Classroom Management Plan

PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS AND MANAGEMENT STYLE:

There are many analogies one can draw to illustrate the relationship between student and
teacher; a ships captain and the crew; a drill sergeant and the new recruits; a coach and the team.
I think these analogies are what we default to through conditioning by our culture and place in
society. We like to divide and categorize to create order and reason. I subscribe to a broader view
of classroom management. I agree the classroom teacher should be the classroom leader, but I
would prefer my classroom be collaborative and place ultimate responsibility on the student for
his or her behavior.
As the manager of the classroom, I believe it is my duty to provide a safe, well-
organized, and nurturing environment. To promote this type of environment, I think an
authoritative managing style is necessary. Christopher Dunbar (2004) points out, The
authoritative teacher places limits and controls on the students but simultaneously encourages
independence. This teacher often explains the reasons behind the rules and decisions. I think
creating the right environment for learning begins with organizationclassroom routines and
procedures that are known and understood, teacher expectations that are clear and attainable; and
learning activities that are important and achievable.
I think governing the classroom is not only the job of the teacher, but the students as
well. If they feel that their time in class is valued and productive, they will not feel the need to
create disruptions or stop the learning process. Dunbar (2004) describes the authoritative teacher
in this manner, If a student is disruptive, the teacher offers a polite, but firm, reprimand. This
teacher sometimes metes out discipline, but only after careful consideration of the
circumstances. (Please see Christopher Dunbars article Best Practices in Classroom
Management)
DEVELOPING AND FOSTERING STUDENT/TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS:
In correlation with my beliefs on classroom management, I plan to foster positive
relationships with my student through student surveys, attending schools events, and maintaining
communication with parents. I believe it is important to try to know and understand the people in
my classroom. Joan Walker reminds us, The best teachers dont simply teach content, they
teach people. Decades of evidence demonstrate that the added value of attending a given
classroom stems from both the quality of teachers instructional practices and their relationships
with students.
Examples of Class Building Activities I plan to use include:
I never

Students form circle. First student says something they have never done. Each student that has
done the thing the other student has not steps briefly into the center. The game continues until
every person has stated something they have done.
http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/10-team-building-games-for-the-first-day-of-class/

Fact or Fiction

In a circle, the first student offers two facts and one piece of fiction about themselves. Others
raise hands or are called on to identify which were facts and which was fiction. The correct
guesser goes next. Play is completed when all students have gone.
http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/10-team-building-games-for-the-first-day-of-class/

Space Trip

The teacher sets the scenario: A thinning ozone layer means Earth can no longer sustain life, and
a small group of individuals must be sent to another planet to continue the human species.
Divide the team into groups of five to seven. Give each group a list describing 30 people by age,
sex, skills, profession and some personal information. The group, working together as a team,
must select 10 people from the list to go to another planet. Allow 30 minutes to one hour for each
team to create its list and write its selection criteria. Have each group choose a leader to present
recommendations to the rest of the class.http://www.livestrong.com/article/212842-team-
building-exercises-for-high-school/#ixzz2mvvwItsR
SETTING PARAMETERS:

After consideration of whether or not to create classroom rules with students, I have
concluded I would prefer to give a list of four basic rules and elaborate on them during the first
class meeting on the first day of school. Ideally, I would like the elaboration to be a brief
dialogue between the class and me. My basic four: Bring Your Tools (come to class prepared
with the necessary writing utensils, papers, and material to participate), Stop, Look, and Listen
(focus on the speaker and actively listen), Remember Others (empathize, treat others with the
respect you would like to get), and Take Care of Yourself (turn in assignments on time, be
conscientious).
I plan to greet students at the door prior to the bell ringing, then shut the door and record
roll as the students complete a warm-up task posted on the document camera (or another form of
posted warm-up). If a student was absent, I plan to have folders for the previous days work
available for the student to take and complete. I welcome students completing work in class, if
there is spare time so they may ask questions and receive more instruction on what was missed.
I would like to discourage students coming to me and asking about late work by making it
available to them through the school portal or the folder in the room. When I see they have
completed the warm-up, I will signal we are beginning class by saying Damas y caballeros.
(ladies and gentleman).