Colorado Quality Standard 5: High Ethical Standards
I strive daily to teach and promote high ethical standards in my classroom through explicit instruction and example. I teach a unit entitled “Choices” from my curriculum that directly teaches about our individual responsibility and the choices we make daily. I discuss ethics with students in many different contexts of examples and non-examples in the real world. We discuss the ramifications and consequences of unethical behavior in simple schoolyard examples, as well as in current world issues. When I discuss these topics individually, I maintain confidentiality surrounding student and professional issues, as it is of utmost importance in maintaining a positive environment.
The practice of consistently discussing ethics supports students’ processing during these difficult years. Having curriculum that directly teaches choices and consequences supports the environment I try to create in my classroom. I have high ethical standards and the students understand that. Discussing such topics furthers classroom discussion, increases conversation in English, and helps students contemplate their own actions. (Element D)
Discussing ethics in class heightens students’ awareness of their actions. We often stop during class to discuss actions and choices in a story, in the news, or in the hallway here at school. I often ask students about the results or consequences of their future choices, for example “what do you think will happen if you hit Jose again?” When we stop to have these discussions, I can see the wheels turning in their heads; I can see the learning happening. Teaching life lessons and ethical behavior is one of the best parts of my job, as I feel students are constantly trying to find the answers. Feeling as though I have aided a student in making a better decision is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
The practice of consistently discussing ethics supports students’ processing during these difficult years. Having curriculum that directly teaches choices and consequences supports the environment I try to create in my classroom. I have high ethical standards and the students understand that. Discussing such topics furthers classroom discussion, increases conversation in English, and helps students contemplate their own actions. (Element D)
Discussing ethics in class heightens students’ awareness of their actions. We often stop during class to discuss actions and choices in a story, in the news, or in the hallway here at school. I often ask students about the results or consequences of their future choices, for example “what do you think will happen if you hit Jose again?” When we stop to have these discussions, I can see the wheels turning in their heads; I can see the learning happening. Teaching life lessons and ethical behavior is one of the best parts of my job, as I feel students are constantly trying to find the answers. Feeling as though I have aided a student in making a better decision is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.