Running Head: CLASSROOM AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

Classroom and Behavior Management

Leah Madsen
Regent University

CLASSROOM AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

In partial fulfillment of UED 495 Field Experience ePortfolio, Fall 2015Introduction

Classroom management is one of the most important factors in being a successful teacher.
Teachers who struggle to manage their students' behavior effectively will find themselves
stressed out and overwhelmed. A poorly managed classroom is a recipe for chaos, while an
efficiently managed classroom produces respect and high productivity. Through positive
behavioral reinforcement and patience, teachers can successfully manage a classroom full of
students.
Rationale for Selection of Artifacts
The first artifact I chose was a "Rams code" poster in the classroom. The school in
which I was placed, Salem Elementary, piloted a positive behavioral management program for
the city of Virginia Beach. I attended trainings and learned the benefits of positive behavior
reinforcement and strategies to implement throughout my teaching. The Rams code poster I
selected was specifically created for my Kindergarten classroom; there is another poster that can
be seen throughout the school. The main three points of the Rams code is: Be respectful, Be
responsible, and Be safe. In my classroom, the poster lists ways the students can be respectful,
responsible, and safe throughout the day. I constantly remind students who are not making a
good decision of specific guidelines on the classroom Rams code poster. Another strategy that I
used to enforce good behavior is pointing out the positive actions that are opposite of a student
who is not making a good choice. Pointing out behavior you like as a teacher encourages the
student who is not doing the right thing to change their behavior.
The second artifact I selected was the positive behavior marble jar. This jar is in the form
of a poster and allows the students to see their progress daily and celebrate their success. Also,
the students will encourage each other to follow the Rams code in order to earn their marbles.

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The students can earn marbles for a variety of things: compliments by resource teachers, whole
class library book return, positive assembly behavior, etc. After the class earns ten marbles,
which completes a row, they receive a prize. I always tell the students what prize they are
working for, so they can motivate themselves, and each other, to strive to do their best. Positive
behavioral reinforcement has proven to be successful and creates a happy and productive
classroom environment.
Reflection on Theory and Practice
Without the proper tools and strategies, managing a classroom full of students can be a
challenge. Through positive reinforcement and patience, classroom and behavior management is
attainable. Students must know the required expectations in order to meet them, An effective
teacher demonstrates competencies that build healthy relationships with students, establish
authority and control in the classroom, communicate expectations clearly and consistently, and
engage every individual. (Selig, 2009, p. 26). Most students strive to please their teachers if
they know, understand, and respect the rules/guidelines laid out. Teachers are capable of
positively affecting their students through their actions and words. Although there will be
occasional behavioral issues, I feel that the majority of issues are avoidable through positive
classroom management. Proverbs 22:5 shares, Train up a child in the way he should go, and
when he is old he will not depart from it (BibleGateway, 2011). If students learn that positive
behaviors are rewarded, they are more likely to frequently do the right thing.
Also, many students misbehave for attention; if students are already receiving positive
affirmation, they do not have the need for negative attention. Students who feel loved tended to
work harder to please those who love them. When students know that their teachers genuinely
care, they respond by exerting greater effort to reach their potential. (Powell, 2012, p. 152).

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Teachers should focus on working with students as opposed to working against them when it
comes to classroom and behavior management. Teachers do influence the behaviors of the
students--both positively and negatively. Some teachers are more effective at positive classroom
management than others. (Partin, 2009, p. 30). I truly believe in positive classroom
management techniques and know that every classroom would run smoother with less
management issues if students received positive behavioral management daily as opposed to
negative consequences.

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References
BibleGateway. (2011). Retrieved November 21, 2015, from https://www.biblegateway.com/
Partin, Ronald L. (2009). The Classroom Teachers Survival Guide. San Francisco, CA: John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Powell, S., & Powell, S. (2012). Your introduction to education: Explorations in teaching (2nd
ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Selig, W. George. (2009). Handbook of Individualized Strategies for Building Character. Los
Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.