My Classroom Management Philosophy

In order to provide my students with an environment of learning that is engaging and

secure, I must construct a classroom that is physically and academically supportive. This will be
accomplished through procedures that are modeled until mastered, a room that is visually
appealing as well as laid out for optimal learning, and the organization and positive attitude of
myself in regards to the students learning.
The procedures for my classroom will be created in a manner which allows the students
to efficiently enter the classroom, understand their responsibilities, and begin the lesson. These
procedures will enable the flow of instruction to continue despite daily interruptions
(bathroom/water breaks, absentee students, unprepared students, and pencil sharpening). There
will be procedures that the students can securely follow in the case of such distractions. As Harry
Wong points out, In an effective classroom, the students are responsible for doing the
procedures organized for their learning (83). Also, during the first few weeks of the school
year, as well as at the beginning of every grading period, the students will review and discuss the
procedures. The procedures will be implemented democratically; therefore, if the students want
to contest a particular procedure then the class will review the reasoning for it, as well as other
options to take its place. Overall, the students must take ownership for the implementation of the
classroom procedures in order for the classroom to move efficiently towards instruction.
Each day the classroom objectives and connected state standards will be visible to the
students. I will purposely direct the students attention to them at the very beginning of class so
that they understand the days goals and can take this time to ask questions. The classroom
procedures and consequences will also be in a place of easy visibility to the students. In
addition, there will be a purposeful area in the classroom to recognize the students achievements

in learning, whether this be an exemplary paper one has written, or a note of appreciation from
the teacher for a students amazing effort; whatever the success is, this will be where they are
recognized within our classroom community. I want to ensure that we are punctuating the
positive and have a classroom environment that is proactively positive instead of concentrating
on misbehavior and consequences.
Besides the visibility of our goals, procedures, class consequences, and posted successes,
the rest of the wall space will be a variety of encouraging quotations, specific writing support for
what I am currently teaching, common grammatical errors, relevant information about a novel
we might be reading, and a section to let the students know information about me. As far as the
classroom layout is concerned, I want to make sure that there is room for the students to move
around the room because the type of lessons that I create will require the students to group
together and be up and out of their seats. The desks will be organized in a manner in which the
students can all see the front of the classroom where the Smart Board/ white board will be
located for whole class instruction. Yet, I want the students to easily be able to move their desks
into a collaborative grouping when necessary. Finally, I will have a small group area located in
the back corner of my class. This is where I will support those students who are not yet ready to
independently tackle the assignment.
The details of my classroom will include a tall lamp in the back small group area, as well
as a lamp near the teachers desk for when lessons require the room to be without so much light
(evaluating media). There will also be an organizational cart that has drawers accessible to the
students that contain: highlighters, pencils, pens, colored pencils, markers, rulers, scissors, and
ruled paper. On top of this cart will be extra classroom books for the unit that the students are
studying at the time (for unprepared students). In the front of the classroom, I will use magnetic

clips to post current information from the school that is important to the students. Also, there
will be an area with file folders on a shelf near my desk for each class period that I teach. Within
each of these folders absent students can retrieve their work to complete. Finally, there will be a
teachers notebook as well as a pad of Post-Its near my teaching area as a means to consistently
reflect in the moment about my students needs.
A huge element of student motivation in the classroom will be lesson plans that grab their
attention. The types of lessons that I will provide my students with will require them to work
from bell-to-bell. I will over plan, ensuring that there are supplemental activities for students
who finish early and are ready to move closer towards mastery. However, I will allot time for
those students who need more support. There will moments in the lesson where I am releasing
the students to assess their knowledge, and within this time I will circulate the room to check-in
with each student and evaluate what is misunderstood, in progress, and mastered. This will
enable me to determine where the class will be in terms of learning during the following lesson.
It will always be my goal to place learning in front of my students that puts them in the position
to be problem-solvers, effectively offering them continual opportunities to figure out how to
think, instead of just coming to an easy answer.
Finally, my attitude towards the students is a priority to our classroom environment. I
will greet them by name, and get to know them on a personal level. This will also allow me to
plan lessons that interest them, because I will make it a point to know what they are interested in.
Every day will be a new day in regards to those students who require more patience. There will
also be a continual momentum of dialogue between my students and I that reflects mutual
respect. My perspective towards learning will overflow onto my students, and therefore it is
important that I am able to place the why of learning in front of them before we get to work. In

order to authentically be positive about the content, I must be a continual learner myself
spending time researching what is working in the now, and then effectively transferring these
strategies into my class without losing the depth of instruction that will always be a standard.

Work Cited
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (2009). The first days of school: How to be an effective teacher.
Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications

Work Cited
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (2009). The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher.
Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications.