In the teaching profession, there is no style of classroom management that can fit all classrooms. Every class is unique and has diverse student from diverse cultural backgrounds who go through many issues in their lives. Nevertheless, having a proper written class organizational and management plan is of utmost importance (Charles and Senter, 45). Therefore, in planning my own class organization and management plan, I am going to implement a plan which highly relies on teacher student preparation and organization. In the short time I have been in the classroom, I have learned that there must be problems in classes no matter what you do as a teacher. However, being prepared by setting rules and outlining procedures to be followed by all students, and implementing the consequences for certain discipline problems, and rewarding the students who follow the rules to the latter is the best method- for a successful learning environment.
On the first day of class, we will have a discussion with students about our expectations in class. I will ask one student to read to the class the rules and procedures of the class and then have a discussion on the same. I will prepare for any reactions and use participatory decisions making to get them willingly agree to the rules and procedures. Moreover, I will initiate a discussion about common occurrences in the class room like late arrivals, making noise in class and what punishments they think are suitable for such mistakes. From these class discussions, we will decide together and derive more rules to govern the class and even change some of the rules I have set for them. Whereas, it should be noted that not all rules and procedures that I have set will be negotiable.
I will discuss with my student the rationality, the meaning and fairness of each rule that I have set for them and how they fit into the school’s framework and guidelines. I will do this by putting in mind that the students will feel that since they took part in creating the rules and punishments to be given to, they will do their best to follow them. After the discussion, I will personally post the rules in the classroom, on the teachers’ websites and also print copies in written form for each student, their parents and even administrators.
Rules
I expect all students to come to class on time and with the eagerness, readiness and excitement to learn. I will put a rule poster that has six basic rules in front of the classroom meaning that it is easily seen by each and every student. I believe that it is very important for the six basic rules to be put in every classroom.
Six Basic Rules
- Be present and on time in class always.
- Be prepared with all the assignments and materials needed for the class.
- Be on task and education oriented while in class.
- Be nice and respectful of the thoughts, feelings, property and personal space for others and self.
- Always ask for permission before speaking or getting out of the class.
- Be sure to do your own work, no copying your friends work.
Procedures
There are a number of procedures that can become a routine to all students in the class if well outlined and once the students are accustomed to them. These procedures always make students feel comfortable in class and this allows a friendly learning environment. I am planning to establish a classroom routine that will help me with managing the class. At first, each class will start with greetings from me and this will set the tone for the class that day.
Daily Routine
- Greeting then a warm-up everyday before the class starts
- Tasks explanation
- Direct instructions for the students from me
- End of the day round-up
After the greetings, I will list on the board the morning activities, daily lessons, practices, assignments and homework assignments. In addition, I will make sure that all assignments due are turned in at the beginning of the class in the pre-designated areas. I will make sure that late work is not acceptable without the express permission from the teachers concerned. I will employ a means of preventing interruptions during class lessons. This will be done by having a well organized lesson plan, bringing with me all the equipments and materials needed for the lesson prior to class and letting all teachers know that interruptions are not welcomed during my lessons. Although interruptions do and will happen, there will be measures taken to ensure that if there is an emergency and the lesson has to be interrupted, the interruptions are brief and will minimally impact the lessons. In addition, I will look into it that if there is an interruption during my class by a colleague, all the students will remain seated and continue with their tasks while I address the interruption.
Change between activities will be handled in different ways; First of all, I will establish set routines to help with each student’s expectations. I will make sure that they work on the given tasks until they hear the pre-arranged signs of either a bell ring or another teacher coming in, that is when they stop. In addition, I believe that all students will have an outline of the daily routine on the board and therefore, they will know what comes next after the bell rings. Therefore transition between activities will not be a problem.
Organization of Physical Environment in Class
My desk will be at the centre in front of the class so that I am able to monitor everything that goes on in class. Additionally, the projector will also be placed at the centre of the class. I will arrange the students’ desks in a U shape configuration. I am comfortable with this arrangement because it will allow the students free space and provide more room for students during group activities. The U shape arrangement is also ideal for teacher led instruction class and is adaptable for both small and large group work.
Monitoring Students
I will not sit at my table the whole day during the lessons. I will make sure that I monitor the ongoing student participation by keeping an eye on what they are doing during class work and group discussions. Additionally, I will watch how students interact with each other and advice them where necessary. By monitoring my students during their class work and discussions, I will be able to know their strengths and weaknesses and how well they learn and follow instructions. This will help me assist individual students on how to improve their grades and it will positively impact their performance.
Besides, I will examine the students’ individual work as well as manners. I believe by doing this, it will allow me know if the student is under pressure or is at ease with the school work. I will continue monitoring the students until I make sure that they all comprehend the lessons and tasks taught in class.
Displinary Interventions and Rewards
Even the most efficient teacher will need to intervene when students seem to go astray and outside the acceptable boundaries in school. I will make sure that the rules and displinary actions we agreed upon with the students are effective. During lessons, I will move throughout the class as I monitor the behaviors of every student. The constant movement in class will keep me in proximity with the students and it will allow me check how they progress with class work especially notes taking. If I notice something fishy or a student misbehaving, I will make a direct eye contact with him/her so that they know that I am aware of what they are doing. If the student does not stop, I will move closer and get their attention back to the task at hand. If the behavior continues, I will call out their names and swap their sitting arrangements in order to make them concentrate. These are the samples of rules I will set in class and displinary actions I will take on specific mistakes;
- Keep your hands to yourself and no hitting and fighting in class.
This rule will encourage the students not to physically assault their classmates and it will lower fighting incidences in class. I will ensure that, students found infringing this rule will be forced to use their hands on more productive activities like picking litter in the school compound and even cleaning the dining room or classroom for more days or even a week.
- All students should respect each others property and treat them as their own.
Motivation of Students
Parents’ involvement in their children’s academic performance also motivates them to work hard and it is a key factor in their success. I will work together with their parents on ways to motivate the students and I believe that this will not only boost their class performance but also their social life. As a teacher, I will make sure that I strengthen the teacher-parent relationship, student-teacher relationship and student- parent’s relationship and this will positively impact my students’ class performance. I will encourage parents to follow up their children’s performance and motivate them by rewarding them if they performed outstandingly.
In order to be successful in the classroom, I have learnt that one cannot do it alone but through support from colleagues, parents and students and that is why I will work on the relationship between us. I will need the parents help since it will help in nurturing their children’s behavior which will positively effect their social life. I will try to instill good social skills in my students with the help of other teachers and their parents. I will do this through counseling sessions and involving the students in activities that can positively affect their social life.
Culturally Responsive Classroom Management
All teachers should be aware of a cultural diversity in their classroom. After learning that, they should be able to find ways to adapt a management plan that will suitably fit every student. I will make sure that the management plan I implement in my class meets all students’ needs since they have different cultural backgrounds. Certain culture influences the behavior of students in class. With this in mind, I will try to learn how my students act and behave with each other and to never discriminate any student in any way since people have different backgrounds. As a teacher, I will have to first understand my background, and then understand that people have different beliefs and background and this applies to my students. Therefore, in setting up my classroom management plan, I should put into consideration that people are different and try to make sure that the plan suits all my students regardless of their cultural background.
In addition to organizing my class, I will create a physical environment which promotes cultural diversity in the classroom and which can unite the students. I will also make sure that I communicate with my students in a cultural consistent way since the students have different backgrounds. I will also set up a positive relationship with and among students so as to share our cultural diversities. As a class, we will learn different cultural beliefs from each other and learn to embrace each others cultural background. This will in the end create an effective leaning environment thus boosting my class performance.
In essence, have we ever asked our selves what would happen if teachers did not have to use a classroom management plan? Disorderliness would lead to no learning at all. If the teachers were not using a classroom management plan their students would be out of control and no learning could take place. Classroom management is a very important plan to have, and that is why each classroom today should be run by a strong and effective classroom management plan. An effective classroom management plan is a very important tool to have in all of our today’s classrooms. Teachers must have a strong classroom management plan for two reasons, first, students tend to listen better, but the most important reason to have a good classroom management plan is because it keeps the students focused and ready to learn at all times. Students tend to listen better when the teachers use every day procedures and routines to keep them going through the day. Using every day routines will keep the students busy and give them less time to cause trouble among themselves. Keeping the students under control and focused on learning should be a major goal of the teacher’s classroom management plan to make sure that learning always takes place.
Work Cited
Charles, Morgan C. and Senter, Gail. W. Building Classroom Discipline. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2008. Print.
