Running Head: Student Behavior Management Systems

Student Behavior Management Systems

Fallon Parker

EDL 279: Managing Schools

Drake University
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Management System

Student achievement can be directly tied to an effective management system. An effective

system to manage students is the framework to student success. Students, staff, families, and the

community have to create a school culture that is conducive to school learning. A management

system is essential in creating that culture. A management system that focuses on communicating

expectations, fostering relationships, and creating an environment that promotes trust produces

this culture.

I believe the first step of creating an effective management system is having clear

expectations. Students need to know what is expected of them. Staff need to take time to

explicitly teach rules and procedures throughout the year. We cant stop teaching these

expectations after the first week of school. They must be reviewed, evaluated, and retaught daily.

These expectations must be consistent and routine for all. From my experience the students that I

serve come from unpredictable households, therefore we have to create that predictable and safe

environment for them. I believe students need that consistency in their lives and we can provide

that in our schools.

The second step to an effective management system is the notion of building relationships

with students. It is essential for teachers to foster that positive relationship with their students and

help students feel safe in their environment. This wont happen if teachers arent taking the time

to get to know their students. Every child that comes into the school needs to have a connection

with a teacher in their school. Whether it is the classroom teacher, support staff, principal, etc.

students need to feel a positive connection to someone in the school. From my own experience

building positive relationships with my students creates a classroom environment that is more

productive. For most of my students who are having a hard time at school its often because they
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dont know how to express their feelings. It is my job to help them be able to work through those

feelings, problems, and behaviors. This cant happen if they dont have a relationship with me.

After you establish clear expectations and build relationships with students trust naturally

occurs. Students need to feel their voice is heard in schools. They need to feel that someone at

school understands them. With trust students feel a sense of safety and they can focus on their

learning. Students need to understand that the people in the school are there to help them grow

and learn. That they have to take an active role in their education and the teachers are there to

support them. From my own experiences students who I have built a trusting relationship want to

do well for me. I have noticed when I am gone from school the reports from the substitute

teacher are always hard to read. I realize this is because students have not built that trusting

relationship with the substitute. Although students know the expectations in the classroom and

the substitute focused on positive reinforcement with students, the students did not have that trust

built up. The level of uncertainty and break in routine throws students off. This further confirms

that trust plays a huge part in student management.

Creating an effective student management can be a daunting task at first. My philosophy

on student management is reflected in my own classroom. In my classroom I hold my students to

a high standard where they are expected to follow rules and procedures. I work to build positive

relationships with my students by getting to know each and every one of them. Lastly I work to

build trust with my students. The students in our classrooms all come from different backgrounds

and it is up to the teacher to set the tone of the classroom so that students are able to focus on

their learning.