Optimizing Classroom Rules and Norms: A Template for Effective Teaching

Classroom Analysis Template Observe in a classroom and interview the teacher based on the questions below. Then complete the template by filling in the boxes below each lettered subheading. Your Name: Date of Interview: June 11, 2025 Teacher Observed: Amanda Callahan Grade Level: Grade 3 School: Bell Elementary School Subject/Program (if applicable): Language Arts Official Rules: What are the official classroom rules? How were they determined? Based on your observation The teacher established official classroom rules by reminding students who broke them and stating the particular rules. They included all students participating in classroom activities, respect for teachers, and allowing other students to complete answers during classroom discussion. Based on your interview From my interview, I learnt that the teacher repeated the official rules as needed such as when some students failed to participate in the learning process. Rules included the respect for students and teachers, all students bringing learning materials, following instructions keenly, completing tasks and assignments, and being responsible learners. Based on the theoretical frameworks (such as Razer & Friedman (2017), Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS), Restorative Practices, and Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) The teacher engaged with all students during the classroom and introduced diverse learning activities to facilitate participation. She recognized the diverse experiences and needs of students that may affect their emotional and behavioral outcomes (Center on PBIS, 2025). She allowed a student more time to settle after she entered the classroom and demonstrated recognition for different cognition levels among the learners (Razer & Friedman, 2017). Understanding the backgrounds and experiences of her students made the teacher a better instructor in the classroom. Based on your ideal classroom My ideal classroom would involve most of the activities I observed and the input the teacher offered during the interview. I would further make safety a rule in the classroom to avoid any harms to the learners. While there should be strict rules, I would accommodate the students with behavioral and past emotional challenges develop gradually during the course of the year. I would recognize that respect for other students and participation are strict rules but apply flexibility during actual implementation. Unspoken Rules: What are the unspoken rules and norms, and how are they “enforced?”  Based on your observation Based on my observation, one of the unspoken rules was safety that the teacher enforced by monitoring the activities of the students. It was a rule that students should pay attention to the teacher and other students while speaking. The learners were expected to be respectful and the teacher enforced the rule by correcting a student who used unkind words during the classroom discussion. Based on your interview From the interview, I learnt that the teacher expected students to complete their assignments timely and pass any necessary information to their parents. She coordinated with the caregivers and parents to ensure that any communication was passed as required. She expected the students to ask for permission before taking or using belongings of their peers or those meant for the general classroom. An expected rule in the classroom was that students pay attention to instructions and complete all tasks to the best of their knowledge. The teacher would identify students whose performance was below their normal ability and ask them to redo some of the tasks. Based on the theoretical frameworks (such as Razer & Friedman (2017), Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS), Restorative Practices, and Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) Theoretical frameworks from the course demonstrated that the classroom applied some unspoken rules that maintain a positive learning environment. Students demonstrated respect for all their peers regardless of their background and the teacher corrected behavior that violated this rule. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) (2022) emphasizes on