Instruction/Classroom Management

This page includes my personal classroom management plan as well as my reflection on Instruction to Improve Student Progress.

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My Personal Classroom Management Plan

Professionalism

As a professional educator, I will conduct myself according to the Code of Ethics that is in place by the institution that I will be teaching at. Showing the skills that are required as an educator does not make one a professional. Educating as a profession is a hard activity since it envelops numerous parts to be done well. Being professional is how this is accomplished. I will treat my students, parents, co-workers, and administrators with respect when interacting with them. Some of the ways that I will display professionalism is by upholding my responsibility to my students and to myself. I will protect my students and provide them with the best learning environment that I can. I will listen to what my co-workers have to say and will go out of my way to assist in any way that I can. I will be a team player and help to encourage and build up fellow teachers, so we can in turn, be better for our students. As a professional educator, I will make sure that I am on time and dressed in a professional manner. I will show up being prepared for the day ahead. I will make sure my tone matches my intentions, which is done by not saying words that can demean or belittle a child. I will make my actions speak louder than my words. My professional decisions and actions will positively affect my not only my day, but the day of my students as well.

Student Engagement Strategies

When thinking about student engagement strategies, there is a few things to consider. You need to consider what grade you are teaching, what their learning levels are, and what point you want to get across. The first strategy that I would use is to create a positive and inviting environment. Creating a positive and inviting environment allows students to become engaged and focus in the classroom. In a positive environment, students feel accepted and a sense of acceptance. When a positive environment is created, students can communicate, ask questions, and express themselves liberatingly. Thus, resulting in students collaborating to learn. “Creating a pleasant, inviting, and positive environment allows students to become engaged and focus in the classroom. In a pleasant environment, students feel accepted and a sense of belonging. When a positive environment is created, students can communicate, ask questions, and express themselves liberatingly. Thus, resulting in students collaborating to learn.” (Pinto, 2013) The second strategy would be peer learning. Peer learning allows the student to work with another student. They are interacting with other students to come to the same conclusion. This promotes participation in the classroom. It teachers the student how to collaborate and socialize which are important social skills for the student. It also can help the student to better understand the material if they are seeing it from another angle. “This learning involves individuals exchanging knowledge and experience with each other, and potentially diffusing this learning back to their organizations to ensure an impact—at scale—on reform initiatives. While peer learning entails complex organizational logistics, it avoids the risk of focusing on process rather than product. It recognizes that ultimately learning takes place between individuals and it facilitates interpersonal interchanges that are well-matched and that are based on trust and commitment.” (What is peer learning?) Finally, a third strategy would be collaboration. Along with peer learning, collaboration is also an important part of the classroom. Every classroom wants to have a collaboration between the student and the teacher and the teacher and the parents. It is important that everyone comes together to collaboration on one major cause, the education of the child.

My personal philosophy of classroom management is that it needs to be established at the beginning of the year. More importantly, the first day of class. This sets the students up for success by informing them of what is expected of them and how they need to start their day in the classroom. The mission of my classroom is to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for everyone involved. According to Harry Wong’s Effective Classroom, the first day is very important. Each student will be greeted individually, and a task will be assigned. This will set the tone for the remainder of the year. On our first day, the students will assist the teacher in creating the class rules. Once agreed upon, each student will draw a picture or sign their name indicating that they agree to follow the rules. The classroom will act as small community/tribe as explained by Jeanne Gibbs. This will allow the student to have a sense of community within the classroom. This community will then be a place for the student to feel they belong. The stronger the community, the more children are engaged. This will help build the trust between the student and the teacher. I will be implementing the Love and Logic method in our classroom. This method engages students by giving them a sense of control in making a choice then letting them realize that a poor decision results in negative consequences, causing the student to ultimately make the right decision. We will include everyone, work together and learn something new. We will be good leaders everywhere by making good choices and doing the right thing. We will use our manners and be respectful. We will have fun, try our best, and be the best that we can be!

Classroom Procedures

Classroom procedures are a vital part of classroom management. The first procedure is aimed at students when they are entering and leaving the class setting. I will talk to the class on the correct way to start their day beginning with walking into the classroom. When the students walk into the classroom, they will see a list that states how they are to start the class. The students will need to grab all necessary materials and sit at their desks. If there is a book involved with the lesson, the students will have their books open to the spots they need to be. Procedures for gathering assignments ought to be completed so that it guarantees that the classroom situation works effectively. Assignments done by the students and completed homework need to be passed up front with no students walking around the classroom during this process. This keeps all assignments together and makes sure all assignments are turned in on time. The third strategy deals with group activities. Students ought to partake and interact within the assigned groups without making any negative influence on other groups. If this happens, all other small groups in the class will be able to continue with little disturbances. This allows all group work to flow smoothly and the students gets the best learning environment possible. The final, or fifth classroom management procedure that students are expected to do is to raise their hands before asking a question or answering a question.

Rules, Consequences, and Reward System

My classroom rules include the following: when the teacher is talking, students are silent, follow directions the first time, be respectful, when you want to ask or answer a question, the students hand must be raised, and be safe and be honest. My consequences to go along with these rules are; Non - Verbal cues such as finger to lips, verbal warning, moving seats to time out chair, Sitting in class during lunch, and finally, a call to parents. Having rules in places helps with classroom management. These rules help the students learn respect and how they are to act in the classroom. It provides structure and when the students are following the provided rules, they are actively engaged in the learning environment. Following rules allows there to be minimal distractions and supports a positive learning environment. Following rules also keeps students responsible for their own actions. This in turn helps the students to become self-motivated to do the right thing. My reward system will be the Behavior Clip Chart. Each student will get their own clip and the chart will read; super student, great job, good choices, ready to learn, think about it, teacher’s choice, and finally parent contact. This chart allows the student to see where they are on the behavior chart throughout the day.

Communication with Parents/Guardians

Communications with parents/guardians is another crucial part of the job. Three ways that I will communicate with parents to establish and maintain a positive collaborative relationship that promotes the intellectual, social, emotional, physical growth, and well-being of students involve making sure my emotions are under control. If my emotions have any negative attachment, it can come across in the wrong way when speaking with the parents or guardians. Secondly, I will look at the situation from the child’s point of view. If the child is throwing a tantrum because they are playing and don’t want to go home, you can rephrase the statement and say that you understand the child is having fun and that you may be able to do it later instead of telling the parents that the child is throwing temper tantrum. Puts a little feeling to the situation and can help ease the parents/guardians. Finally, keep a constant open line of communication with the parents. Create a partnership with the parents on how to handle situations should they arise. This includes checking in with the parents/guardians which makes sure everyone is on the same page. Communication and partnership is the key to great communication.

Reference

Pinto, L. E. (2013). From Discipline to Culturally Responsive Engagement: 45 Classroom Management Strategies. Corwin Press.

What is peer learning? (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2020, from https://www.effectiveinstitutions.org/en/our-approach/3