Classroom & Behavior Management

I view classroom management as all of the things that a teacher does to organize students, time, space and materials so that content instruction and student learning can take place.  With limited experience as a classroom teacher so far, I can confidently state that I am a bit nervous about how well prepared I will be on the first day I start teaching in my own classroom.  However, through the previous experiences I have had as a teacher and observations I have made as a volunteer, I am confident in my ability to develop a strategy to effectively manage my classroom.

The first thing I would like to discuss is what I consider to be an effective classroom from a management perspective.  In an effective classroom students are highly involved with their work, they know what is expected of them and are provided frequent opportunities to succeed, there is little wasted time, and the mood of the classroom is work-oriented but relaxed and pleasant.  Ultimately, good classroom management leads to and supports effective instruction.

At this time I tend to view classroom management as a relationship between procedures and routines.  Procedures are what I expect my students to do, and routines are the procedures that students do automatically.  I believe this is a very important distinction because this relationship establishes the backbone of everyday classroom function.  With this knowledge and understanding about classroom expectations, students can become more focused on academic learning.

As a new teacher, the first step towards establishing procedures is critical for long-term classroom management success.  This can be accomplished through a process of explaining the specific classroom procedure, rehearsing and practicing the procedure under teacher supervision, and finally reinforcing the procedure until it becomes a habit or routine for the student.  All three of these components are necessary for teachers to employ for achieving desired behaviors from students.  Physically demonstrating classroom procedures, discussing with the student why and how a procedure benefits them, and praising them when they develop an acceptable routine are extremely important for creating an effective classroom.

Through my experiences and observations I believe that an effective classroom management plan includes rules, rewards, and consequences that are clearly established and understood by both the student and their parent(s).  By establishing rewards and consequences for rules, the student will clearly understand the expectations of their behavior, and be able to predict the outcome if a rule is broken.  Aside from simple rewards such as praise and encouragement, rewards in the classroom can include “free homework” opportunities, whole class free time, or special events. 

Consequences, on the other hand, are a little trickier.  Consequences should not be confused with punishment, which should be avoided.  A good consequence is clear and specific for the student, something established when initially discussing the rule.  The goal when implementing a consequence is to teach the student better behavior, so it is important to be firm but anger-free with the student being disciplined.  Mild consequences can include strategies like reassigning the student’s seat or removal of a privilege, such as recess or free time.  Heavier consequences should involve contact with school administrators and the student’s parents. 

To establish recourse for managing student behaviors I plan to communicate my expectations through a management plan and student action plan.  The management plan is important because it clearly communicates the rules to the student and parent(s).  An example of a management plan could look like this:

Classroom Management Plan

Classroom Rules

1. Respect your fellow students.

2. Be in your seat when the bell rings.

3. Bring all books and materials to class.

4. Sit in your assigned seat daily.

5. Follow directions the first time they are given.

Rewards

Praise

Positive notes home

Class free time

“No Homework” certificate

Movie or whole class party

If You Choose to Break a Rule

You Receive                          This Means

First offense                         Yellow Card                           Warning

Second offense                    Yellow Card #2                      Must complete work during break

Third offense                       Red Card                                No group work participation

Fourth offense                     Student Action Plan                Parents are called

Fifth offense                        Sent to the office                     Meeting with parents          

Students

I have read and understand these rules. Failure to comply will elicit consequences.

___________________________________________               ____________

Signature                                                                                      Date

Parents

I have read the Classroom Management Plan with my child, and will support it.

___________________________________________               ____________

Signature                                                                                      Date

The student action plan is a useful resource for working with the student from a problem-solving perspective.  I believe it is important to share with the student that the only way to solve the behavior problem is to isolate and identify it.  This is not a strategy that degrades the student, but rather teaches them how to solve a problem, a technique that they will use throughout their life.  A sample student action plan I have drafted could look like the following:

Student Action Plan

1. What is the problem?

(Indicate the rule or rules the student has violated)

2. What is causing the problem?

(Tell the student to list all the factors that are causing the problem.)

3. What plan will you use to solve the problem?

(The student is to write the action plan needed to solve the problem.)

_______________________________________________                     ________________

Student Signature                                                                                       Date

The student should complete the student action plan together with the teacher.  This reinforces the rules, helps the student eliminate or correct the factors causing the problem, and establishes the student’s responsibility for following the plan.  The student, through problem solving, devises his or her own plan to correct the problem.  The teacher is therefore teaching responsibility and demonstrating how to achieve self-discipline.  If the problem is not corrected, the teacher should go back and modify the third part of the action plan with the student.

To conclude, I believe the teacher should always model the behavior they desire from their students.  Even in just my single year of classroom experience teaching English in South Korea I noticed how my demeanor often dictated classroom behavior expectations more than anything else.  Therefore, I believe the most effective strategy is to teach behavior first by establishing standards for acceptable behavior and creating signals to let students know when and what behavior is acceptable.