Classroom Management Plan
"The secret in education lies in respecting the student." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Classroom management does not exist without mutual respect and understanding. From the very first day of school I take the time to get to know every single one of my students. And although I understand that this takes a fair amount of time and dedication, I understand the affect a teacher can have on a student by simply saying their name, spelling it correctly, and by being genuine in asking them how they are doing. When students know that their teacher cares about them personally and about their academics, it creates an atmosphere of respect in the classroom. I say create because I truly believe that as a teacher I must work to create this atmosphere every day.
I create a respectful classroom by choosing my words and using thoughtful language, knowing that I must lead by example I always talk about students, staff and the school in the upmost regards. In addition to using respectful language, I always check my tone, making sure students understand that valid arguments and evidence are better than jumping to conclusions and raising one’s voice. As one of the goals of school is to foster an environment where global and educated citizens can grow, I believe by teaching students in a respectful environment that is open and understanding, they will become better citizens and people.
Although mutual respect is essential, students also need to have an investment in their classroom. I have students participate in creating their classroom compact that details our classroom policies. Students have the opportunity to raise new ideas or concerns about the policies that will have a direct impact on them. To also encourage student behavior, I use ‘Fortune’ and ‘Misfortune,’ student-driven behavior incentives. If a student does something for the good of the class, makes a great connection academically, or goes above and beyond, they may get a ‘Fortune’ from me. However, if a student is acting out or doing something the class and I deem unacceptable, they will receive a ‘Misfortune.’ Both ‘Fortunes’ and ‘Misfortunes’ are created by all students in the class, meaning that everyone has a stake.
Lastly, I believe that I can only manage a class effectively if I genuinely know my students and their parents. By creating this network, I am able to contact home if I am having a problem and see if something more is going on at home or if this behavior is being exhibited at home as well. This creates accountability for me, the student, and their parents, which I believe builds up the students chances for success in the classroom. Because I genuinely know my students, I am able to earn their respect in the classroom. This means that I am able to intervene in issues early and often, always including the students in the process, which is why I have been able to effectively mange classrooms as a new teacher.