Classroom Management Plan

My Philosophy of Classroom Management

I immediately felt pulled to the authoritative classroom management
style that is discussed in the class textbook. To be even more specific; I
aspire to be a warm demander. This is a teacher stance that
communicates both warmth and a nonnegotiable demand for student effort and
mutual respect. (Bondy, E., & Ross, D.) In this style, there is a relationship
developed between student and teacher in which the student understands the
teacher cares for and believes in him or her. I plan to start off my year with a
questionnaire that asks students about their hobbies and interests, likes/dislikes,
and home life. In addition, that first day I will tell them my statement of
expectations, I expect you to do your best work and be respectful of your teacher,
your fellow students and yourself.

This is my plan for teaching a middle school English or ESOL class.

Physical Classroom Setup for Classroom Management
The physical setting of the classroom can affect the way teachers and
students feel, think, and behave. (Cooper 247) I want my students (and
myself) to feel relaxed so they are emotionally available to learn. I plan
design my classroom to have a homelike-comfortable vibe and will hang
curtains, have plants in the room and a floor lamp to be used when we are
working with the overhead projector and need additional light. The
additional shelves, file cabinets, tables, chairs for the other adults who work
in my room, etc. will have an attractive, cohesive look in order to improve
the overall harmony of the room design. An additional benefit to having an
attractive room is that it will positively contribute to my relationships with
my students as the unspoken message that the room sends is, I value you
and want you to have a nice place to learn.

There will be some elements of the room that will remain consistent
throughout the year. I plan to create and update a Community Bulletin
Board. I will post events that are occurring in the students neighborhoods in
an effort to tie our classwork to community events such as plays, concerts,
speakers who speak at community centers, etc. I think this will add to a
culturally responsive classroom and send the message to the students that I
am interested in the experiences that are available to them.
The posters I plan to hang will convey important messages to the
students. I will have one that says Mistakes are valuable opportunities to
learn and one that references Gandhis famous quote, Be the change you
want to see in the world. Additionally, I will post messages that we
discussed as a class and need to be reinforced throughout the year such as
my statement of expectations for the students, guidelines for group
discussions, and the list of classroom rules.
Whether I teach and English class or an ESOL class, I plan to have a
word wall in my room. A word wall can be used to reinforce vocabulary,
and as a reminder to me to use specific words to contribute to student
understanding. There are many games and activities that can be executed
with the words on the word wall. The words could change with every unit we
are studying but the format will remain consistent so that students will
understand how the word wall functions (Word Wall)
I will also have dedicated board space for the daily objective and
homework for of the classes I teach. Students will need to copy the daily
objective into their journals and homework into their agenda books. This will
always be bell work, or the first activity the class does during the lesson.
That way, the class will be aware of what my expectations are for us to get
accomplished for the lesson.
I will have a homework bin for each class to turn in their homework
and a While You Were Out file holder organized by class that contains

the work each class did the day before for students who were absent.
Bathroom passes will hang by the door and depending on class size only
one or two students may leave the room at a time.
The desk arrangement will ultimately be determined by the number
of students in my class but I really like the horseshoe design. This enables
the students to see the instructor, boards, and other students. I also plan to
have a stool and podium at the front of the class so that my desk will not
obstruct or distract from the view of the board or projector. I think that
walking around the room provides a better classroom management as the
teacher is able to use proximity, and give the look if necessary to keep
students in line.
Another tool I will use is a large timer. At the beginning of class I will
set the times and make sure it is placed in a location students can easily
view. This will help students (and myself) with time management. It will also
be a visual reminder of how much time we have left in class. I will also be
sure to give students a verbal warning for time countdown. You have five
minutes left, two minutes left, etc.
Syllabus and Grading Policy
I will distribute a syllabus on the first day of class that informs the class
of the specific units of study and relays my expectations for class behavior.
I will also have an Edmodo page where this information can also be found.
Parents and students will have to sign the syllabus as part of that first nights
homework so I may begin to establish a relationship with the parent which is
a big part of classroom management.
The Classroom Procedure section of my syllabus will list my
expectations for the way students are to arrive and attend to class activities.

Students will line up outside the room and enter when

invited in.

I will greet each student individually as they enter the room

to establish a report with the students and give them the
opportunity to communicate problems with homework, the need

to go to the nurse, guidance office, or if they have to leave early.

Students will sign in using the smart board.
Students will turn in homework.
Students will take their seat for bell work. Bell work
includes writing down the daily objective and answering the daily
question in their notebooks and writing down homework
assignment in their agenda books. They may talk in a quiet
whisper.

The Grading Policy section of my syllabus will read as follows: In

accordance with CCPS grading policy, students taking the same course
regardless of the teacher or school should be graded using a standard
weight. The following weighted grade guidelines are to be followed for the
course indicated throughout the 2014-15 year. Formative Total Percentage:
40/Summative Total percentage: 60
Late Work will receive a grade equal to 70% of the grade the student would
have originally earned if the assignment was turned in on actual due date:
NO late work will be accepted after one week.

Prevention
There are many things a teacher can do to stop bad behavior before it
even starts. Positive Reinforcement is much more effective in changing
behavior than negative reinforcement. I plan to catch my students in the act
of being awesome, and compliment them on their behavior. I also plant to
set and keep clear and consistent expectations. This way I cannot be
accused of playing favorites and the students will grow to understand that I
am a teacher who keeps her word. I also feel that observing student

behaviors and keeping notes is a good way to get to learn about the
students and to manage the classroom. Does John act up after math class?
Can Jill and Joan not help but chat when they sit next to each other in class.
These notes will also be helpful for substitute teacher.

Managing Group Work

I will be the person who creates the groups and in the spirit of baseball
season, I will have three strikes and youre out policy. The students will
receive two warnings to fix unacceptable behavior such as talking about
topics that do not pertain to the lesson, arguing amongst each other, or
shutting one of the members out of the group. With the third warning comes
a failing grade for the assignment and the students will have to do another,
more difficult assignment to make up the points.

Procedures for Handling Off-Task Behaviors

When I see a student starting to make bad choices, I will physically
move near the student. If the behavior continues, I will give the student a
look. I will use the least amount of intervention necessary to correct the
behavior and get the student back on track. I recently observed a teacher
who utilized a clapping pattern to get the class focused. He would clap and
beat and the class would clap the refrain. There was no need for harsh tones
or raised voices. I think it is important to keep the classroom energy positive
and make sure the classroom is a safe place for students.

Resources

Bondy, E., & Ross, D. (2008, September 1). The Teacher as Warm Demander.
Educational Leadership,
54- 58.
Cooper, J. (2014). Classroom teaching skills (10th ed.). Belmonte, CA: Brookes/Cole.

Word Wall Activities Build Skills. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2015, from
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson328.shtml