How to Set Up a House System in Schools - WeAreTeachers
When Harry Potter first took the world by storm more than twenty years agone, American teachers were introduced to a new concept: the British house organisation in schools.
In short, it'due south common in English schools for students to be divided up into "houses." Throughout the school twelvemonth, kids earn points for their houses for practiced behavior, special accomplishments, and more. Since each firm includes kids from every grade, it fosters a sense of customs throughout the schoolhouse, likewise.
Teachers all over the country are now giving the house system a try, and it's not just express to Harry Potter. Recently, we asked our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE users to share their best ideas for using the house organization in schools.
Choose a theme.
Photo credit: La Marque Middle School
Some teachers love using the classic Harry Potter houses, merely others customize house systems in their own means.
"We use business firm points in our Harry Potter classroom. It'south crawly, and the kids push themselves to earn [points] not only for themselves but for their housemates, also. We do a business firm champion each quarter to help with purchase-in also." —Jessica Westward.
"My sixth grade teacher used Greek cities to group us, which is how she taught us almost Ancient Greece. It was awesome. There was a certain corporeality of association. I was in Athens, and I FELT similar a smartie. I used the same thought in my current 6th course classroom by assigning a Greek god to each group (we're reading The Lightning Thief), and I assigned about of my most struggling students in each grade to Athena. Now whenever I see scholarly habits, I tell them 'Athena would be and so proud,' and I give them a bespeak. It's really boosting how they see themselves in my class." —Caelan M.
"Every bit I am a social studies teacher, I would use actual figures in history." —Bailey B.
"I had a competition between my seventh grade math classes, and they were broken into Hunger Games districts." —Robin Z.
"We accept dissever them into houses, merely our houses spell K.I.D.S. for Kindness, Integrity, Determination, and Synergy. They were randomly sorted this year and can earn points for going higher up and beyond." —Katrina M.
Make sorting a magical experience.
Teacher Jessica W. (higher up) goes all out in her Harry Potter-themed classroom. "For first quarter, they drew a number [between 1 and 4], which sorted them. They put on the hat, and I had prerecorded sound clips of the sorting hat saying each house's name. They thought it was so magical! Over the rest of the year, as I get to know them more, kids can move in and out of houses each quarter." (See more of Jessica's amazing Harry Potter classroom.)
The random drawing process is ideal for assigning students to houses in any organisation. Some other option is to split kids using free quizzes you can find online, like Jamie Lynne M. does, or group students by class periods, grades, or teacher. Withal you do it, make it an event and encourage kids to feel like a team right from the starting time.
Let kids sort themselves.
Make certain students know the defining characteristics of each house, and so permit them to choose. Instructor Melana Grand., who uses the Harry Potter theme, makes them piece of work for it: "We shut read the sorting lid song to determine what characteristics each house is fabricated up of. Then the kids have to persuade me which house they belong in."
Some teachers worry almost the event of having a business firm like Harry Potter's Slytherin, which is oftentimes associated with the "bad kids." But that doesn't mean y'all tin can't utilize it effectively if yous're implementing a Harry Potter theme.
"Slytherin isn't a 'bad business firm.' Information technology was about the choices those students made. Slytherin qualities consist of the ability to accomplish goals through out-of-the-box-means, sometimes through cunning, merely again information technology points back to private choices, which is a good lesson to acquire." —Pamela Chiliad.
"Honestly, the kids that were sorted into Slytherin were very excited about information technology. We talked a lot about how Slytherin business firm is all about being adamant and accomplished. We talked nearly how cunning is not a bad thing. It is more about being able to become the things we desire in means that others may not think nigh." —Jessica W.
Create a fun and like shooting fish in a barrel tracking system.
Photo credit: Hylands Primary Schoolhouse
Many teachers written report that their house systems pause down because it's too hard to proceed runway of all the points. Endeavor a simple idea like colored glass gems in clear glass vases, like Jessica W. does, or apply these other methods.
"I apply magnets on a board. The bigger the indicate value, the bigger the magnet." —Tesa O.
"I have 4 of those premade progress chart posters that lucifer the colors, and I fill in a square when kids are on chore, do their planner for the day, etc." —Jamie Lynn Yard.
Darsha N. says, "Classcraft is a way to exercise houses and advantage good beliefs. I have colleagues who RAVE about how it increases engagement. It'south web based, then it works all-time if yous take internet, but it tin can piece of work if just the teacher has a device. You tin can customize the rewards and such for your own priorities."
Reward success!
Photo credit: Nunnery Wood Primary Schoolhouse
Be sure to gloat the firm that comes out on top at terminate of the semester or year, whether it's with a party, treats, or even a cup or trophy the winning house can proudly display.
"At midterms I bring treats for the firm with the highest percentage." —Jamie Lynnn Thou.
"The house with the most points earns a class political party." —Jill Chiliad.
"Each semester in that location is a winning house that gets pizza and ice cream. I also bought the Harry Potter Triwizard Tournament Loving cup as their house cup." —Tesa O.
Top Image Credit: Aspengrove School
What are your best tips for using a house organisation in schools? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE grouping on Facebook.
Source: https://www.weareteachers.com/house-system-in-schools/
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