Are you looking for a way to get your students more engaged in the classroom? Then appointing a classroom president may be the solution for you. Not only will this give your students a voice in the classroom, but it will also teach them about democracy and leadership. This is a great activity for elementary students and can be done in a few simple steps.
So in this blog post, we will provide some tips on how to choose a classroom president for your elementary school classroom.
Key Steps To Appointing A Classroom President
Explain the importance of electing a classroom president
In order to get your students on board, you should explain why a classroom president is so important. But how should you go about doing this? Simple, frame everything in a way that’s fun for them. For example, mention how the class president will have a say in:
- Games played during recess
- Classroom snacks
- Class parties
- Books read aloud
- Field trips
And more as well.
This will get them excited about the idea of having a president and they’ll be more likely to take the process seriously.
And once you’ve got them excited, you can remind them that it’s also a responsibility. As president, they’ll need to listen to their classmates and make sure everyone is happy with the decisions made. This will ensure that they’re taking the role seriously and that they understand the importance of democratic thinking.
Help the students come up with a list of qualifications they should look for in a candidate
Next, you’ll want to help the students come up with a helpful list of qualifications. This is an important step because it will help the students narrow down their choices and make sure they elect someone qualified for the job. Some qualifications you may want to consider are:
- Leadership ability
- Good communication skills
- Respectful to others
- Knows the class rules
- Listens to others
And anything else you can think of as well.
Create a list of presidential candidates
The next step is to create a list of potential candidates. Since these are still young kids, the goal is to create a democratic-like experience while still pushing for a suitable student to take the role.
There’s a few ways you can go about this, but we recommend having the candidates give a short speech to the class about why they would make a good president. This will help the students get to know the candidates better and make a more informed decision. Try to have the students frame their speech based on the criteria you came up with in the previous step. That way, the students will really have to think about what they’re saying and why it matters.
And try to keep in mind that not every student will want to participate, but that’s fine. The goal is to get a few good candidates who are willing to put in the effort. Plus, it’ll be a great opportunity for the students who do want to participate to hone their public speaking skills.
Have the students vote for their favorite candidate
Afterward, you should have the students vote for their preferred candidate. This can be done by a show of hands, secret ballot, or any other method you feel is best. Just make sure the process is fair and that everyone has a chance to vote.
Then once the votes are tallied, the candidate with the most votes will be your new classroom president! Take a moment to have the president say a few words to the class about their new role. And try to get them talking about the future and what they’ll do as president. This is a great way to get the students excited about the upcoming school year.
And that’s all there is to it! By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to choosing a great classroom president for your elementary students. Good luck!
Final Thoughts
Appointing a classroom president is great for getting your students involved in the classroom. Not only will they learn about democracy and leadership, but they’ll also have a say in what goes on in the classroom.
Just remember to make the process fair and to have the students vote for their favorite candidate. But with a little bit of help from you, they’ll be sure to elect a great president!
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