ClassroomManagementandCommunicationPlan


ManagementStyleandPhilosophicalBeliefs(Artifact1)

Strongclassroommanagementisimportantformanyaspects,onbehalfoftheteacherandthe
students.OneofthebiggestreasonsisshownbyastudybyKatiHaycock(1998)thatstudentsof
effectiveteacherscangainupto52percentilepointsintheirachievementoverayear'stime.The
averageforyearlymaturationisabout6percentilepoints.So,reallytheteacherseffectis
approximately46percentilepoints.Thisisverysignificantandmakesmerealizemypositionasa
teacher.AsecondreasonforeffectiveclassroommanagementissothatIamnotoccupiedwitha
misbehavingstudentandleavingtherestofmystudentstodealwiththatstudentsbehavior.Itisnot
fairtogivemostofmyattentiontoonestudent,theyalldeserveit.Havingeffectiveclassroom
managementalsoallowsforabetterrelationshipbetweenteacherandstudents.Studentshavemore
respectforateacherwhohascontrolovertheirclassroom,andwithrespect,comeshigherlearning.
Inordertohaveeffectiveclassroommanagement,IbelieveinthetheoriesoftheDreikursand
AlbertModel(Larson&Keiper,p.34).Ibelieve,especiallyforstudentsatthemiddleschoollevel,that
thesestudentsarecapableofbeingresponsiblefortheirownbehaviortopromotelearning.Notonly
doIwanttoteachmystudentseducationalmaterial,butlifelonglessonsaboutresponsibility,
accountabilityandselfdiscipline.Istronglybelieveinnaturalconsequences,suchaspeerresponsefor
badbehaviororlosingagradeinthegradebookforforgettinghomework.Studentsthisageneedto
learnthattheyhavetheabilitytocontroltheirbehaviorsandactions.Iwanttofosterthis
understandinginmystudents.
Idonotthinkthatdisciplineishelpful.Ifanything,itgivesstudentsandangryfeelingtoward
thosewhodisciplinethemandleavesthemangry,ingeneral.Iwouldmuchratherusenonverbalcues
totrytosquelchbehaviorsIdonotwant.IfIneedtoescalatetoverbaldiscussion,Iwillbepreparedfor
thatasmynextstep.Ireallyfeelthatitisimportant,socially,forstudentsthisagetostartlearninghow
toberesponsiblefortheirlearningandbehaviors.Iexpectthemtodoastheyareexpectedordealwith
thenaturalconsequences.
Challengingstudentsisoftensomethingthatteachersdonotdoenoughof.Ifataskistooeasy,
studentsgetboredandgetintomischief.Ifitstoohard,theygetfrustratedandoftengetintomischief.
Asateacher,Ibelievethatitismyroletomakesurethatmystudentsarechallengedenoughtowantto
activelylearnandstayintheflow.Artifact1isateacherspersonalphilosophystatementthatsumsup
exactlyhowIfeelaboutmyteachingandmyfuturestudents.

Resource

KatiHaycock,GoodTeachingMattersALot.ThinkingK16.TheEducationTrust.Volume3,Issue2,
Summer1998.







PositiveClassroomCulture(Artifact2,attached)
Inorderforastudenttosuccessfullylearn,he/sheneedstohaveapositiverelationshipwiththe
teacher.Inordertobuildthisrelationship,Iwanttoshowmystudents,throughmyactions,thatIcare
aboutthemandtheireducation.Iwantmystudentstofeelliketheybelongandarecaredforinmy
classroom.Inordertosetthisprecedenceinmyroom,Iwanttobegintheschoolyearwithsometeam
buildingactivities.Ifeellikeitisimportantforstudentstofeellikeateamandbondwitheachother.
ThetwoactivitiesthatIhaveinartifact2areteambuildingactivities,forthestudentstofeelincluded.I
amtryingtosetupasupportnetworkforthestudentstofeelliketheycanhaveasafeenvironmentto
learnin.Mystudentswillknowthattherearenowrongopinionsandthateveryoneinmyclasswillbe
heard.We,asaclass,willsupporteveryoneandmakesurethateveryoneisheard.Thesearepoints
thatIwillmakesuremystudentsunderstandinmyclassroom.

Iwantmyclassroomtobearelaxedbutpositivelearningenvironment.Ifeelthattheuseof
musicisbeneficialincreatinganatmospherelikethis.Iwillusemusicduringnonlecturetimestohelp
studentstostayfocused.(IpreferclassicalmusicwhenIamworking,butIthinkitwilldependonthe
studentsinmyclass.)IdonothaveanyspecificwaysofgainingrapportwithstudentsbutIknowthat
thisisimportantinhavingapositiveclassroomculture.



ClassroomRules&Procedures(Artifact3,attached)
Idonotbelieveinstronglycontrollingagroupofmiddleschoolstudents.Iwouldliketogain
rapportandhavearelationshipwithmystudents.Ibelievethatinordertodemonstratethat,Ineedto
haveexpectationsformyclassroomthatinvolvevalueofhumanlife.Todemonstratethat,myfirst
expectationisTheGoldenRule:Treatothersasyouwouldbetreated.Mywishisthatstudentswill
gainasenseofcommunityintheroomandwanttotreatotherswell.Thenextitemisthattheyneedto
cometoclassontimeandprepared.Todemonstratethis,theirhomeworkisdue1minuteafterthebell
rings.Thisway,studentswillneedtobeinclassandpreparedinordertoturnitin.Ifitislate,they
havetoputitinadifferentbasketthatImayormaynotgettograding.Thethirdexpectationislaugh
withanyonebutlaughatnoone.Iwantmyclassroomtobeafunandpositiveenvironmentforthe
students.Inorderforthistobeachieved,thestudentsmustberespectfulofeachothersfeelings.If
theylaughwitheachotheritisfun;iftheylaughatsomeone,thatisnotfunforthatsomeone.Thatlast
expectationisBeresponsibleforyourownlearning.StudentsneedtorealizethatIcanonlysayso
manywordsthatconnectwiththeirbrains;theyaretheoneswhoneedtobeactiveintheirlearning
process.

Havingproceduresorroutinesfortheclassroomareimportantforstudents.Theyliketoknow
whatisgoingtohappen.Ihavegeneralproceduresfortheclassroom.Herearemyproceduresformy
classroom:


Enteringclass:
x Studentsarerequiredtocometoclassontimeandprepared.Youhave1minuteafter
thebellringstoturnyourhomeworkintotheWillgradethisweekbasket(alsoifyou
aretardywithexcuse).Ifyouaretardywithoutanexcuseputyourhomeworkinthe
WillgradewhenIhavetimebasket.Thengetoutyournotebookandwriteand
answerdailyquestionsandlearningobjectivesfortheday.



Duringclass:
x Youareexpectedtorespondappropriatelytodiscussionandactivitiesintheclassroom.
Followschoolandclassroomexpectations.
x Iffoodisallowedatschool,Iwillallowahealthysnackandwatertobeinmy
classroom.Ifgumisallowedbyschool,Iwillallowgum.
x Apassisrequiredtoleavemyclassroom:bathroom,nurse,office.Apassisrequiredto
returntomyclassroom.Ifyoudonothaveone,youwillbesenttotheofficetoget
one.
x Ibelievethatmusicisbeneficialtobrainfunctioninganddevelopment(Askmefor
research,ifinterested.)Musicwillbeplayedduringnonlecturetime.

Outsideofclass:Youareexpectedtodoyourownhomework.Workingwithfriendsis
appropriatebutcopyingfromfriendsisnot.



ClassroomLayout(Artifact4)

Thethoughtofaclassroomlayoutisexcitingtome.ItcanshowhowwelcomingandinvolvedI
wanttobe,asateacher.Ifeelthatgroup(24)workisanessentialcomponentoflearningformiddle
schoolstudents.Myroomwillbesetupwithtablessittinguptofourstudents.Thiswillallowfor
individualandgroupwork.Iftablesarenotavailable,Iwouldputfourdeskstogether,butmakingsure
thatthegroupisangletobeabletoseetheteacherandtheteachertoseethemfromalmostanywhere
intheroom.Theteachersdeskwouldbelocatedatthebackoftheroom,behindallofthedesks,ina
corner.Therewillbebookshelveslocatedintheoppositecorner.Ifeelthatmiscellaneoustopicbooks
arenecessaryforstudentstobearound.Otherbooksmaybetextbooksorresourcesforme.Then,as
youarelookingattheroomfromacrossthedoor,thefrontoftheclassroomhasabigopenareafor
studentstowalkthrough.Thisisalsowheretheprojectorwouldbepulleduptoorconnected.There
willbeaprojectionscreenanddryeraseboardlocatedatthefrontoftheroom.Asmalltablewhere
workshouldbeturnedinalsositsatthefrontoftheroom.Itwillbethelocationformetosetmyclass
itemsforclasstimeandlecture,ifnecessary.


MonitoringClassroomandRespondingtoStudentMisbehavior(Artifact5)

Whenrespondingtostudentbehaviors,Itrytoconsiderthatthesestudentsaremadetositstill
andbequietfor6+hoursaday.Iknowthatisnotpossibleforme.Itrytotakethatintoconsideration
andallowthefactthatsomestudentshaveahardtimesittingstill.Thatwouldnotbothermeinaclass.
Asamatteroffact,Iwouldevenletstudentsstandaslongastheyareactivelylearning.Iamaperson
whoisacutelyawareofmysurroundingsandquiteawareofpeoplesattention.IfIfeelthatastudentis
notpayingattention,Iwillgivethemsomenonverbalcuestogetfocused.Ifthiscontinues,Iwillstart
walkingaroundtheroomalittlemore,especiallynearthatperson.Ibelievethatusuallystudentsare
awarethisisatacticandtrytostraightenup.Proximityismymajorlineofdefenseforbehaviors.
However,thereareafewthingsthatIwouldhavetoaddress.Irefusetoallowstudentsto
mistreat(verballyorphysically)orevenmakerudecommentstoeachother.Whenthisoccurs,Iwillask
theoffendingstudenttocomeupwithaformofanapology,inprivate,fortheoneoffended.Iwant
studentstotrytograsptheconceptoftreatingothersinahumanlikeway.Iwilldefinitelyaddressthis
inmyExpectationslessonatthebeginningofschoolbutwillalsokeepremindingstudentsofthis
throughouttheschoolyear.AfterreadingTeachingwithLoveandLogicbyFayandFunk,Iamableto

seeadifferentperspective.Iseethatkeepingcontroloftheclassroomthroughconversationandnot
engaginginargumentativebehaviorwithstudentscanandwillhelpwithbehaviors,andbecauseofthis,
Idonotfeelthatdisciplineisanecessarymeasureforstudents.Iwouldliketotryanddealwith
behaviorswithinmyroomthroughconversation,ratherthansendingastudenttotheoffice.Idonot
wanttoengagethestudentinhis/herbehaviorbecauseitjustcreatesacycleofmisbehavior(see
artifact5).Iwantstudentstorealizethattheyareresponsiblefortheirownactionsandbehavior.
Obviously,therewillberulesmadebytheschoolandmadebythedistrictthatIwilladhereto.
TheserulesaremadeforapurposeandIwilltrymybesttoadheretothemandtoremindstudentsof
them,also.

ParentsasPartners(Artifact6,attached)
Asateacher,Irealizethatparentsareourbestresourceforunderstandingourstudents.There
willbesomefamilialrelationshipsthatarenotthebest,andwillalsohavetotakethisinto
consideration.However,Ithinkthatbeforeschoolevenstarts,Iwouldliketosendoutaparentsurvey
forthemtofilloutabouttheirchild.Anexampleofaparentinventory/questionnaireisartifact6.
DependingonwhatschooldistrictIworkin,thesemayormaynotbeactualquestionsthatIsendto
parents.Thiswouldinvolvequestionsthataskabouttheirchildsfavoritethingaboutschool,waysof
learningandiftheparentsfeelthestudentshavetoomuch/notenoughhomework.Ialsowouldwant
toknowifstudentshaveanadultathomewhowouldbecomfortablehelpingthestudentwith
homework,ifneeded.Ijustwanttogetafeelofthechildfromtheparentsperspective.Thewaythat
parentsfilltheseoutwillevengivemeinsightintothelifeofthechild.ItwillhelpmeseeifImighthave
anoverlyinvolvedparentandhowtheywanttostayconnectedorthatImighthaveaparentwhoisnot
soinvolved.

Asaparent,Ihavegottenmanyphonecallsafterphonecallaboutmysonsbehavior.Honestly,
theywerebehaviorsthattheteachershouldhavedealtwithandrealizedthatisjustmysons
personality.Iknowthatparentsonlywanttobecalledifitisaserioussituation.Ifeelthatforthemost
part,sendinganemailwillsuffice.(Howtheywouldwanttobecontactedwouldbeaquestiononthe
questionnaire.)

Idofeelthatitisimportantforteacherstosendinformationregardingtheirclassschedulesand
topicsthattheyarelearningabout.Ithinkthatweeklyisalittletoooften,butthatmaybechanged
overtime.Iwouldsendthisinformationviaemailforthosewhohaveitandpaperforthosewhodo
not.















ARTIFACTS
Artifact2

TeamBuildingExercises
PieceofthePuzzle
Thepurposeistoallowstudentstoseehowtheycancontributetoagroupandhowitis
necessaryforthewholegrouptobecomplete.Theinstructorshouldexplainthisconcepttothe
students.Teachershouldhaveahandmadeposterpuzzlepapercutintopiecesthattotalthenumber
ofstudentsintheclass.Thereshouldalsobedrawingmaterialsandcraftitemstodecoratethepuzzle
pieces.Eachstudenttakesapieceofthepuzzleanddecoratesitaccordingtotheirownlikes,dislikes,
beliefsorideas.Theyneedtomakeitsomethingtorepresentthem.Whenallstudentsarefinished,
thentheyhavetoputthepuzzletogether.Theteachercanputthepuzzleinaframetohangupforthe
classestoremindstudentshowtheyareateam.

SolemnandSilent
Theinstructorexplainsthatthisexercisewilltakeselfcontrol.Memberspairupandstandback
toback.Onthecountofthree,everyonemustfacetheirpartner,lookeachotherintheeyes,andthen
trytoremainsolemnandserious.Nospeaking!Thefirsttosmileorlaughmustsitdown.Allwho
remainstandingthentakeanewpartnerandtheactivitycontinuesuntilonlyonepersonhasnotsmiles
orlaughed.(Secondroundofplayingcaninvolvetwoteamscompetingtooutlasteachother.)Ifyou
getapairattheend,whoarebothkeepingastraightface,therestofthegroupcanactashecklersto
disruptthem.





















Artifact3




ClassroomExpectations:

xTreatothersasyouwouldbetreated.
xCometoclassontimeandprepared.
xLaughwithanyonebutlaughatnoone.
xBeresponsibleforyourownlearning.













Artifact6

MiddleSchoolParentInventory
Whatisyourchildsfavoritesubjectinschool?

Howwelldoyouthinkyourchilddoesinschool?

Doesyourchilddoanyextracurricularactivities?

Hasyourchildhadtoomuch,notenoughorjusttherightamountofhomeworkinthepast?

Whatkindoflearnerisyourchild?Dotheyneedtotouchthings,justlistenorbeupandmovingto
learn?
Doesyourfamilyhaveanyculturalaspectsthatareimportantformetobeawareof?

Arethereanyadultsinyourhomethatwouldbeabletohelpyourchildwithschoolwork,ifneeded?
Whatisthebestwaytocontactyouiftherewasanimportantsituationtodiscusswithyou?Please
providecontactinformation.
***PleasenotethatIamavailableanytimethatyouneedtotalk.Youcanalwaysleaveaphone
messageoremail,andIwillreturnitatmyearliestability.Iwouldlovetoscheduleatimetomeetyou
andgettoknowyourfamily!

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