Working Together As a Team

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In the first weeks of school we establish the rules of the game. This month, my students will collaborate to design their own positive classroom-learning environment as they choose Classroom Managers and write their Classroom Constitution. Through teamwork activities and trade books, students will recognize the importance of having leaders and rules to maintain order at home, at school, in their community, and in their country.

OBJECTIVE
Students will:

1. Participate in the establishment of a "student-centered" classroom.
2. Create a list of classroom jobs and descriptions they think are needed in the classroom.
3. Evaluate the importance of classroom jobs.
4. Become acquainted with duties and responsibilities of each classroom job.
5. Complete a Classroom Manager Job Application.
6. Hold a Classroom Manager position sometime throughout the school year.
7. Create a "working" Classroom Constitution that governs the classroom and supports school rules, policies, and procedures.
8. Develop a maximum of six positively stated rules or Classroom Standards.
9. Help edit and revise the final draft of the Classroom Constitution.

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: Introducing the Manager System
Lesson 2: Creating a Classroom Constitution

REPRODUCIBLES
Manager Application Handout (PDF)
Example of Classroom Standards (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

Hold a "New Hire Orientation" and present students with badges indicating their chosen Classroom Manager positions for which they were "hired."

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Books for Teaching About Teamwork

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  Ghosthunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness Strange and stinky things are happening at Gloomsburg Castle. To begin with, the creepy place is crawling with TIBIGs (Tiny Biting Ghosts, per the Indispensable Alphabetical Index). And now it appears that the murderous spirit of a 400-year-old, Totally Moldy Baroness has possessed the palace's owner, infecting her with a killer case of hic-hic-hiccups! $4.99 Paperback Book | Grades 1-4

  
  Ghosthunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness
  Grades 1-4 $4.99
  
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  The Teacher Store

  No, David!: David Goes to School by David Shannon An award-winning author brings us the vivid trials and tribulations of young David. His outrageously bad behavior is both funny and liberating for children as they see themselves all too well in David. This kid is our brother or our cousin or our best friend, or us! The out-of-control monster-child from the Caldecott Honor Book No, David! is back and bringing his boyishly disgusting habits into the classroom. Colorful and hilarious illustrations examine our strangely appealing snaggle-to $4.95 Paperback Book | Grades K-2

  
  No, David!: David Goes to School
  Grades K-2 $4.95
  

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