Classroom Management

Three main steps that I have incorporated into my classroom management plan are: controlling classroom set-up, putting conduct rules/expectations in the syllabus, around the room, and on the website, and contract with something they enjoy.

Controlling classroom set-up has cut down on many problems in the classroom. When students chose their seat, they sat with friends and sometimes acquaintances with whom they got into a lot of trouble with for talking and many other things. However, by getting to know the students, arranging the desks in single rows all facing the front of the class, and doing a seating chart, prevents many problems with the students, such as talking and procrastinating in class.

Another step that I liked was putting the conduct rules/expectations in the class. My cooperating teacher had the rules/expectations already on the wall, but the idea to point to them when the students are doing them is a great idea. This way they know exactly what rule they are breaking because it is spelled out right before them.

Finally, I think having a contract or agreement with them with something they enjoy is a great idea. I actually used this today in class and it worked very well. The students would not quit talking and procrastinating. So, I mentioned an interesting article that I found online last week, but only briefly enough to peak their interest. Then I told them that if they would quietly do their work I would read/discuss the article with them. This worked great, and the students quietly did their work.