Classroom Management
Rules and procedures create an effective classroom management style that make it possible to build a strong foundation for positive learning environment. Many classic text put the teacher in front of the classroom creating structure with rules My teaching experience at an urban school and my reading of ‘Savage Inequalities’ by Jonathan Kozol, “Holler if you Hear me’ by Gregory Michie, and several articles on the 'pipeline to prison' structures in our schools has shaped my view and application of rules and procedures. I believe in rules, structure, and a student-centered instructional strategy. An educator that is knowledgeable on effective classroom management techniques can set up a rules that benefit the growth of the classroom community as opposed to stifling the students participation. The majority of my classroom management strategy will come from my philosophy of teaching. The learning environment will be both productive and safe when the students are engaged in activities that are interesting to them and applicable to other parts of their lives. My training from one of the best education programs in the region has prepared me to create hands-on inquiry based lessons. Similar to the picture, students will work together, out of their desk, and with technology on a daily basis. In addition to having an engaging lesson there is a way to have healthy structure in a classroom and it starts with the foundation that the teacher sets. I plan to develop rules in my classroom based off of practices I have seen work in other classrooms and then base the procedures on the personality of the learners. Before students walk into the door on the first day I will have three norms. First, be respectful. Confucius’s golden rule, ‘do unto other as you want done unto you’, will apply inside of my classroom. Each student must give and receive respect in order for our classroom to run properly. Second, each student must be ready to interact in learning activities. This rule requires that students come to class on time, with all needed materials in an organized manner, having completed any required assignments, and ready to engage in deeper learning. Finally, the last rule is nourish the community. Our classroom is special place where great students are groomed to become productive members of society. In order for this to happen we must think of our classroom as community. It must remain a clean, organized, safe, and creative space. Those rules are non-negotiable, but students will interact with me in creating any additional rules and appropriate consequences. An example of a consequence might start with a warning, reminding the learner of our norms, and making sure the student is okay. A list of appropriate consequences will be created with the students. To see a list of community building activities I use please open the document below.