The Promise Tree
Establishing Expectations with Read-Alouds and Group Discussions (Virtual Tour)
Stage of Literacy Development:
Stage 1: Beginning LiteracyStage 2: Consolidation / Fluency
Stage 3: Literacy for Growth
Ages:
5-12
Grade Range:
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6thFood Groups:
Primary: Classroom Organization & Time Management
Transcript
It is important at the beginning of the year to establish a classroom culture and community. One think that I like to do in the beginning of the year is to read a story such as Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun or The Golden Rule to work with the students on developing the expectations of how we want to treat each other in class. We create a list of what the students are expected to be like in terms of their leadership in the classroom as well as the expectations for the teacher. Students then do a promise to each another. We created a promise tree by putting our finger prints on the tree. That is our signature that we are promising that we will be the best people that we can be and treat each other with the respect that everyone deserves. We also develop group expectations for when we are working in a group setting.
Related References
Activity Objective
The goal of The Promise Tree: Establishing Expectations with Read-Alouds and Group Discussions (Virtual Tour) is to build a positive, respectful and safe classroom culture at the beginning of the year. After read-aloud stories focused on themes of diversity, respect and community, students are encouraged to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of students and teachers. These expectations together form the Classroom Mission. Students promise to adhere to these expectations by signing the Promise Tree with their thumbprint. The teacher then writes their names underneath each thumbprint for identification later in the year. During this time, expectations are also created for group work to ensure that the students collaborate in a respectful and safe manner.
Quick Tips
Additional Comments:
- Place the expectations in an easily accessible place that would be visible every morning when the students enter the classroom. This will serve as a daily reminder of the classroom's expectations. - Some great read-aloud books to support classroom culture and community building are Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy, The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper, or Ish by Peter H. Reynolds.
Other Recipes by this Teacher
Anchor Charts: Promoting Independence in Applying Reading Comprehension Strategies (Virtual Tour)
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Daily 5 Choices: Fostering Independence in Reading and Writing (Virtual Tour)
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Close Reading: Applying a 3-Step Reading Comprehension Strategy (Virtual Tour)
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Technology in the Listening Center: Motivating Literacy with iPads and QR Code Books (Virtual Tour)
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Literacy in Science: Expanding Vocabulary in the Content Areas (Virtual Tour)
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