The Importance of a Syllabus Communicating Your Beliefs and Values as a Teacher

Did you know that your syllabus can say volumes about who you are as a teacher? I have been writing syllabi since my first year as a teacher in 2002. What teachers write in their syllabus matters. Not only do we want to communicate what students will learn, we want them to know who we are and what we believe. (There are many tools out there to help teachers write a good syllabus. Take a look at Carnegie Mellon’s Eberly Center resource and try using an AI language model).

Since 2010, I have asked my students to read and take notes on my syllabus as their first homework assignment. But I don't want them to simply tell me what my syllabus says. Since I am deeply interested in how climate is connected to my teaching philosophy, class activities, and expectations for behavior and performance, I ask a different question.

What can you say about me and my teaching after reading my syllabus? In other words, what do I care about? What do I believe as your teacher?

I ask them to write one page of notes that answers this question. This type of feedback makes me a stronger teacher. If my syllabus doesn't match my teaching philosophy and doesn't help me build the strong culture I desired to cultivate in my classroom, I need to know and make critical changes.

Over the years, this assignment has produced some insightful thoughts, responses, ideas, and conclusion from my students.

• “He wants us to discuss our thoughts.
• You should always challenge yourself.
• He cares about organization.
• The main goal for this class is to improve our skills.
• He wants us to build our technology skills.
• I believe he cares very much about each and everyone of us.
• He wants us to be ready for high school reading and writing.
  
• He aims high for us to achieve.
• He wants us to come to class ready to learn and grow as thinkers.
• Mr. LeMaster wants us to be happy in class.
• Mr. LeMaster wants us to try our best every day.
• He values reading and writing equally.
• He believes in the power of collaboration.
• I feel Mr. LeMaster cares about his students a lot.
• He expects we try our best. Do our best. Never give up.
• Mr. LeMaster wants his students to be successful; he explains that one must have determination, work hard, and stay organized in order to effectively learn.
• He wants us to learn Language Arts and learn how to be our best selves.”

This simple assignment makes my students think. I don't have to read my syllabus to my students. In fact, I don't even talk about in class. They take it home and digest it on their own. They read it carefully and draw conclusions. And I think it helps them see the purpose behind the work we do all year. As for me, my syllabus became more meaningful as it became the blueprint to my classroom culture.

This year, ask your students to read your syllabus in a new way. Try not to go over the rules of the class. Those will be learned over time. Treat your syllabus as a mission statement. It should communicate your values, beliefs, and expectations as well as the content and standards you plan to teach.

Here is a link to my syllabus. It’s not perfect, but I am happy to report that it communicates to my students what I believe. Even better, I asked the right question to help them see it on their own.

Don’t forget to include all your favorite online content on your syllabus like Quindew!