Classroom Management Plan

20132014

Ms. Amanda Abrey Within my own classroom:

A. Goal: To create a positive learning environment in which creativity and collaboration will be
fostered.

B. Definition: A positive learning environment (PLE) is a place where students feel safe and cared
for so they can learn. A visitor to the classroom would see all students participating, and putting their best into their work. Visitors to the class would hear positive and accepting words spoken between the teacher and students, as well as between peers.

C. Building PLE: Interpersonal relationships between the teacher and students, as well between
peer creates a close-knit community within the classroom. 1. Positive Relationships: I believe it is very important to learn each students name as quickly as possible. Greeting students as they enter the classroom is an effective way of letting the students know you see them; you see them as an individual and not as a body of a whole. I want to initiate conversation with each of my students to provide an opportunity for the student to get to know me and vice versa. Within the first few weeks of class I would like to play some collaborative games with the students to break the ice so they can feel more comfortable. I believe that if positive relationships are fostered and modeled within the classroom setting, then students will treat all humans with respect and empathy. 2. Safe and Caring: The classroom will be a safe haven where time will be taken to ensure that each member is educated about how to treat one another. Having a clean, and clutter free classroom will provide the basis for a stress free learning environment. I will ensure that the students most basic needs are being met by having a basket of healthy snacks available for students who have not eaten. Once students have their basic needs met they will be able to actively learn. 3. Leadership: Professionalism is something that I have tried to incorporate into my education from the beginning. I believe that the way one dresses and speaks has a direct effect on how the public views him/her. I wish to dress in a professional manner, as well as speak in a clear and effective way to promote professionalism. I have always had an assertive personality that enables me to go gain the attention of others. I want to model to my students that if respect is given, respect will be gained. I want to show my students respect, give them the benefit of the doubt and, in turn, my hope is they will learn to trust and respect me. I want to encourage my students to be leaders in their communities as well as within the classroom I 1

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would also like to set up school wide initiatives such as fundraisers and food drives. Our culture is very ethnocentric and it is my hope that through helping others my students will become aware of the world around them.

D. Building PLE: Planning and organizing the classroom in an effective way will promote stress
free learning. 4. Effective Instruction: Effective instruction will be achieved by teaching lessons that align with the program of studies. These lessons will be developed to include all students no matter what type of learning they associate with. The lessons will provide students with the ability to interact with peers. Clear and concise instruction will be given so that all students will be set up for success. Taking care to teach in teachable moments across curriculum will provide a well-rounded learning base. I wish to provide students with proper amounts of time for question and response as well as time for reflection and self-discovery. I will utilize the ATA, Alberta Education, and Alberta Assessment Consortium along with many websites to plan my lessons. By gaining knowledge of my students interests through interaction it will become easier to integrate what they enjoy into my lessons. I am an organized person by nature so it will be one of my goals to create a classroom where everything has a workable place. 5. Organization: Desks will be organized in a way that suites the learning needs of the students. This will be a work in progress, and will rely heavily on students being able to work in pairs or pods. I will require all students to hand in assignments on agreed upon due dates, whether or not the assignment has been fully completed. There will be a basket within the classroom where all assignments will be put. I hope to have baskets or folders for each student where they can find their marked assignments once they have been looked at or marked. I hope to be able to do this in an effective amount of time to formatively assess my students learning. Students who ask questions in my class will be required raise their hands. Students who wish to use the washroom must, at an appropriate time, and not during the lecture or directive part of the lesson, ask the teacher to go to the washroom and must write his/her name on the white board along with the time they leave they class. The student will also write the time they returned from the washroom. This will enable the teacher to know who is out of the classroom, as well as a hint on if the student is taking excessive time wandering out of the class. My hope is that with technology I will be able to post worksheets, study sheets, and homework activities online so that students will be able to access them if they were sick or had to miss class. I am excited to use technology to aide in student learning. Attendance will be recorded digitally as well as in a personal binder. Students who arrive late will be required to

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fill out a late slip, too many of these and communication with the parents will be required.

E. Building PLE: Expectations for classroom behavior will be developed together as a class within
the first week of class. 6. Behavioral Expectations: When students are given a say in a decision I believe they are far more likely to follow through with the expectations than if they are simply told what to do. With this in mind I want to develop classroom guidelines with the students within the first two days of class. The expectations will be discussed as a whole class, and my hope is to probe the questions so that students will know the direction to take. I want to ensure that appropriate language is used so students will take ownership of their own actions. Depending on the grade, students will already have an idea of what types of expectations are required of them. I hope that as time goes on students will take these guidelines and use them in everyday life: I want to be treated nicely, so I will treat others nicely etcetera. These guidelines will be constructed by the students and written out by the students on poster paper. If the students work together to create the poster (decorating etc.) my hope is that they will take ownership and internalize the rules for themselves. I will help the student practice good behavior by remaining empathetic. Bobby, Im so sorry that you are unable to keep your hands to yourself, youll have to move your desk two ruler lengths away from your pod. One thing I want to ensure for the success of my classroom is always using a calm tone with my students. I really hope that I will be able to create a stress-free learning environment.

F. Maintaining PLE: Daily structures of effective functioning within the class will set the students
up for daily success. 7. Procedures: The student will learn how all the aspects of the classroom will run within the first week of class. This will be reinforced by a question and answer period at the end of each week for the first month. I think this will ensure (by asking different students each time) that each student has an idea of how and why the classroom is run the way that it is. Depending on the age of the students it may be easier to simply tell the students why certain rules are in place, but certainly students at the grade two level and above will be able to actively participate in answering classroom expectation questions. I will try my absolute hardest to remain consistent in my course of action when rules are broken. By setting out for myself a chart for response to misbehavior it will be easier to stay consistent. 8. Monitoring: Monitoring is invaluable for the preventative aspect of classroom management. 95% of classroom management is based on preventative actions. I know that it is my legal responsibility to look after all students once they have 3

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stepped into my classroom until the time that they leave the school grounds at the end of the day (even if they are not in the same room as me). I will actively monitor my class by wandering around the classroom, making myself available to help students should they need it. I will very rarely have my back to the class, even if I am speaking to one single student. 9. Teacher Response: My response to student misbehavior will be as follows: Misbehavior Low- disruptive behavior such as tapping, whispering, not sitting properly in desk, poor language. (damn, screw off, screw you, etc) Teacher Responses- go through bumps 1-7 for each misbehavior Bump 1 Planned ignoring The look cease and desist signal (hand up like a stop sign) A pause and look Proximity Bump 2 Squaring off pause, turn to face student, stay students name, give a verbal reminder, say Thank-you Make sure to check on them in a few moments. Bump 3 & 4 Offering choices (position yourself so you can still see class but give you and the student some privacy, quietly describe the situation, offer two planned alternatives, say Thank-you) assuming they pick the desired choice. Bump 5 Informal chat- the student and teacher will problem solve how to diffuse the situation. Allow student to accept responsibility for his/her behavior. Do NOT embarrass student in front of class Bump 6 Defusing a Power Struggle- the student is asked to wait out in the hallway for teacher. After a minute, go say Ill be out in a minute Check yourself: Are you calm? Silence..use silence Use reassuranceYoure a good kid, I love having you in my class. It would be great if 4

Low- disruptive behaviors such as tapping, whispering, not sitting properly in desk again, poor language. (see above)

Medium- talking loudly, disturbing other students with tapping, tipping chair

Medium- Swearing out loud Calling anyone a name, gay etc. Talking during an exam.

High- Using Shit, fuck, bitch directed at anyone. Using any physical force in an aggressive way.

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High

you would come back in and take part. Take some time- come back in when youre ready. Bump 7 Formal Contracts- Behavior contracts that involve parents, principal etc.