When I was beginning to teach reading classes to middle and high school students, I was nervous. I’m not much taller than the kids (and shorter than some!), and as I am reminded every time I order a glass of wine in a restaurant, I have a young-looking face. I needed a strategy that would establish me as the person in charge, and that would apply to absolutely any situation I might encounter.
“Hopscotch” by Bucks County Frames
Here are the rules I introduced on the first day of class:
1. Work
2. Respect
It’s simple. It gets straight to the point. And it applies to everything. Hitting, name-calling, whining, breaking things, sneaking out, yelling, and lying all fall under Respect. Not finishing homework, cutting class, refusing to help with something around the house, and neglecting chores are all covered with the simple word, Work.
Agree to do your share of work and to respect every family member, and ask them to agree to do the same. It certainly doesn’t solve all problems (by any stretch of the imagination!) but having crystal clear rules can help cut down on the kind of drawn-out arguments that involve your child trying to wriggle out of responsibity, and you trying to defend your reasoning.
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