Blog #3

Classroom Management Plan

My teacher’s classroom managements plan is to have students give her five if they start to act up.  This means that the students put their hand up and look at the teacher with their mouth closed.   If there is a single student that is having problems the teacher will tell the students to stop what they are doing.  The teacher will give the student multiple warnings and then move their fish out of the pond into a basket.  If the student keeps acting up after that they get multiple warnings and then their fish is moved into the red basket.  If that happens their parents are informed through their behavior chart and the student then sits out for all of center time. 

This is the poster that my teacher has up in her room.

Avoid Interruptions

One thing my teachers will do to avoid interruptions is have the students put up two fingers if they have to go to the bathroom.  This makes it so a student does not have to call out the teacher can just signal for the student to go.  She also will remind students to get water when they are transitioning or during down time to stop interruptions.

Guiding Principles

1) A classroom needs to be in a positive environment where students are safe.

2) Classroom management is key to having a successful classroom.

3) The management plan needs to be the same for all students.

4) Students are constantly engaged in learning.

5) Teachers and students will be respected.

Rules

1)      Be polite and respectful at all times.

a.       I think that respect is something that all students should know about and practice in their daily lives.  It is important for the students to remember that they need to follow this rules both towards the teacher and the students.

2)      Raise your hand and wait to be called on.

a.       This helps with classroom management.  It keeps the students from all shouting out at the same time and it lets students that take a little longer to respond have some time to think.  I will ask students to raise their hand and take some time to think.  I tell them that they should all get it in their brain but do not shout it out. 

3)      Complete all assignments on time and also to the best of your ability.

a.       This would make sure students would know that they should be doing their assignments and stay on task.  Everyone should be at least trying their homework if they are completing assignments to the best of their ability.  This gives the teacher a better understand of what they have to work on with their students.

      4)     Be quiet in lines and hallways.

                 a.     This helps students to not disturb other classes;  other classes might be taking a test or trying to concentrate and that can be hard if it is loud outside.  It also helps the students to hear me if I need to let them know something. 

    

  5)      Do your best.

             a.       I chose this because students should always remember that they should try their best and that if they are doing their best that I would be happy.  All I would want is for the students to try.  They will not always succeed but if they try I would be happy.  One thing that I say is that , “I do not like to hear I can’t, I want to hear ‘I’ll try.’”  Trying over and over can help students learn by repetition. 

Classroom Procedures and Routines

         Washing hands

a.       The students should wash their hands when they cough or sneeze into their hands, when it is time for snack or lunch, and after having gone to the bathroom.  The students should wash their hands for at least 30 seconds, on the top, bottoms, and in-betweens.  For the younger students I would have a washing song that they could sing.

2.      Bell work

a.        Every day when the students get in they should do their bell work.  The bell work will be on the board, the student should write it down if needed in the right place whether it is on a worksheet, in their assignment notebook or on a sheet of paper.  It will be specified where to do the bell work on the board.  When the students are done they may do silent reading or complete any homework that needs to still be done.  The bell work might also be to clean your desk or making sure you do something.

3.      End of Day

a.       At the end of the day the students should pack up their backpacks, clean off their desks, stack their chairs and make sure that there is nothing on the floor before they line up at the door and are ready to leave.  I would remind the students that their desk or table is there area and that they should respect it. 

4.      Classroom Library

a.       For the book shelves the books will be organized by reading level.  The students can come and take one book at a time.  When they return the book they should return it to the reading level that they took it from.  There are also books that are special featured books that are about a unit that the class is learning about.  These books should be put back where the students gets them.  One thing that I will go over with the students is how to take and put away books the right way so that do not get broken or lost. 

5.      Carpet

a.       While sitting on the carpet the students should stay in their assigned spots.  These spots will be assigned at the beginning of the year and will be changed as needed.  While on the carpet the students will be quiet and listen to whoever is speaking.  They should also be sitting with their legs cross-legged and hands in their laps so the students are not bothering each other or their hand do not get stepped on. 

6.      Homework

a.        At the beginning of each day I would go around to each student during bell work time and see if they had done their homework from the night before.  If the student had done their homework I would give then a checkmark and if they did not I would write down in their assignment notebook that they need to do it and show it to me the next day. 

7.      Pencils

a.       At the beginning of the day students should look in their desk and make sure that they have multiple sharpened pencils and also erasers.  Students should
      not have to get up in the middle of the day and 
      sharpen their pencils.  I would remind the students of this for the first couple of weeks.  It is something that can be forgotten easily.

8.      Bathroom

a.       If a student needs to go to the bathroom they can put up a    hand with four fingers up.  I would then say that it is okay for   the student to go.  The best time for the students to go is at the beginning and end of the day and also during individual work time. While in the bathroom the student are expected to not   fool around and wash their hands when they are done.     Students can go while I am teaching a lesson if it is an emergency. 

9.      Raising hands

a.       When a student has something to say they must raise their hand quietly.  If a student is raising their hand, jumping up and down and shouting out the answer they will not be called on and asked to quiet down.  The students should let their fellow classmates have a chance to think and answer the question for themselves.

10.  Leaving the room

a.       To leave the room students must be in pairs.  To turn in attendance, go to library and go to the nurse students must be with someone else.  The students must also make sure they are quiet and walking in the hallways so they do not disturb other classrooms.

Disruptive Behavior

1)    1)  Proximity control- I will walk closer to the student and by just standing closer to them hopefully they will stop what they are doing.  I might have to say a word or two to get the students attention.

        2)  I will also address good behaviors that I see hopefully helping students to remember how they should act.  If I see a student sitting down nicely or raising their hand nicely I would complement them on it.  During the first couple of weeks of school I would even reward the students for their good behavior with stickers, pencils or candy.

         3)  I will also see if I can use the disruptive behavior that the students is doing to my advantage, if a student keeps on getting up out of their seat I can maybe have them pass out papers to get them moving.  I would think of what the student was having trouble with and then see if I would be able to use it to my advantage.

        4)  If I see a student that does not respond to some of the above techniques I would talk to them by themselves and address the situation and let them know what the consequences of their action are.  If a student is keeps on doing something disruptive I would give them another reminder.

5)   If that does not work the student would lose privileges.  These privileges can be computer time, play time or not getting a prize that the rest of the class might get.

6)   If I am not able to deal with a student I would ask another teacher for any suggestions.  Sometimes other teachers see things in a different way.  They might be able to tell me something that I had not thought about. 

7)   If I am still not able to stop the behavior I would take the student to the office.  This is something that I would not like to do but it is sometimes something that is inevitable.  

Classroom Map

This is the classroom that I would like to have.  It is set up do the students could work together in groups easily and also have time to work by themselves.  Reading is something that would be important in my room so I wanted the students to have a place to read where they can be comfortable.