The Hidden Curriculum

The Importance of Social Curriculum

In First Grade Social Studies, the hidden curriculum is alluded to through a lesson on Community. It starts broadly and narrows down to the classroom as a community. While that is great, that sense of community must be emphasized every year through high school. There must be a code of behavior and expectations that must be explicitly stated. Posting a few classroom rules is not enough. There needs to be a meaningful discussion and dialogue about classroom community. How should teachers relate to other teachers? How should students relate to teachers? How should teachers relate to students? How should students relate to students?

Cultivating a Safe Environment

If a teacher is emotionally immature, than he or she will not be able to cultivate a safe atmosphere for the students. If bullying, condescension, and insulting behavior is coming from the teacher, than what will the students do to each other? I remember I was in a third grade classroom where students were take part aversive conditioning of their peers. The teacher allowed it because she thought it made for good classroom management. However, I do not think that any student should be in charge of meting out consequences to their fellow students.

I do not think that a punitive approach works. I think positive reinforcement works. I think that choices works. I was in a Special Education classroom and a student continuously acted out in class. One day, he tossed the contents inside his desk on the floor during one of his many tantrums. I approached him and calmly directed him to pick up the items and put them back in his desk. One of my favorite phrases for an off task student is, "whenever you're ready." I usually walk away after that to give the student a chance to calm down and think. I do not like towering over a student (I am 5' 9") because goal is not to intimidate.

Positive Reinforcement Works

In the case of this student, I started to compliment him on the things that he did correctly. He was frustrated because he was well aware of his deficiencies and felt embarrassed. As I encouraged him, he tried harder, and as he tried harder, he improved and as he improved, he received more compliments and praise. By the end of the semester, his tantrums ceased. He became one of the most cooperative and hard working students in the class. I could have attempted to embarrass and shame him into submission. However, that method clearly does not work. I think a teacher should want a student to have dignity and self respect. I think it is a right, like a right to breathe. It is not something to be earned. If that were the case, teachers would be in trouble, because it would mean that students can be disrespectful to us in the outset until we prove ourselves worthy.

Link to Social Curriculum lesson:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Studies-Civics-Social-Curriculum-1064289