Classroom/RehearsalManagementPlan

AngelaSchmitt

ManagementChallengesintheMusicClassroom:
Themusicrehearsalprovidesawholehostofadditionalclassroommanagementchallenges.
Mostfrequently,wedealwithlesserissueswhichIveclassifiedasTier1challenges.Larger
issuesthatarelessfrequentareclassifiedasTier2challenges.Tier1consistsoftalkingduring
rehearsal,cellphonesonmusicstands,forgettinginstrumentsormusicathome,apathy,anda
lackoffocusintheclassroom.Theseproblemsarecommoninmostcontentareasaswellas
music,andwilldefinitelyoccur.Tier2consistsofstudenttostudentissues/disagreements,
studenttoteacherissues/disagreements,derogatory/inappropriatecomments,andfrequent
absences/truancy.Theseissuesarelesscommon,butwillstilloccurfromtimetotime.Settingup
theclassroomenvironmentwellwillhelpdeescalatehostileorconfrontationalissuesasthey
arisefromTier2.

Tier1
Talkingduringrehearsal
Phonesonstands/textingduringclass
Forgettinginstrumentsormusicathome
Apathy
Lackoffocus

Tier2
Studenttostudentissues/disagreements
Studenttoteacherissue/disagreements
Derogatory/inappropriatecomments
Frequentbathroombreaks/truency

RulesandProcedures:
Forrehearsaltorunsmoothlyandeffectively,mylistofrulesincludesbasicexpectationsanda
fewprocedures.Itismostimportanttomethatstudentshavetheresourcesandtoolstheyneedto
bepresentandfocusedduringrehearsal.Inaddition,itisimportantthattheyarecommittedand
physicallypresentintheclassroom.Tobestsetupanenvironmentwheregoodeducationcan
takeplace,IveplannedformostissuesinTier1.Myrulesandproceduresallowstudents5
additionalminutestoassembletheirinstruments,gettheirpencilandmusic,andgetfocused
beforeIbeginrehearsal.Wateristheonlydrinkallowedintheclassroom.Nogumistolerated,
eveninthepercussionsection.Also,itisclearlyindicatedthatfocusandattentivenessis
expectedbythebringyourbrainrule.Tocounterthephoneissues,Iveplannedtohave
studentsplacetheirphonesfacedownundertheirchairsfollowingtuning.Tosetuptheclassto
functioneffectivelyandcooperatively,Ivelistedrulesaboutrespectandhowtocontributeto
theclass.
 1. Arrivetoclassontimeandbeinyourseatwithyourinstrumentassembledbyfive
minutesintotheclassperiod.Failuretodosowillresultinatardy.Threetardiesresults
inagradededuction.
2. Bringyourmusic,yourinstrument,andyourpenciltoclassdaily.
3. Nofoodordrinksinthebandroom.Wateronly!
4. Nogum.
5. Bringyourbrainandapositiveattitude.
6. Phonesmaybeusedastunersormetronomesonly,thenwillbeplacedfacedownunder
yourchair.
7. Phoneswillbeconfiscatediftheyaredistracting.
8. Respectyourself,yourpeers,andyourteacher.
9. Respectthespace,keeptheroomclean,andkeepyourinstrumentclean.
10. Raiseyourhandifyouwithtocontribute.

Reflection/Modifications:
Thissemester,classroommanagementhasseemedalittlemoreambiguousthanIthinkitwillin
myfirstteachingposition.Asastudentteacher,Iveapproachedmyclassroommanagementa
littlemorecautiouslyasIattempttofitwithintheprogramwhereIwork.AtGreenville,students
arequitereceptiveandIhavefewTier2issuesinclass.Now,withmuchofstudentteaching
completed,IamfirmerwithmyexpectationsfortheclasswhileImteaching.Thegroupswork
betterformeandtalkinghaslessened.Itisagoodlevelformeinthisplacement,butina
programthatismyown,Iwouldhopetohaveadifferentclassroomatmosphereinthisregard.In
summary,thissemesterhashelpedmetorealizethatbeingfirmoccasionallyisgoodforthe
students,andtheyappreciateitwhenitiskindandimpersonal.Mytendencyistodefaultto
beingnice,butstillassertmyexpectations.Inaclassroomthatismyown,Iwillfeelalotless
hesitantaboutaddressingclassroommanagementissues.ImstillveryawarethatIamvisiting
thisprogram,thesestudents,andmyCT.Theyarefantasticforme,butitisstillnotMY
classroom.

Tier1issueshavebeenthemostfrequentandthemostfrustratingformethissemester.Ihaveno
cautionwhenitcomestoaddressingcellphones,asIhavetaughttwoseasonsofcompetitive
marchingbandwhereIhavebecomeusedtotakingphoneswhenIseethem.Imakeajokeabout
itnormally,butmakeitclearthatitiscertainlyviolatingtheexpectationsetfortheclass.Again,
asIsaidbefore,talkinghaslessenedalotsinceIvestartedworkingwiththestudents.Iam
fortunatetobeinaplacementwherestudentsaregenerallyinvestedintheirmusicmaking.
Occasionallythereisapathy,butnotenoughforittobeamajorissue.Iencounteredonemajor
Tier2issuewhereastudenthadanoutburstatanotherstudentwhilemyCTwasnotintheroom.
Itwasntdifficultformetodeescalateandconfront,butitwasoutoftheordinaryandtheother
studentswerealittleunnerved.Isimplysaidthatisunacceptablebehaviorforthisclassina
firmtone,andthestudenthadresponded,yelling,withSHESunacceptable.Isimplystated
again,Iunderstand,butImsayingthatwearentgoingtotalklikethathere,andyoullneedto
seeMrs.Gouldafterclass.Iquicklyshiftedbackintorehearsal,andwefinishedthehour
withoutmoremajorissues.Aftertalkingwiththestudent,hewasjustflusteredwiththings
outsideofbandandapologizedprofusely.Wediscussedandcameupwithaplantoavoidissues
likethatinthefuture.Again,itwasagoodexperiencetohave,butwhenitcomestoTier2
issues,Idontstrugglemuchwithconfrontationordeescalation.Iwouldagreethatattimesitis
uncomfortable,butIfeelconfidentinmyabilitytoaddressthesetypesofproblemsinakind
way.

BelowareissuesIvelistedinrelationtotheTier1andTier2listsabove,andpotentialwaysto
addressandsolvetheseproblemsshouldtheycontinuetoexist.

Hypothesizedissues:
Percussionistschewinggum,keepingfoodetc.inthebackoftheroom
Studentslackingfocusorenergy
Phoneshiddenonstandsorinpockets
Potentialbullying/disrespectfulcommentstoneighbors
Trashleftintheroom
Studentsoversteppingandtryingtobetheteacherfortheirpeers
Studentsbeingunprepared/notpracticingathome

Hypothesizedmodifications:
Teachingfromvariousplacesintheroom
Walkingandteachingsimultaneouslysostudentsaremorefocused
Havestudentsstandupandrehearse
Havestudentsmovetoanotherseatintheroomandrehearse
Circlerehearsal
Silentrehearsal
Adoptanophoneatallpolicy
Phonechargingstationwherestudentsmayplugtheirphonesinandchargethemduring
class
Adaptingseatingcharttoavoidstudenthostilities
Oneononediscussion/rehearsalplan/confrontation
AdoptabandcouncilconsistentofP,VP,Sec,EquipmentManagerwhoisalsoin
chargeofroomorderliness/cleanliness
Individualdiscussionforlessstudentleadership/overstepping
Practicerecords/bandolympics/sectionals