I have heard that for many beginning teachers, classroom management can be one of the most challenging aspects

of their new career. Knowing this, I decided to experiment with many classroom management approaches during my student teaching to find one that fit both my students and myself. Based on these experiences, I designed a classroom management plan that I will implement in my classroom as a beginning teacher. It is important to note, however, that my classroom management philosophy will be evolving as necessary as I gain more experience and insight into the field of teaching. Also, my classroom management plan may need to be altered to fit my specific group of students.

Implementing a Student-Centered Classroom Management Program My classroom management approach will be student-centered as I will help students to develop a sense of responsibility for their actions. The behavior standards in my classroom will be high and developmentally appropriate for the age I am teaching. The students will play a large role in creating the rules for our classroom community. Together, we will decide what is appropriate behavior for our classroom, and I will write these rules as positive statements to be displayed in the room. I will ensure that all students understand the expectations of our classroom. Students will be made aware what the consequences for breaking the rules of our classroom community are. I will strive to be firm, kind, and consistent in my approach to rules and rule breaking. My goal will be to create a calm, safe, and orderly classroom - one in which I can teach and my students can learn.

Being Proactive with my Classroom Management My classroom management approach will also be a proactive one. I will consider management while planning all parts of the school day to anticipate and prevent any behavior issues before they occur. While student teaching, I planned many small group activities, hands-on science lessons, and math lessons using manipulatives. I planned for each possible classroom management issue so that I could avoid problems. For example, when introducing base ten blocks to the first graders, I knew these brand new manipulatives could be a distraction. To avoid this, I allowed the students to use bellwork time (the first 15 minutes of school) to explore and play with these new math manipulatives. When the time came for our math lesson that afternoon, I stressed that students had an opportunity to play with the base ten blocks this morning, but now it was time for us to use these as our math tools, not math toys. Our lesson ended up being a very productive one.

By implementing a strong classroom management plan, I made it possible for my first grade students to successfully use various math tools to enhance their learning

Being Positive in my Classroom Management Approach My classroom management approach will be a positive one. By using positive reinforcement and by creating positive relationships with my students, it will again eliminate many behavior issues before they occur. While student teaching, I tried a new classroom management technique focusing on positive reinforcement for good behavior with the first graders. I placed a jar in the front of the classroom, and explained that every time I caught the students being good, I would drop a marble into the jar. Once the jar was completely full, the students could choose a reward for their good behavior. Immediately after implementing this new plan, I began to hear students reminding their fellow classmates how to behave appropriately. Students were working together to create a productive, well behaved classroom. They were taking ownership for their behavior. The jar was full of marbles in a matter of weeks, and the students chose to have a pizza party to celebrate their accomplishment.

The students enjoyed a pizza party for their good behavior

Fostering Positive Relationships in the Classroom The last important piece of my classroom management plan will be the positive teacher-student, studentstudent, and teacher-parent relationships that I foster. By holding weekly classroom meetings, students will have a chance to meet and talk in a safe, respectful environment. We will begin these meetings with compliments and appreciations. This is a time when students can offer a compliment to one of their classmates, or they can share something they appreciated about a classmate that day. Then, we will discuss any other issues brought up by students or myself. These classroom meetings and other group activities in our class will encourage students to build positive relationships with all of their classmates. I plan to build a relationship with all parents of students in my classroom as well. I will welcome parent involvement, questions, and feedback. Parents are an essential element to a successful classroom management approach.

4444444444444444444444444444444444 I believe teaching is a life-long learning process and regardless of ones years of experience, there is always room for improvement. I feel that in a world as ever changing as ours, it is crucial for teachers to be open-minded and receptive to new ideas and styles of teaching. A strong teacher is willing to experiment with and adapt a wide variety of teaching methods, as he or she understands no two students ever learn in the same way. Additionally, I am of the opinion a model teacher is a team player; someone who understands the power of having a strong support system and, likewise, the importance of being a strong support system for others. I believe in being confident in ones teaching abilities, but also in knowing humility. I believe in creating a safe, welcoming and nurturing classroom community that fits the diverse needs of all students. I feel all students need a calm and comfortable, yet stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. It is my goal as an educator to help

students meet their fullest potential in these areas by providing an environment that supports risktaking, invites the sharing of ideas and encourages self-discovery. My classroom will be a place where all students can learn without fear of failure and a place where they can succeed based on their individual efforts and talents. All students have the capability for knowledge and learning, and they deserve their education to be in an encouraging and supportive environment. My classroom will be a place where all diversities (academic, cultural, economic, etc.) will be embraced and celebrated. I firmly believe the respect I show my students is the respect I will receive in return. I will help my students learn how to take care of and respect themselves, others, and the world around them. I will teach my students independence, responsibility, time-management, and organization. As I am convinced a teacher should be child-centered, I vow to take the time to connect with every student on a personal level. Although I will always be empathetic and compassionate towards my students, I will also always hold them to high standards to ensure they reach their fullest potential. I maintain that all classroom activities should be engaging and authentic. I want my students to be inspired and motivated to learn and, furthermore, I want them to be able to apply everything they learn to their everyday lives. Thus, it is my goal to develop curriculum around student interests to foster intrinsic motivation and stimulate their passion to learn. I will use differentiated instruction for all students, as I understand each child is a unique individual with diverse academic needs and abilities. I will also strive to incorporate a wide variety of kinesthetic, hands-on and technology-based activities in my classroom. Overall, I know tailoring my teaching style to fit the particular needs of my classroom will create ample learning opportunities for every student. Finally, in order to ensure my students are intrinsically motivated, life-long learners, I will lead by example. I will always strive to express my dedication to teaching, and convey my passion for learning.