How to Create a Classroom Government
Creating a classroom government is a valuable experience for students, because it allows them to actively engage in the democratic process. As a teacher, there are many ways to go about creating a classroom government. You can create a student government at the beginning of the school year, making it an integral part of your classroom management system. You can also create a student government as a classroom project in conjunction with a unit centered on the Bill of Rights or a work of literature such as Lord of the Flies.
Instructions
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Ways to Establish a Classroom Government
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Establish the classroom rules together with your students. Ask them to list the core components of an orderly classroom, for example "cooperation" and "respect," from which will create the rules. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. You can pair or group students to collaboratively discuss the topic, or you can pose the question to the entire group and have students answer individually while recording their answers on the board. Once you have enough ideas, draft a classroom "constitution" that will be signed by each student as well as the teacher and displayed in the classroom. Participating in creating the classroom rules will give students a sense of ownership and community and promote positive behavior.
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Write a classroom belief statement. Begin by defining what a "belief" is as a class. Compile a list of students' ideas on the board that reflect their classroom values, such as "respect for other students." Break the class up into groups and have students work out their beliefs into statements that will guide classroom function, like "Respect for other students means not interrupting them while they are speaking." At the end, compile a list of student responses to serve as the classroom belief statement. This allows students to explore their beliefs about how they feel people should be treated both inside and outside the classroom and encourages positive citizenship.
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Elect classroom officials through a mock election. Begin by breaking students up into groups and instruct each group to pick a "candidate" from that group who will represent their interests. Guide students through the election process by means of activities such as classroom debates on topics that are relevant and of interest to them, such as the implementation of a school dress code or banning cell phones in the building, and mock campaign trials. Such activities teach students not only about the election process but also about the roles of and demands on political leaders and citizens alike.
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Tips & Warnings
When staging a classroom election, be mindful to include all students in the electoral process. Work to create an environment where everyone has a role or responsibility in the election to avoid ostracizing students in a "winner/loser" situation.
