Signs Posts, Literally, for the Modern Classroom

When I go to an airport, especially a busy one, I start looking for signs before I even get out of the car. Which lane gets me to the dropout? Which airport entrance is closest to my airline? Where do I print my ticket? Where's security? And the list goes on. I am sure many of you are the same way. In fact, we'd probably get angry if there were no signs. I'd rather have some signs than have to hunt down someone who's not too busy to help me. And even if we are frequent flyers, we still subconsciously look to signs for assurance that all is well and nothing has changed.

It's the same way when we drive. Where I live the transportation department has been working on a new road for over ten years. It was finally finished last month, and trust me, I have been depending on all the signs, old and new, to let me know what changes to watch out for. But even on my regular, unchanged routes, I still find myself watching signs and signals for direction and reassurance.

So why do we think students are any different? In fact, lacking the maturity of adulthood, they need signs and directions even more. Today's classrooms are ever changing - no phones allowed at all, to tablet carts, to bring your own device (BYOD) and 1:1 schools. In just a few years, things have changed drastically in many schools. And I see teachers, and students, being frustrated by those changes. Some days, teachers are telling the students they don't want to see any phones, while on other days, students are asked to use their phones to answer surveys or calculate math problems. Being a person between the ages of nine and nineteen is confusing enough, add to that technology itself, then different teachers with differing preferences and rules, and it's no wonder students and teachers get on each others' nerves.

My suggestion - give them signs, literally. Here are some things to think about, and some signs you can print out and use (click on the words, not the pictures, to get the signs. They were made in Google Drawings. If you can't open them, contact me and I can email them to you).

1. If you are a BYOD school, what are your preferences? Make those preferences visible to students. If you never want to see phones in your class, make it known. If you use the devices some days, but not others, have a reversible sign. Just flip it around so students know what to do in your room and when.

Device Allowed                                                                                No Devices

2. You need to have your mind made up regarding headphones. I would suggest, really beg, that you do not allow students to wear headphones while you or anyone else is instructing. It sends a huge message of disrespect. Think about how you would feel if your doctor, mechanic, bank teller, waitress, or any number of professionals or service providers was wearing headphones while serving you. We are preparing students for college and career. We can not teach them that this is acceptable. If they say the music is off or it isn't plugged into the phone, great, there is no need to have the headphones in their ears. There may be times you allow headphones, like when students are working independently, and certainly that is fine. But I have seen an alarming number of students wearing headphones while their teacher is instructing. Set the tone for respect in your classroom - and set the signs so students have no excuses. If there are times headphones are allowed, make the sign reversible.

Headphones                                                                                 No Headphones

3. Insist that students use real names when participating in interactive activities such as Kahoot or Socrative. Now I am all about having fun in my class. You can ask any of my past students, but even in the midst of the fun, we need to set the tone of taking work seriously. Think about it. Even at a professional development workshop, we may play a fun game, but we would probably (hopefully) be considered unprofessional if we starting calling ourselves by strange names like Sexy Girl or The Man. Set expectations high for your students. The majority will rise to meet them. Obviously, an exception to this would be a foreign language class in which students go by language specific names.

4. Finally, think about other things that get on your nerves. Communicate your expectations to students and expect them to follow through. You may want to make a short list of rules, like the following (feel free to copy, paste, adjust to fit your needs):

• Devices stay face down on the table or in backpacks/purses until instructed otherwise. No keeping them in your lap. Staring at your crotch is weird.
• Use real names when engaging in student interactives. I will delete anyone who does not appear to be a member of my class. 
• Watch signs for headphones. If I take them, it will cost you to get them back, IF I'm in a good mood. 

Have fun teaching. If something repeatedly gets on your nerves, fix it. You are the king or queen of your classroom. And college and career readiness is more than math and language and science, it's just as much, or more, about attitudes and professionalism. At least in my humble opinion.