Okay, here’
s the challenge (this is the way I start an exercise in workshops around the country for preschool teachers) – make up three rules that cover everything that occurs in your classroom. Three and only three rules must cover anything and everything that happens at school. The rules have to be stated in the positive; no “don’t”, “can’t” or “thou shall not”. The rules have to be simple enough for the children to understand. The rules have to always be true. For example “use your walking feet” would not always be true, since you can run outside, and therefore would not fit the criteria. So, 1) three rules to cover everything, 2) stated in the positive, 3) simple enough for the children to understand, and 4) always and forever true. You’ve got five minutes. Go.
What happens next is wonderful to watch; teachers in small groups working together to come up with three simple, positive, fundamental rules. Years of experience in making classroom rules with class after class is compared, contrasted, and combined. Anything negative and complicated is thrown out immediately. In the end, although the exact wording may differ from group to group, most groups write rules that center around three basic principles of social cooperation.
1) The first responsibility in any situation, for any given person, is the care and keeping of one’s own person. I must make sure my needs are met before I can meet anyone else’s needs. I need to correct what’s wrong with me before I look to correct what’s wrong with others. I am my first responsibility.
2) After one has taken care of one’s self, one looks to the wants and needs of those in the immediate environment. At home I care for my family after my needs are met. I am a good citizen in my community. At school I look after my peers and my teacher.
3) Along with caring for the other individuals in the environment, one cares for the environment itself. I keep my classroom and the entire school neat and clean. I clean and put things in order whenever I can, whether I was responsible for the mess or not.
After discussing the responses from each small group, I introduce the song “Three Rules” as I would to a preschool classroom for the first time with these words,
“Girls and boys, I know three rules. They all start with the same two words – ‘Take care…’
1) Take care of myself. 2) Take care of my friends. 3) Take care of my school.”
What if every child’s first experience with rules and rule making was a positive one? What if every child’s first experience with rule making was also about care taking? What if everyone in the world followed the three rules; taking care of self in the first place and then everyone around and then the environment? Would everything be taken care of? Yes!
Growing Sound Children’s Music is designed to help parents and teachers in their classrooms and homes build social emotional skills in young children.
