When I taught 5th a few years ago I had a great classroom pledge that my kids said right after the US Pledge. It talked about working hard, expectations, etc and set the tone for the day. They all had it memorized and so did I, and of course, now that I am teaching upper grade again I can't for the life of me remember it! It started out "As a memeber of room 505, I pledge...." I'm sure I can make one up if all else fails, but does anyone have one they use?
Maybe you could have your students come up with a pledge together?? I think then they would take ownership over it and it could really help with your classroom community.
Here's the one my school uses - everyone in the school says it together with the intercom: Today I will be respectful, responsible,and ready to learn. I will do nothing less than my best.
Our school pledge was: "I am a talented, intelligent, and unique person. I am special. I want to be all I can be. I will work hard everyday. I will be nice to everybody. I will learn all I can."
I used this one: I pledge today to do my best in reading, math and all the rest I promise to obey the rules in my class and in my school I'll respect myself and others too, I'll expect the best in all I do, I am here to learn all I can, To try my best and be all I am.
In this classroom We believe that learning is a lifelong adventure. We believe in facing each day with minds open to knowledge, and hearts open to love. We believe in the freedom to wonder, to ask, to explore, to imagine, to create. We believe that success means doing our best, being our best, and feeling proud of our effort. We believe that every one of us has a special talent, and that the talents of each of us can help all of us. We believe in ourselves and all others in this classroom.
These are great. Does anyone else have one to share? Have you all come up with these during the first week of school with your students?
"All of us will extend ourselves beyond what we ever thought possible. We will expect the best from ourselves, and each other, at all times and in all manners of behavior and academic achievement. We will take risks with and responsibility for our learning." We call it our mission statement (especially since we're *detectives* this year ;-)). Chele
We say the Kindness Pledge: "I pledge to myself on this very day To try to be kind in every way. To every person, big or small, I will help them if they fall. When I love myself and others too That is the best that I can do." Good for the younger ones who can be unkind at times.
