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SED464 Signature Assignment

Classroom Management Plan

Ryne Miller
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Table of Contents

Self Introduction (Philosophy of Education) ………………….................................. Pg. 3

Classroom Layout …………………………………………………………………..Pg. 4-5

Classroom Procedures & Discipline Theory………………………………………Pg.5-7

When it comes to my teaching philosophy, I want it to be genuine to myself as a person.

Although I may not have extensive teaching experience yet, I have been a student for many,
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many years. I may not be a literal student in a classroom, but I think life is all about learning and

adapting, so in that sense we’re all still students. I want my classroom to be an environment of

growth and a place to bring out the potential of others. The primary duty of education is to

provide the means of molding students into better citizens and to provide opportunities to

students that may otherwise not be possible.

However, in order to have a properly-functioning classroom where students can flourish,

all parties must be held accountable in some regard. As an educator, it is my duty to help expand

students’ knowledge within the contexts of biology, as well as encourage my students to pursue

their dreams and reach their fullest potential. A student’s duty is to actively apply themselves to

learn the concepts and to learn to be a better citizen for society. The community in turn, must be

supportive to both students and teachers, whether that means raising money or being engaged

with their child’s education. A society can flourish when all parties are all willing to cooperate

and work together. If we, as community can actively apply ourselves to not only pursue a better

future, but to work to flesh out our flaws, the sky's the limit.

Classrooms must provide students with the resources they need to be successful. They

must allow students to be comfortable and encourage a healthy community of growth. Listed

below is the classroom layout I intend to use to accomplish this:

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Whiteboard / Overhead Projector

Screen

Over
head
Proje
ctor

Lap
top
Teacher’s Bookshelves (Research Journals,
Car
t
Desk Studies, Etc.)

The most important aspect that I wanted from my classroom was an environment that

could provoke discussion and insight. I want my students to have the ability to discuss topics,

simply because I believe that’s the best way to learn. I want an engaged class, not only because I

want my students to be able to comprehend criteria, but possibly even ignite an interest for

science that someone didn’t know they had.

That is why I decided to form the desks along the perimeter of the classroom. It not only

forces me to be the center of attention in the classroom, but it creates an open atmosphere that I

think is important for discussions. Classrooms can sometimes ooze anxiety for certain students

and I think creating a fun, open environment would benefit everyone. I also wanted my students

to be able to clearly see myself as well as the whiteboard and I think this desk layout allows me
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to easily maintain control of guided discussions.

I will most likely decide to create a seating chart for my students so the more troublesome

students don’t just allocate themselves as far from the teacher’s desk as possible. I also want to

encourage my students to be friends with everyone, not just their cliques. I think it’s a good

choice for creating community in my classroom. With regards to the seating chart, I will

probably allocate the more troublesome students closer to my desk so I can keep a better eye on

them. For students with motor, visual, or distractibility issues, I will most likely allocate them in

the front of the class. I want every student to be able to be comfortable and engaged in my class,

so it is my duty to put them in the best position for success. As society progresses, technology

use within the classroom is becoming more prevalent, as it should be. Technology provides us

great tools to grow our knowledge and I intend to use that in my classroom, whether that be the

overhead projector or laptops for the use of research.

When it comes to managing a classroom, the most important aspect of management stems from

the classroom’s discipline system. Well, what is discipline? Discipline is the correction of

misbehavior in order to facilitate proper behavior as a whole. During adolescence, brains are

extremely malleable. Because of this, we as teachers must constantly enforce proper behavior in

the hopes of those brain connections solidifying, leading to improved behavior. Adolescents can

not only harm their educations due to misbehavior, but they can quickly derail their lives by

doing so.

Students, parents, and teachers all have a role to play when it comes to discipline. A

student’s duty in discipline is the acknowledgment of their misbehavior and the behavioral

correction thereof. A student can only improve their behavior if they are willing to do so and

that’s one of the most difficult aspects of discipline. How can a teacher make a student want to
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behave better? I think that is why it is essential for a teacher to formulate relationships with

students. If a teacher runs their classroom like a dictatorship, students are merely forced to

respect you. I grew up with the notion that respect is never given, it’s earned and I believe that to

this very day. Well how can I, as a teacher, earn the respect of my students? That generally comes

from a teacher’s relationship with the students. Do you, as a teacher, show them that you care

about their futures? Will you tell them the truth if they need to hear it? Do your words match

your actions? As as an experienced student, I’ve had a great deal of memorable teachers in my

life. I did not just think they cared, I knew they did. They earned my respect.

Parents also have a duty when it comes to discipline. If a student is severely misbehaving

in my classroom, it is the parent’s duty to cooperate with me to help correct their child’s

behavior. I think the most productive way of communicating with parents is by always telling

them what their child is doing well at, but could also improve in. If their child’s behavior has

become such a distraction to the classroom, then the classroom will not learn as they should and

their educations will be harmed. I want parents to want the best for their child as much as I do

and that is why when I am forced to discuss their child’s misbehavior with them, I expect them to

help me resolve it, whether that means consequences at home or simply formulating a solution to

get their child where they need to be. Students are at home far more than they are in a classroom

and that is why discipline must be enforced there as well as within the classroom.

I would like my classroom to be seen as place of growth and opportunity, not as a jail cell

for my students. Because of that, I only want the most necessary of rules. My classroom will a

place where civility and accountability will be essential. I want my students to have the ability to

talk about things that interest them, yet do it in a civil and productive manner. If they fail to do so

once, I will discuss with them after class how I want them to conduct themselves. If they
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continue to become a distraction to the content, I will not hesitate to discuss their misbehavior

with their parents, as well as discuss administrative means of discipline. My students must be

held accountable to their actions if I want a well-functioning classroom. For example, I want my

students to learn to be responsible citizens. I can understand an occasional late assignment, but

consistent late assignments will not fly in my classroom, simply because I won’t let my students

fail themselves. If that happens, I will discuss with their parents and formulate a strategy with

them to help them better manage their academics. My mission is to not only open the doors of

science to my students, but groom them to be better citizens. An essential factor of growing up is

taking responsibility for their actions and I will do my best to get them to do so.

However, how will I support that within the classroom? Teachers are more than just

educators, they’re mentors. Since the brains of adolescents are so malleable, mere observation

can help influence their choices. As a teacher, I must live out my creed. If I want my students to

be civil and held accountable, I must also be civil and held accountable. I will never verbally

attack a student due to their misbehavior, that is not productive. The most productive way of

ensuring proper behavior is by taking the high road at all times. I cannot stoop the misbehavior

of my students, I will always be respectful, yet stern to them. In terms of accountability, I must

hold myself accountable that I am doing everything I can for them. If I am not giving my all

when it comes to my teaching, how can I expect them to give their all as students?