Katie Gabriel

Ms. Gabriels Classroom and Behavior Management Plan

My views on classroom management are straight forward but will continually take hard
work to accomplish. The classroom atmosphere I am on a mission to create is one that students
will respect, appreciate, and learn from. Each students education and who they are as a person
are very important to me and I am confident that that will be reflected not only in my teaching
but also in my classroom and behavior management approaches.
Classroom Management Style and Philosophy
Relationships, community, and collaboration will be the main focuses of my classroom. Not one,
but many approaches and views will be used to reach each student where they are at. My
classroom will be managed calmly and rationally. Starting on the first day, my students will
know that I respect them and that they need to do the same for me and my classroom.
Misbehavior is not tolerated, but will be handled maturely when it occurs. Students will receive
consequences (that are not over the top, but generally make the student understand why they
should not follow through with those behaviors) for their actions, but they will also receive
rewards for their positive behaviors, as well. I will also be sure to personally praise each student
so that they know that I see their hard work and good deeds. I want my classroom to revolve
around my students rather than my classroom to revolve around the rules and regulations. I plan
to respect my students and build rapport with them in a way that will encourage them to work
hard and be positive and to lose desire to disrespect the classroom and its rules.
Establishing relationships
Establishing relationships with my students and giving them the opportunity to establish
relationships with each other will be one of my main goals within my classroom. I believe that
many forget this crucial piece in education. A well-built relationship can lead to students feeling
more encouraged and motivated in their studies, and even more importantly, make them feel
loved. Each student deserves this kind of relationship with their teachers and with their peers.
Ways that I will establish relationships in my classroom:
- I will begin the year with several get-to-know-you games that will encourage relationships between peers
and allow me to take some intentional time to learn and understand each of my students.
- As the year goes on, I will be sure to take time out of class to do team building activities within my
classroom. We will work together to accomplish fun tasks in order to allow my students to enjoy working
together. I will also participate, rather than observing, to have the opportunity to bond with my students.
- When any inappropriate or out-of-the-ordinary behavior is witnessed in one of my students, I will be
intentional about learning what is causing this emotion/behavior. I will set aside time to speak with any of
my students who show signs of stress, frustration, sadness, nervousness, etc. in order to encourage them
within my classroom and outside of it.
- My door will always be open. I will make my students aware that there is never a time or situation they
cannot talk to me. I will not judge them, but only work through situations with them. My hours spent after
school will be a time when students can come in and chat if they so desire. I will work hard for each student
to know that I am entirely for them.
Working with parents
Working with parents is very important to me. Parents are generally the main support and
encourager for each student. I want to have strong relationships and connections with each
students parents so that communication is easy and effective.
Ways that I will work with parents:
- I will send an e-mail out to parents in the first week of the school year informing them of my mission
statement within my classroom. The e-mail will encourage the parents to be involved with their students
and stay connected with what they are learning in class. I will be sure to give them my phone number and
any other way to contact me if they have any questions about anything.
- When there is anything positive or negative going on with a student, I will be sure to contact the parent. I
will send encouraging e-mails to each of the students parents throughout the year in order to stay
connected with them and allow them to see the positive in their student. I will also be sure to connect with
the parents when their student struggling or having inappropriate behavior in my classroom.
- Any conversation I have with a parent will not just be an informative conversation, but rather a discussion.
I will work with each parent to solve any problems there might be and use their knowledge of their children
to help better their education and their experience in my classroom.
- Conferences will be a way that I can get to know parents and, along with explaining to them how and what
their students are doing in my classroom, I can also learn from the parents on what they believe is needed
for their student to succeed.
Rules
I will begin by having my class collectively create rules within our classroom. I will have
an idea of what rules I would prefer to have and be sure that the students are encouraged to
choose these rules or something similar. We will bring all of our ideas together and make 5
simply stated rules that are clear and sensible. I will create a large poster board of the rules and
place them in the front of the classroom. When a student is misbehaving or not following the
rules, I will point to the classroom rules poster and remind them what is expected of them. I will
also remind them that we came up with these rules as a collective class so it is them who decided
what was expected of them and what was acceptable.
Rules of my Classroom:
- Everyone and everything will be respected. (Each person will be accepted and appreciated for who they
are. Every object within the classroom will be treated kindly and carefully.)
- Each person (student and teacher) will work their hardest to accomplish their goals.
- We will encourage each other in any circumstance and work as a team to accomplish our goals.
- All required materials should be brought to class each day. Students should come prepared with homework
and any other supplies needed for class.
- Students will work to stay on task and educationally oriented
Procedures
I will introduce classroom and school procedures throughout the first week of class. I will
be sure to spread the procedures out in a manner that will help students remember and
understand each one. I will explain classroom procedures as they appear in our schedule. As the
students learn each procedure, I will be intentional about explaining and reviewing them over the
following weeks. I will stress the importance of these procedures so that students will appreciate
them. Each procedure will be a way of keeping the classroom organized. Once they are
memorized and done efficiently, it will open the doors for our class to quickly get the small
things done and focus more on the lessons.
Example Procedures in My Classroom:
- Homework will be turned-in by placing it in a basket on my desk. Homework will be due at the beginning
of class on its assigned date.
- Trips to the drinking fountain will not occur. There will be a jug of water (and a jug of juice, on occasion,)
that will be provided within the classroom. Grab a paper cup and fill it with your chosen liquid and sit back
in your seat to drink it. Any spills that are not cleaned up properly will cause suspension from the water
jugs or no juice rewards.
Enhancing students motivation
I want my students to have a desire to learn! I am aware that my desire can be stronger
than most, but that does not mean it will be any easier to accomplish such desire. I will be sure to
continually focus on ways to motivated and encourage my students in their education. I like
some of the approaches to helping students stay motivated in the book Meeting Students Where
They Live by Richard L. Curwin (Curwin). He discusses the importance to see things from
students perspectives and the reasons why this approach works. Ralph H. Kilmann states that
Research in industry has found that giving individuals greater influence in decision making
increases the effectiveness of their performance and their level of satisfaction (Kilmann). This
view has encouraged me to give my students the opportunity to make decisions for themselves in
many circumstances within my classroom. When each student has made a decision for
themselves, their experience in whatever the lesson may be will be bettered. It is human nature to
feel more content and to enjoy our experiences more if we have made the choice to experience
such things. When we enjoy something, we automatically feel more motivated to do something
about it.
How I Will Enhance Students Motivation:
- I will intentionally relate each of my lessons back to my students lives. At the beginning and the end of
each lesson, my students will be encouraged to think of the lesson from their own perspectives and terms.
- I will allow my students to be free-minded in their thinking. By letting my students be creative and
personalized in their work, I hope to help them develop a desire for whatever the topic may be.
- When students have accomplished new things, have worked hard on their given assignments, and have
participated well within class I will reward them with treats or something else of their choosing.
- I will be motivated in my role as a teacher and put passion into each topic covered in class. I will lead by
example in the attitude I wish for students to have when they approach learning.
- I will greet the students at the door and start the class on time to create an example of not slacking and
staying focused.
Experiences
Rapport building- I have witnessed my field placement mentor teacher continually asking
questions and having conversations with students. He engages in their interests and allows
students to enter the classroom between periods and during recess. Students enjoy talking to him
because of the upbeat and personal conversations he repeatedly has with them.
Behavior management- My mentor teacher manages the behavior in his classroom by suing a
blurt chart. Students receive checks when they speak out of turn. When they reach 5 they
receive an extra spelling word. However, they have a chance to redeem themselves by working
hard and being respectful. As soon as they hit five checks, if they begin to behave and respect the
classroom and what is going on, they can lose all of their checks.
Parent involvement- My mentor teacher follows up with each one of his students parents
throughout the year. He send them encouraging e-mails about their son or daughters behavior
and achievements, and also is sure to notify them if their child is struggling in a subject or with
behavior.
Rules- In my field placement last year, my mentor teacher had repeatedly reviewed the
classroom rules the first week of class. The students knew the rules so well that when they
misbehaved, they automatically knew their consequence. My mentor teacher would simply point
to the rule poster and the student would quickly correct themselves or move on to completing
their given consequence.
Reflection
With many experiences in my future, I am excited to continue to shape my view on classroom
management. Though some of my techniques or approaches may vary with time, I know I will
stand firm on my main outlook on teaching and how to manage a classroom. My classroom will
be student-oriented and continually giving students the opportunity to make decisions
themselves. Every student will be encouraged to be creative in their own way and will be able to
make each lesson their own in some way and I will be sure to attempt to relate every lesson to
their lives so that they have a reason to care.
Sample Classroom Layout


Works Cited
Curwin, Richard L. Meeting Students Where They Live: Motivation in Urban Schools.
Alexandria, Va.: ASCD, 2010.
Kilmann, Ralph H. Designing and Developing a 'Real' Organization in the Classroom,
Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 18, No. 1 (1975), 143-148