3.4: Classroom Jobs
- Page ID
- 222436
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Students share responsibility for the care and maintenance of the emotional climate and physical environment through their jobs.
Every child has a job. Assignments are not determined by merit or used as rewards.
Classroom jobs create interdependence, the belief that we all have gifts to contribute and we all need each other.
How to Do this Well
Getting Started Checklist:
- Make a plan for jobs
- Teach students how to do jobs
- Support students as they do their jobs
Jobs encourage everyone to work together to take care of the community. Sharing power and responsibility communicates that we are all equal.
Make a Plan for Jobs
First, make a list of jobs:
- List the necessary chores, routines, and rituals that keep your classroom running smoothly.
- Consider which of these are opportunities for children to contribute to the community.
- Identify enough jobs for each child to have at least one job.
Job Ideas
- Kindness Recorder
- Goal-Setting Helpe
- Thinking of You/Absent Student Helper
- Feelings Friends Helper
- Problem-Solver
- Encourager
- First-Aid Helper
- Materials Manager
- Attendance Helper
- Light Switch Helper
- Door Holder
- Gardener (for plants)
- Zookeeper (for class pet)
- Librarian
- Technology Manager
- Line Leader
- Breathe & Focus Helper
- Binder Checker
- Pencil Helper
- Substitute
By sharing responsibility, we can strengthen community and make the day more efficient so that there's more time for learning.
Make a Plan for Jobs
Next, prep materials to support jobs:
- Write job descriptions for each job and create or obtain props if needed
- Create a job board to visually represent the jobs
Tips: Include the job title and a picture. Create a system to show which child has which job.
Some jobs, such as attendance taker or kindness recorder, give children an opportunity to practice academic skills in a meaningful context.
Teach Jobs to Students
Use a variety of strategies to teach students how to do their jobs:
- Modeling & Demonstration
- Tour the School
- Social Stories & Class-Made Books
- Songs
- Books
Tip: Once jobs are established, outgoing job-holders can teach their jobs to classmates.
Giving children something specific to do every day builds the habit of being responsible. It also builds skill over time as children practice doing the same thing every day.
Support Students as They Do Their Jobs
Provide support depending on how students are doing:
- Provide descriptive praise to children as they successfully complete their jobs. For example "You did it! You cleaned the tables with the wipes until all the crumbs and spills were gone. That is helpful to our school community so that our work will not get food on it."
- Coach children who need more support completing their jobs - some ideas:
- Provide detailed verbal directions
- Show pictures of the desired outcome
- Demonstrate the desired way to complete the job
- Reflect (and have students reflect) on accomplishments relative to the goal
Having small successes throughout the day builds a sense of selfworth, and provides opportunities for the teacher to give positive recognition to children who need it most.
Implementation Tips
- Rotate jobs at a comfortable interval depending on the age and skills of your students. Students will likely keep the same jobs for at least a week to build their skills.
- Vary the jobs throughout the year to meet the changing needs of the classroom.
- Assign jobs to children based on the skills they need more practice with - not what they already do well. Some students may have more than one job!
Humans need to feel that they matter and that the world needs them. Making a difference in the community builds self-esteem for people of all ages.