Optimizing Classroom Rules and Norms: A Template for Effective Teaching

Abstract

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 the need for classrooms to promote diverse students and teachers through empowerment. Monitoring the behavior of students facilitates such empowerment by ensuring they have an equal opportunity to learn in the classroom. Based on your ideal classroom My ideal classroom would have rules that promote learning, safety, and the overall development of the students. I would encourage and promote participation by ensuring students try their best to learn and perform in tasks. Encouraging learners to be active in the classroom increases the effectiveness of learning activities and empowers the students. I would create diverse learning environments such as group work, individual assignments, and play activities that make learning more interesting and encourage participation. I would enforce safety rules by identifying individual students with behavior and emotional problems and working with them to promote positive growth. Impact of School: What is the impact of the broader school culture on this classroom? Based on your observation The school has a relatively diverse population of students and teachers that affects how learners interact in the classroom. Additionally, diversity at the school affects the efforts of teachers to empower students from minority groups. Students were mostly calm and well-behaved during the lesson and they cooperated with the instructions required by their teachers. They showed respect to their peers in the classroom and were accommodative of individuals from other groups. Based on your interview The culture affected both the students’ behavior and the teachers’ effectiveness in classroom instruction. From the interview, I learnt that the teacher had received more support at this school compared to her previous job. She had access to resources she requested and this experience at her current job improved her morale and made her a better teacher. Students were generally well-behaved in the classroom and the parents presented the help requested by teachers to improve their learning. 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 school culture has a significant impact on learning despite the individuals involved in the classroom. Teachers’ effectiveness depends on the level of support they receive from other stakeholders and their experience could escalate or reduce exclusion (Razer & Friedman, 2017). School administrators and agencies involved in the education sector have the responsibility of ensuring that in addition to basic requirements, educators have access to resources that promote learning for diverse groups. Based on your ideal classroom As a teacher, I would hope to work in a school that empowers its teachers to effectively meet the needs of their students. The experiences of a teacher outside the classroom has an effect on how they interact with their students. I would work towards improving the school culture by presenting ideas to leaders at my school and my peers to facilitate positive cultural changes at the institution. Key Processes:  what processes and routines are used to maintain the classroom environment? (This should include rules, policies, processes like circles or problem-solving, level systems, etc.) Based on your observation I observed that the teacher introduced the classroom with questions regarding the concepts they were learning. She took measures to relate the learning activities with the real-life experiences of the students. The teacher used tools such as flashcards and word maps that helped engage the students with new vocabulary. She ensured that all students were active during groups and individual activities while offering additional support to learners who fell behind. Based on your interview Classroom processes played an instrumental role in the capacity of the teacher to implement her instructional strategy. She noted that she models her lessons to be as interactive and interesting as possible to ensure that all students participate in learning activities. The teacher noted that she often has to intervene when students fail to participate as actively as she would like. Based on the theoretical frameworks (such as Razer & Friedman (2017), Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS), Restorative Practices, and Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) Theory shows that classroom processes are important in creating a learning environment that accommodates all students. ISBE (2022) promotes the use of practices that are culturally responsive and accommodate students and their families. Recognizing diversity among the learners ensures that teachers are able to use practices that meet the needs of all students and align to their cultural backgrounds. Based on your ideal classroom The ideal classroom should be suited to meet the needs of learners with diverse cognitive abilities. I would establish structure in my classroom to make it easy for the students to adjust effectively to the learning environment. I would ensure that students know what to expect such as routinely asking questions to identify the progress they make in each topic. I would promote the critical thinking and problem solving by asking students to apply context from the classroom to another environment. Student Perspectives: How do you think most students view the class? Why do you think this? How does this class function as a group? Based on your observation Students were interested in participating in learning activities and were active during instruction. They showed genuine interest to follow classroom regulations and easily changed from one task to another. Learners view the classroom as beneficial since they were eager to engage with the teacher during the learning process. Based on your interview I found out that the learners were interested participants in the classroom and related well with their teacher. There were minimal behavioral problems and the students were responsive when reprimanded. The teacher said that her students completed all tasks both individual and as...