what's the most succinct way to phrase this rule?

August 25, 2017 11:14 AM

I want to have Just One Rule in my MS classroom this year, under which all other rules fall. What I have so far is "make learning your #1 priority." I like the concept but I'm not wild about the phrasing. Help me punch it up!

> simpler vocabulary preferred, as my students are not native English speakers
> should include a verb (so I can say things like, "Rafael, are you making learning your #1 priority right now?")

I welcome your suggestions!

posted by chaiminda to Writing & Language (20 answers total)

Is "focus on learning" not emphasized enough? "Rafael, are you focusing on learning right now?" sounds similar to your rule, but shorter.

Or: "your job is to learn," but that sounds a bit harsh and task-master-ish.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:19 AM on August 25, 2017 [3 favorites]

My high school calculus teacher had one rule: "40 minutes of calculus." (for a 40 minute period). Anything that took away from teaching/learning was automatically out of bounds.
posted by House of Leaves of Grass at 11:22 AM on August 25, 2017 [7 favorites]

Learning Comes First.
posted by mccxxiii at 11:24 AM on August 25, 2017 [5 favorites]

How about "Learning First." Phrased as a rule, "learning" is a noun, but then you say, "Rafael, are you learning first?"
posted by ejs at 11:26 AM on August 25, 2017 [3 favorites]

Learn to learn, or let's learn to learn. It's ambiguous (learn how to learn and learn for the sake of learning), but perhaps that helps you make several points with it.
posted by Wobbuffet at 11:33 AM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]

Make Learning Priority 1
Learning is Our First Priority
posted by theora55 at 11:37 AM on August 25, 2017

Knowledge is power
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 11:39 AM on August 25, 2017

Learning is Job One.
posted by *s at 11:41 AM on August 25, 2017

Remember the ABC's: Always Be (C)Learning

(the "C" is silent)
posted by Betelgeuse at 11:41 AM on August 25, 2017 [12 favorites]

ABL: Always Be Learning.

I know it's a silly Glengarry Glen Ross bastardization, but it works because it doesn't necessarily mean the curriculum. So like if you have to educate a kid on manners or whatever, it still falls under the rule, because they're learning *something*.

Alternatively, "Get Your Learn On" would be funny enough to get their attention. And then you could say things like "Rafael, are you getting your learn on right now?" I like using humor to get people's attention, especially kids.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:44 AM on August 25, 2017 [4 favorites]

You could call it your Prime Directive.
posted by tracer at 12:05 PM on August 25, 2017 [3 favorites]

Put learning first?
posted by Jeanne at 12:10 PM on August 25, 2017

Might be too abstract for this purpose, but I have a personal motto of, "be a better beginner," that I use to keep myself learning effectively.
posted by rhizome at 12:25 PM on August 25, 2017

I Like ABL (Always Be Learning) because ABL sounds like Able. And that is a learn-y concept. To "enable" yourself.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 12:26 PM on August 25, 2017 [6 favorites]

We're here to learn.

Using the word "we" creates a sense of community and also implies that you are eager to learn from them.
posted by kitty teeth at 2:06 PM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I love all of these! I'm leaning heavily toward Always Be Learning English.
posted by chaiminda at 3:42 PM on August 25, 2017 [4 favorites]

learn something
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:46 PM on August 25, 2017

Either:

Learn (or)

Just Learn
posted by AugustWest at 6:28 PM on August 25, 2017

Clumsy, but addresses situations where the learner is distracted or whatever - is what you're doing helping you learn?
posted by Pax at 7:32 PM on August 25, 2017

I'm sure my husband wouldn't mind your using the One Rule he's had in the classroom for 43 years:
Make Good Decisions.
posted by summerstorm at 10:04 PM on August 25, 2017 [1 favorite]