The more rules one provides, the more power struggles one will experience. Love and Logic classrooms are also devoted to thinking. Who should do the lion’s share? Should it be the teachers or the students? If we spend most of our time trying to micromanage students into behaving, will they have the thinking and problem-solving skills to thrive in a complex, often ambiguous world?
Instead of seeking to develop a rule for every possible misbehavior, a Love and Logic classroom provides expectations, such as:
- I will treat you with respect so you will know how to treat me.
- Feel free to do anything that doesn’t cause a problem for anyone else.
- If you cause a problem, I will ask you to solve it.
- If you can’t solve the problem, or choose not to, I will do something.
- What I do will depend on the special person and the special situation.
Since we cannot control the behavior of others, Love and Logic teachers set limits by describing what they’re committed to do or allow… rules for themselves. While each Love and Logic teacher will provide slightly different limits, these limits are always designed to maintain the dignity of everyone involved. Here are some examples:
- I listen to one person at a time.
- I listen to students who raise their hands and wait to be called on.
- I provide full credit to papers handed in on time.
- I grade papers that I can read.
- I will always do my best to help you.
- I will spend most of my time helping you see what you do well… not what you do poorly.
To learn more about Love and Logic, watch the video below: