I seek to provide an environment where my students feel safe and can aspire to their potential. Inexorably, there are certain behavioral standards which I, the school and the world demand that they observe. If these standards are departed from, learning stops and chaos shortly ensues.
As a teacher, I impose a system of order within my classroom while trying not to appear too overbearing. I minimize disruption by regularly articulating and consistently enforcing a small set of social skills. Where breakdowns invariably occur, I prefer to have my students realize, assume responsibility for and minimize their own mistakes so that they become more like adults.
Such introspection is imperative for success. As they achieve it and grow in stature, they become happier and more productive. From each of my students, I exact nothing but the very best.