you This can be accomplished only when you have implemented a system of have implemented a system of Consistency and FlexibilityConsistency and Flexibility within the within the classroom.classroom.

Consistency and FlexibilityConsistency and Flexibility are the key to are the key to developing a culture of “Freedoms and developing a culture of “Freedoms and Responsibility” within the classroom.Responsibility” within the classroom.



Freedoms & Responsibilities – what are Freedoms & Responsibilities – what are they?: they?: What should those freedoms be? What should those freedoms be? What kind of responsibilities should I What kind of responsibilities should I

give my students?give my students?

Both Both Consistency Consistency and and FlexibilityFlexibility should should naturally develop from your naturally develop from your expectations. expectations.



Think about how Think about how youyou would expect to be treated would expect to be treated -- in a staff development workshop, for example; -- in a staff development workshop, for example; Would you be offended if you had to ask Would you be offended if you had to ask

another adult for permission to use the another adult for permission to use the restroom? restroom?

How irritated would you be if you forgot a pen How irritated would you be if you forgot a pen and were forced to sit outside the room as and were forced to sit outside the room as penance for your forgetfulness? penance for your forgetfulness?

Take the golden rule to heart: Take the golden rule to heart: Treat others as Treat others as you want to be treated.you want to be treated.



In a good classroom, students should In a good classroom, students should have the freedom to use the restroom have the freedom to use the restroom (with a pass), get materials, consult (with a pass), get materials, consult with other students, take a short break, with other students, take a short break, and get a drink of water or a small and get a drink of water or a small snack as needed.snack as needed.

Their responsibilities are to get their Their responsibilities are to get their work completed on time and in a neat work completed on time and in a neat manner, be respectful of others, and manner, be respectful of others, and keep their areas clean.keep their areas clean.



You might wonder how you keep You might wonder how you keep students in their seats for instruction if students in their seats for instruction if they have those kinds of freedoms. they have those kinds of freedoms.

A good concept to use is “My A good concept to use is “My Time/Your Time” that provides a Time/Your Time” that provides a structure for mutual respect.structure for mutual respect.

My Time / Your Time ConceptMy Time / Your Time Concept


First, show students respect by First, show students respect by empowering them to take care of their empowering them to take care of their needs without feeling as though they are needs without feeling as though they are in a “prison”. in a “prison”.

In return, Expect them to respect “My In return, Expect them to respect “My Time” as the teacher. Time” as the teacher.

““My Time” is any time where the teacher is My Time” is any time where the teacher is giving direct instruction, giving directions, giving direct instruction, giving directions, or addressing the class as a whole. (That or addressing the class as a whole. (That applies to any adult in the room.) applies to any adult in the room.)



During “My Time”, the teacher can ask During “My Time”, the teacher can ask that students show respect by listening that students show respect by listening quietly, taking notes as needed, asking quietly, taking notes as needed, asking questions as needed, participating, and questions as needed, participating, and staying in their seats. staying in their seats.

Always teach mini-lessons, so “My Always teach mini-lessons, so “My Time” generally lasts no longer than 15 Time” generally lasts no longer than 15 minutes or so.minutes or so.



““Your Time” is any time students are Your Time” is any time students are working individually or together on an working individually or together on an assignment or activity in the classroom.assignment or activity in the classroom.

During that time, students may sign out During that time, students may sign out to go to the restroom (one at a time), get to go to the restroom (one at a time), get a drink of water, get a small snack if a drink of water, get a small snack if needed, get materials, consult with other needed, get materials, consult with other students (about class work), and so on.students (about class work), and so on.



In return, each student is responsible In return, each student is responsible for getting the activity/assignment for getting the activity/assignment completed and turned in on time, completed and turned in on time, respecting others, and keeping their respecting others, and keeping their areas clean so the classroom is left areas clean so the classroom is left the way they found it.the way they found it.



For a progressive classroom, a teacher For a progressive classroom, a teacher MUSTMUST talk about the “My Time/Your Time” talk about the “My Time/Your Time” concept at length, and discuss what it concept at length, and discuss what it means to the teacher and to the students. means to the teacher and to the students.

Take some time to explain to students that Take some time to explain to students that just because a freedom exists, doesn’t mean just because a freedom exists, doesn’t mean it can be taken advantage of. it can be taken advantage of.

If a freedom is abused, then the If a freedom is abused, then the consequence is that the freedom will be consequence is that the freedom will be taken away for a day or two. After that time, taken away for a day or two. After that time, we will try again.we will try again.



As a teacher, also talk about how each student As a teacher, also talk about how each student is an individual and that sometimes what one is an individual and that sometimes what one student needs another doesn’t. “Fair isn’t student needs another doesn’t. “Fair isn’t always the same” is what you should tell your always the same” is what you should tell your students. students.

If one student didn’t get breakfast before If one student didn’t get breakfast before coming to school, he or she probably will need coming to school, he or she probably will need a snack early on. That doesn’t mean that a snack early on. That doesn’t mean that everyone in the classroom needs to get a everyone in the classroom needs to get a snack. snack.

Ask all your students to use their best Ask all your students to use their best judgment and to remember that when judgment and to remember that when freedoms are abused, they will be removed.freedoms are abused, they will be removed.



With any freedom you offer students, With any freedom you offer students, make sure there is a corresponding make sure there is a corresponding responsibility. responsibility.

Make sure that you provide some Make sure that you provide some structure to those freedoms. For structure to those freedoms. For example, you might have a sign-out example, you might have a sign-out procedure for bathroom breaks and procedure for bathroom breaks and allow only one student at a time to leave allow only one student at a time to leave the classroom.the classroom.



With structure comes With structure comes “Accountability”.“Accountability”. What will happen if students abuse their What will happen if students abuse their

freedoms? Be up front about the freedoms? Be up front about the consequence so students know in consequence so students know in advance what to expect. advance what to expect.

Once the consequence has been met, Once the consequence has been met, allow the freedoms again. allow the freedoms again.

That helps students learn from their That helps students learn from their mistakes and allows them to show mistakes and allows them to show growth in their maturity and growth in their maturity and responsibility.responsibility.



With a balance of With a balance of FreedomsFreedoms and and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities, you have the , you have the opportunity to develop respect opportunity to develop respect between yourself and your students. between yourself and your students.

You also are teaching them skills they You also are teaching them skills they will need in the working world as they will need in the working world as they interact with their colleagues, bosses, interact with their colleagues, bosses, and community. and community.



You’ll find that, as long as you provide You’ll find that, as long as you provide the structure, students will respond the structure, students will respond positively to that type of balanced positively to that type of balanced classroom environment. classroom environment.

Empowering students opens the door Empowering students opens the door to mutual respect, positive attitudes, to mutual respect, positive attitudes, and good behavior in the classroom.and good behavior in the classroom.



Once again .. Remember Once again .. Remember Empowering students Empowering students

opens the door to opens the door to Mutual RespectMutual Respect, , Positive Positive

AttitudesAttitudes, and , and Good Good BehaviorBehavior in the in the

classroom.classroom.



“ “Empower the People Empower the People with Freedoms and with Freedoms and

Temper those Temper those Freedoms with Freedoms with

Responsibilities”Responsibilities”..



Thank YouThank YouAurangzeb BhattiAurangzeb Bhatti

NovaQuest International NovaQuest International SchoolSchool

freedoms and responsibilities1

Documents

maratab ali road

classroom managementfreedoms

students accountable

oppressing students

balanced classroom environment

dictatorial environment

teachers good

star teacher