Civics....Our classrooms.....What does it all mean?

"Civics...It is our past, present and future~it is our rules, how we get along~it is our everything!"                               Sydney Beauchamp and Block 3 Elementary Social Studies Class 

     Aside from everything else we have done and learned about in our Social Studies class, I think the one thing I enjoyed the most that really stuck with me is the Civic's portion of Syd's curriculum (my professor). Maybe it's because our Block has become so close, and we've evolved into a family rather than just students who became friends along the way. Maybe it's because we have developed a true sense of community, and are to each other, all that good, and caring citizens are to a community. We care about each others welfare, we support each other, and do what we can to help each other go further. Maybe this is why this portion of her curriculum resonated so strongly with me because   what she was teaching, I have watched evolve and unfold within our family block. 

Circletime...ALL of us

     I can look inside this small community of people and see everyone helping each other, doing for each other, taking on specific roles and assuming specific jobs among us. We are all leaders, but there are a few that have stepped up and taken on that role and they do it with ease. It is as natural to them as breathing, and they do it well. Ours is a very diplomatic community with mutual respect among its citizens. If only the rest of the world could take a little peek inside Circletime to see how a true community works together, they could watch true civics in action. 

"The first lesson in civics is that efficient Government begins at home." Charles Evans Hughes

    Sometimes, these lessons do not get taught at home, so it is our job and civic responsibility as teachers and role models, to make sure it gets taught in our classrooms.

     Sooooooo.... how do we create this in our classrooms? How do we create a democratic classroom community of learners? How do we create a classroom family?

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We respect, we listen, we hear, we allow student voice, we see, we acknowledge, we care, we problem solve, we feel, we love, we create, we share, we suggest, we guide, we support, we provide safety, we are kind, we protect, we vote, and we model. 

     The list could go on and on, but the bottom line is we as teachers have an obligation to create and model for our students what community is. We show them how to be leaders and how to respect others. We show them how to celebrate their individuality and how to recognize and celebrate others individuality. Everyone has something to offer and it should be recognized and celebrated, regardless of how large or small. Each student is a piece that will make our classroom a whole.

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Look again at the list, just one more time, what is the common factor? Scroll up and look again...

Yep, you are correct....the common factor is "WE" meaning "TOGETHER."

     There are many strategies for teaching civics in the classroom. One thing we unanimously agreed upon, one thing that is important to each of us as individuals, and as teachers, is the importance of.... 

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"You will get respect in the classroom by being on the same page."

      I believe this quote was said by Sydney Beauchamp, our professor during this class discussion. (I have it written down in quotation marks and everything because it really struck me as true, but did not notate that she said it :/ ) Think about that for a quick second....What do these words really mean to you? "You will get respect in the classroom by being on the same page."

     These words speak volumes to me. They speak of trial and error as well as experience, but; ultimately the message in these words are clear to me, you share respect. It does not have to be a give and take, it can be shared. 

     This is the first step that we need to teach to our students through modeling. The teacher gives students respect, students receive respect, students give teacher respect, teacher receives respect = mutual respect....sharing, not taking, not demanding...sharing. 

     This is the foundation for beginning to teach our students civics. I feel we do not "get" respect because we think we deserve it, I feel that it is a privilege that we are "given," and it is up to us to cherish it. Let's share the gift! (I know it isn't this easy, but we have to start somewhere.....we have to create that foundation...)

Let's Plant the Seed....

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