Classroom Management Plan

Positive and preventative classroom management is the key component to having a successful
classroom and creating an atmosphere of learning. The cornerstone belief that I hold for
classroom management is an ever changing and evolving system built around the integral
element of mutual respect. Learning develops the most when there is a mutual respect between
students and their teacher. Without a respect towards a teacher students will not be able to
flourish and succeed and without respect towards students a teacher cannot effectively lead a
group students in a quest for knowledge. Throughout my classroom management the underlying
theme is bringing a respectful nature throughout the entire classroom. B.F. Skinners behavioral
theories point to the understanding that we inherently repeat behaviors when we are rewarded, as
well as stop behaviors when we are punished. This is a crucial component of any classroom. As a
teacher I strive to create and show respect towards my students using positive behavior
intervention strategies, aligned with Skinners research, and setting a positive tone from the
beginning to create preventative measures.

Life Skills (Kavalik, 1994)

As a future educator there are many outcomes and lessons I hope to teach and model for my
future students. Not only do I want them to walk away from the classroom with the knowledge
they are expected to have, but I also want them to grow as an individual and a citizen of the
world. These following life schools are three of the multiple lessons I hope my students will take
away from my classroom.
1. Stamina: it is important for students to understand how to work and for a work ethic.
Schooling, and everything in life, is not a quick fix. Students must learn that they need to
push through the struggles and continue on, even when they are weary, in order to
succeed in school and life.
2. Collaboration: throughout life we are constantly working with people or for people.
There are not many areas in life where you are doing something completely individually.
It is important that students learn to collaborate with each other academically, as well as
socially. When students go into the real world, no matter their age, they must have the
tools to be able to work with all kinds of people, and these tools come from collaboration
in the classroom.
3. Respect: most importantly students need to learn how to respect and how to accept
respect. Respect comes in many forms; not only are we expected to respect our elders or
our superiors, but it is necessary for us to respect our peers, our world and firstly,
ourselves. These skills are a crucial part of human development that must be taught
within the walls of a classroom. Learning to respect a wide range of people, cultures and
perspectives is a key component in success.

Rules
These essential expectations are to be held to at all times in my classroom by both the students
and myself:
1.

Be Respectful to your teacher, your school, your classmates and yourself.

2.

Be Responsible for your actions and words.

3.

Be Ready to learn, listen and participate.

4.

Be Reliable in class and out of class.

5.

Be Real. Always be you.

These are not rules for my classroom, but rather, they are expectations that I hold for every
person, teacher or student, who walks into the classroom. Through these expectations students
are able to live up to their full potential. These expectations and goals are not only helpful in
creating positive behavior, but also in intervening before inappropriate behavior starts. These
rules are preventative, supportive and corrective. These expectations are put into place to make a
classroom better.

Procedures

Entering the classroom.

Lining up.

Walking in the hallways.

Getting help in the classroom.

Expectations for students when the teacher is meeting with small groups.

Expectations on bathroom procedures.

End of the day procedures: getting their materials organized, lining up for the bus, or
getting picked up.

Consequences

A chill out zone for students who need a break.

Students will get checkmarks and after three marks there will be a phone call home.

Students will have a response log where they have to write about their choices in the chill
zone.

There also can be natural consequences without taking anything away. In a classroom
you can give tickets for following the expectations and going above and beyond them. At
the end of the week, or month, there can be either a raffle or auction using the tickets the
students earn. If a student does not follow the rules they will naturally not have as many
tickets. This is not only a way to promote positive behavior, but also a way to correct
negative behavior naturally.

Communication
Parent communication and parent involvement is one of the most essential components to having
success in the classroom. It is important to keep in touch with parents at all times and let them
know what is going on in the classroom. One of the many ways to do this is by having a weekly
newsletter that is sent home, both in paper form and electronically. Paper for is especially
essential in schools where technology may not be available in the home. It is also possible to
have a classroom website where parents are able to understand and get a glimpse into the
happenings of the classroom. A daily updated website with student work and news can be
helpful for parents, as well as give students a sense of accomplishment and pride. It is also
important to reach out to all parents either in person or on the phone. When doing this the first
time it should always be in an effort to praise their child for something he or she has done.
Building a relationship with the parent early on in the year, and starting with the great qualities
of their child, can help make the rest of the school year easier when having to deal with
discipline of a child. It is vital to make a relationship with each parent in order to partner with
him or her in the growing of his or her child.

General Classroom Management Strategies

Positive behavior will be rewarded at all times. Whenever a student is doing what they
are supposed to be doing I will make sure I recognize it and point it out.

Look students in the eyes and use nonverbal cues to let them know that what they are
doing is inappropriate.

Stand in the proximity of students or gently place hand on shoulder to get their attention
back at the task at hand.

Create effective and energetic curriculum to make sure students attention is on the
lesson, as well as everyone participating.

Constantly change mode of instruction: change proximity, change tone, turn lights off or
on, etc.

Keep students busy and involved in order to prevent bad behavior.

Speak softly, but firmly.

When confronting a student; do it in a nonthreatening tone and away from the class in
order to not belittle them.

General Building Relationships with Students Strategies/Activities

Building relationships with students is the most important action that a teacher can do. A student
needs to be able to trust their teacher and feel comfortable to open up with them in order to fully
commit to learning and growing in the classroom. Relationship building starts at the beginning
of the year and can continue on for many years after. It is important to start building
relationships with each and every student early on. Each student needs to feel as though the
teacher cares for him or her for; this means not showing favor to any student. This is especially
key with students who are struggling or misbehaving. These are the students that need to have a
trusting relationship with their teacher the most. One strategy that can be used to help build
these relationships is to eat lunch with a few students each lunch period. This can help to get to
know students, as well as give students the happiness of being able to eat with their teacher.
With older students it is important for teachers to make appearances at different events that the
student is in. Whether that be a sporting event, concert or play; showing up to these events can
show the student that you really care about them.