2012

Ashley Paige Bauman

Professor: Kimberly Arsenault

1/29/2012

Philosophy of Classroom Management and Classroom

Layout/Organization

Bauman 2

When I think about the opportunity to design my own classroom it is both exciting and an

important part of how students will behave for the school year, because the teacher is the one

who sets the tone for the year. A classroom is a place where ideas are gathered, lessons are

taught and minds are engaged. It is important how I set up my classroom because it can

dramatically affect the students’ attitudes and habits of learning. If I am able to possess the

ability to manage my classroom, I will be able to make learning the main focus in my

classroom’s environment. I hope to design a constantly changing and evolving classroom

management plan because my main focus will be on what the students need and how I can help

the students meet those needs, especially since each class is different and constantly changing

throughout the school year. It will be my responsibility and challenge to create both relevant and

engaging lesson plans that will help the students become thinkers and become their own problem

solvers. My classroom will be a happy place where students will come to participate, learn and

have fun.

It will be important for me to have positive encouragement in the classroom, while also

maintaining management. There are many theories that provide information on how to become a

positive and encouraging classroom manager. My philosophy of my classroom will be based on

Glasser’s “Choice Theory,” which shows that students must have a choice and they if they

choose their curriculum and decide the rules in the classroom they will have ownership of their

learning, become more excited about being prepared and will have a higher self-esteem and more

confidence in themselves (Andrius, J). This approach will also help create a safe space to learn

because it will be their classroom because they will help decorate and will help decide some of

the rules within the classroom. Also, I know that students become stressed about grades and tests

and according to both Kohn and Glasser, instead of focusing on grades and tests I will help the

Bauman 3

student to think, communicate and help them develop social and personal responsibilities and

relationships. I want the students to think for themselves because when students become so

stressed about grades and tests that is all they are concerned about instead of really

understanding the material. My main goal of my classroom management will be to create an

environment which will encourage and make learning exciting as well as motivate the students to

want to learn.

It is the responsibility of the teachers to get to know each student at different levels, but

most importantly not just on the academic level, but also a personal and social level too. Even if I

know all of the material it does no good if I do not build a rapport with the students. There are

different ways in which teachers can build relationships with students; some of the ways that I

will build relationships with my students is having individualized relationships with each of

them. When class begins in the morning I will greet each of my students at the door, this will

also be how I will begin to take attendance. The students will grab their card with their name and

picture on it and then they will bring the card to me and I will ask them simple questions to get to

know them better and to start conversations. For example, asking them about their weekends

could be a first step to connect with the students.

Another way that I will build rapport and maintain relationships with my students is by

creating both a sense of comfort and safety in my classroom both physically and emotionally. I

will need to have enough order that the students do not intimidate, bully, insult, or overly

criticize each other. Once students begin to understand the rules that are put into place and they

begin to feel comfortable and safe, I then can begin to talk with the children on a more personal

level. When teachers take advantage of opportunities to speak with their students about their

lives outside school, it's an indication to students that their teacher actually cares about them as a

Bauman 4

person. Students do well when they believe that they can depend on the teacher and their

classmates. When I am providing this comfort in my classroom it will be important when setting

up the rules and regulations in the classroom and seeing to it that they are enforced. I will build a

trusting relationship by helping and encouraging students and by stopping inappropriate

behaviors before they can begin.

Building relationships with students is another way to make the students feel a sense of

self worth. If I make students develop a sense of self-worth and competence they will feel better

about themselves and want to continue to feel successful and continue learning. Another way

that I will build relationships with students is by having a smile on my face every day that I am at

work and by telling the students more about myself. In order for students to feel more

comfortable in the classroom, it is not only important for the students to tell the teacher

information about themselves, but it is also important for the teacher to tell the students about

themselves (Michael Linsin). In my past field placement experience, my mentor teacher was

giving the students examples on how to write different types of essays. Therefore, in order for

the students to get hooked into the lesson and understand it more fully, my mentor teacher gave

examples from her childhood experiences. This helped the students get a better idea of who she

was and is today, and it also gave a better understanding of how to write the essays. Building

rapport and relationships with students is about tearing down those walls that some students may

have. Once those walls are torn down it will help when I try and get through to a student,

whether it be in academics, mentally or socially, which will help students begin to have more

trusting relationships.

Another important relationship to establish right from the start is with the school janitor

and the school secretary. The school janitor is an important relationship to establish because the

Bauman 5

janitor is the one who is the one to look to when I would need a helping hand. The janitor is the

one who helps lift, move, clean and fix just about anything. Therefore, to build a better

relationship with the janitor I will make sure that my students clean up after themselves, continue

to say thank you every day, treat them with respect and courtesy and even go out of my way and

make a snack or leave something for him/her in order to make them feel special and important.

Building a relationship with the secretary is also important too because the secretary is the one

who sees all and hears all. A secretary would be able to help myself get out of bind when if I was

out of paper or to also hang out with a sick student while I go with the class on a field trip.

Therefore, it will be important that I know the school secretary by name, give all materials to the

secretly in a punctual and meticulous way because this will help ensure that the tasks will be

carried out in an appropriate manner and also treat them with respect and not as my own personal

secretary.

When beginning the school year it is not only important to build a great relationship with

the students but, it also important to build a relationship with the parents. Parents can be the

greatest resource for help, advice and also information about their child in the classroom. In

order to work effectively with parents it will be important that I continue to involve the parents

and give them updates on their child. When beginning the school year I will first email the

parents explaining the expectations that I will have for their class and for their child. Also, if

parents are interested in having a parent meeting in order to talk about their child’s expectations

for the academic year ahead and also their behaviors then we will have a special meeting. This

will help address any concerns that the parents may have and also help me to get to know the

parents a little better before the year gets too busy. I also will explain and update the parents on

ideas and activities they could do at home with their child to enhance their learning process. To

Bauman 6

continue to help the students and parents I will also set up a homework/classroom web site on the

Internet so the parents can access the homework schedule online and continue to be informed

with what their child is doing (Education Oasis). But, it is also important to contact parents early

on and before problems occur both when good news occurs in the classroom and bad news

occurs within the classroom. In my current field placement experience my mentor teacher has

journals that are sent from home to school and school to home. The parents and the teacher have

a short conversation through journaling. This helps to keep the parents updated on how their

child is doing at home and how their child is doing in school. The journaling between the parents

and teacher maintains an open relationship that helps the parents and the teacher to address any

concerns or helpful advice that they may have. If I continue to involve families I will have more

resources within my classroom, because an extra set of hands in the classroom will help me not

become as stressed, and it will help the children in the long run. Eventually, if I build a better

relationship with my students’ parents they will feel as if they are a part of the classroom and

their child's education because learning will also happen at home, not just in school.

Rules are a guideline and a way of operation and they are especially needed within the

classroom. Having classroom rules are an essential part of classroom management and I believe

it is very important that I, as a teacher communicate the classroom rules and expectations with

my students from the beginning of the first day of school. When I talk with the students about the

expectations of the classroom, communication between the students and myself will help

maintain a well-structured learning environment. Rules are going to be changing throughout the

year because classes change and there are also different situations that I, as a teacher will

encounter with students. The best rule that I have heard in one of my past field placements would

be my attitude towards classroom rules and that I need a classroom where learning takes place,

Bauman 7

and in order to do that we need to have respect for each other. If the students and I maintain

respect in the classroom then we don’t need any other "rules." My first rule therefore is, “being

nice and respectful to yourself, the people around you and the materials that you work with each

day”. This means that I will be maintaining a safe environment where put-downs and name

calling is not allowed this also falls under respect. If I can have respect for my students as well as

having them respect each other, that will help lead to a classroom where students feel safe and

learning can take place.

Besides the first rule, being nice and respectful to yourself, the people around you and the

materials that you work with each day, here are other rules that I will have in my classroom: 2.)

Be in your seats when the bell rings with all of your materials, 3.) Listen to and follow

directions, 4.) Raise your hand, 5.) Be a listening bee, a safe bee, kind bee and a busy bee. I think

that these rules will establish a well managed classroom which will give students an idea on what

is asked of them throughout the school year. The second rule of being in your seat when the bell

rings with all of the materials will help the students stay organized and know that when the bell

rings they are supposed to be ready for school and the day ahead. Then, the third rule listen to

and follow directions is simple enough because that is what a good student does, which also goes

along with rule number four about raising your hand. I feel that my last rule about having fun,

not getting upset and ask questions will help students stay more relaxed and realize that they can

go to the teacher whenever they have a question . Another way that I will add a couple more

rules is to develop the classroom rules with the students’ help. I will have the students on the first

week of school come together and we will talk about other rules that they think they should have.

When the students help write the rules, and take part in the process of deciding upon the rules

and consequences, they are more apt to feel a sense of belonging and ownership (Mary Ellen

Bauman 8

Grayot).

However, if some students do not follow the rules and there is a consistent misbehavior

problem, I will initially ask the student to talk to me after class. I will talk to him/her about the

positive things they are doing in class and how I appreciate something they are doing, as in

participating in class for example. I will explain to them why their behavior is interfering with

class and they will have to meet with me later in order to discuss a plan on how to stop the

behavior. In class, I will first give them a warning and then ask them to move to the back of the

room to work by themselves. Then, if the misbehavior continues, I will talk to the student and

make a phone call home. I think that it will be very important to involve the parents and that

misbehaviors should be addressed first with the teacher and then with the student because

communication should be constantly used.

Like rules, procedures communicate expectations for behavior. They are usually applied

in a specific activity, and they are usually directed at accomplishing something rather than

prohibiting some behavior or defining a general standard (Definition of classroom rules and

procedures). Classroom procedures are important and need to be addressed before I start any of

my teaching of content. I will make sure that I will not just assume that my class knows the

classroom procedures; I will go over the procedures first. Many of the classroom procedures will

quickly become a routine for my students. These procedures will provide classroom ownership

for the students and help the day flow more smoothly. I will have the students follow the same

routine every day so the students know what to expect, which will thereby minimize disruptive

behaviors (Murray Bonnie). I think that the two most important routines in elementary school

occur when the students walk in the door and when it is time to leave at the end of the day. These

two times can be very chaotic if not managed properly. Therefore, I want to be continuously

Bauman 9

consistent with my students when it comes to classroom procedures. First of all when my

students walk into the classroom they will see the agenda on the board and they can copy it down

in their notebook when they walk in so they know what is planned for the day ahead, this will

also help set up a classroom routine which the students will become comfortable with. Right

when the students enter the classroom the students will first grab their card with their name and

picture on it. They will first look at the board and see what they have to tell me about on the

specific day. This will be one of the ways that I will take attendance. Once the students have

talked with me they then will put their card with their name and picture on it on the pocket chart

holder. This pocket chart holder will have hot lunch, sack lunch or alternate on it. The students

will choose what type of lunch they will be having for that day. My past field placement mentor

teacher did this and I found it to be very effective because they took responsibility for making

sure they came and saw the teacher and myself and they choose what type of lunch they were

having for that day. The next procedure that the students will follow will be once they have

talked with me and decided what type of lunch they will be having it is their responsibility to

take their homework and put it into the correct assignment bin which will be by my desk. After

they have unpacked their backpacks, hung up their coats and backpacks, turned in their name

card and turned in their homework they will then begin their spelling assignments because that

will be the first subject that we will do in the morning. Every morning Spelling is the first

subject, on Mondays the students will know that their will be a pretest, which will be given after

morning announcements, then on Tuesday mornings the students will practice their spelling

words within their spelling center groups. On Wednesday mornings I will have a puzzle spelling

word game within their learning groups and on Thursdays it will be a battle of the Spelling

“bees” where student will compete in their learning groups. Finally, on Fridays the student will

Bauman 10

first review their words with their partners before they take their test. For the morning routine,

because I have each morning beginning with a Spelling activity independently and within groups

I then will be free to take a look over the pocket chart holder and make sure the students are all

here. I will also have the chance to respond to any notes or problems from students or parents,

and assure that all of the homework is turned in. Meanwhile the students will all be working

diligently and no time will be wasted and then we can continue to go on with the normal routine

and the teaching of other subjects throughout the day. Throughout the day there will be many

more routines such as bathroom breaks, lunch time and break time. In order to continue to

establish a routine I will tell the students what they will be doing right after Spelling.

When it finally comes to wrapping up the day I will have a cleanup motto to be a

cleaning bee. The students will look at their job charts and begin to clean up the classroom such

as erasing the board and checking the floors to make sure the students’ areas are cleaned up.

Then I will have the students begin to pack up all of their materials and put everything in their

backpacks. After this is finished I will have the students line up in two different lines, one line

with students taking the bus and the other line for students who have rides home. Once they are

all lined up the students will wait for their parents who are coming to pick them up, while the

other students head for the buss. I will plan each morning and I will dismiss the class each day

which will cause less confusion. According to Harry Wong, getting ready to leave the classroom

usually begins well before the class period actually ends and that the teacher dismisses the class

not the bell.

Using an engaging and interesting lesson that will “hook” the students into the subject

that I will be teaching, it will help the students become more motivated to learn. The next step

will be getting the student personally involved because then the students will be able to make a

Bauman 11

mental connection in their lives. With an engaging lesson and making personal connections to

their lives the students will become more motivated to learn. Then relating the lessons to

previous experiences and understandings will help the students to want to resolve problems that

will pull them into the lesson even more and will get them more motivated. Skinner’s model of

shaping the desired behavior is the model of teaching that I will try to have in my classroom. I

think that Skinner’s model of teaching will be the most successful way in my classroom because

his model can be one that can be easily modified down the road and can be used with students of

all ages and backgrounds. Skinner uses different types of reinforcers such as social reinforcers.

This means that I would use both verbal and nonverbal gestures such as words, gestures and

facial expressions. Some examples of verbal gestures are: Ok. Wow! Excellent. Nice going.

Exactly. Right. Thank you. I like that. Would you share that? And some examples of nonverbal

gestures would be smiles, winks, thumbs up, standing by the student or walking beside the

student. In my current field placement my mentor teacher is working with four and five year olds

and she always uses some type of encouraging words or helpful feedback so the students know

the difference between right and wrong. I think that this is important to do within the classroom

because many students work diligently just to get a simple smile, or a kind word. Another

reinforcer that I would include in my classroom would be a graphic reinforecer which I would

include on the students’ worksheets such as smiley faces or rubber stamps. An activity reinforce

is another type of reinforcer that I would include because this will help the students have more

movement in their schedule, for example, sitting near the teacher, sharing a toy, playing a game

or having an extra recess.

When thinking about how to make the students successful and want to continue to learn I

will make sure that the curriculum that I plan will be presented to the students in a meaningful

Bauman 12

way and make sure that the students understand the material. I will not move onto the next

subject unless everyone feels confident and if I need to I will adjust the way that I am teaching

the material to different types of learning styles (California state university Northridge). If

students still do not understand the material then I will continue to build relationships with

students by working with students and having one on one time with students. I will make sure

that the students feel that they have succeeded each and every day.

When entering into my second grade classroom one would find the theme of my

classroom to be “bees” with a bulletin board welcoming the new students with the clever phrase,

“Look who buzzed into second grade”. Walking through the door, students will be hit with

vibrant colors on the walls, natural lighting from the windows and an inviting feeling as they

walk through the door. Each student will feel safe and welcome as they look for their names on

their desks, which are grouped in groups of four with their other classmates. The reason why I

will arrange the desk in groups is because it allows for more space in the classroom and also

provides more space when the students are doing group work. The students will be able to face

their classmates and have their eyes wander around the classroom and they will be able to see

maps, famous people on posters, and students’ art work and information on the material that they

are studying, which will be depicted in colorful posters around the room. There will be a reading

area with a carpet that will be sectioned off with many books at different grade levels. I will also

have supplies on shelves that will be organized and labeled for the students to use. Also, to have

different learning styles within my classroom I will also have tables and stations for daily

classroom activities because table groups will help me have a great place for meeting my

students in an area when we need to work together. I will have my computer with a filing cabinet

next to it along with my desk in front corner of the room farthest from the door and face the back

Bauman 13

of the room because from this spot I will be able to easily see the entire classroom as well as the

hall outside of my classroom, even though I will not spend much time at my desk throughout the

day I will still be able to have a good visual of the classroom if I do sit at it. Overall, classroom

management is important and critical because I think that how a room is set up has a big effect

on how students learn and I hope that my classroom will be an environment that will engage my

students in critical thinking, discussions and reflection.

Works Cited

Bauman 14

Andrius, J. (2011). The glasser model of discipline. Retrieved from

http://www.teachermatters.com/classroom-discipline/models-of-discipline/the-glasser-

model.html

California state university northiridge. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.csun.edu/~acc50786/Education.html

Carolyn Ito. (1998, September-October). Providing structure, preventing problems. Retrieved

from

http://education.wm.edu/centers/ttac/resources/articles/challengebehav/preventproblems/i

ndex.php

Education Oasis. (2011). Retrieved from

http://www.educationoasis.com/resources/Articles/working_with_parents.htm

Definition of classroom rules and procedures. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://teachingsites.info/definition-of-classroom-rules-and-procedures/

Mary Ellen Grayot. (2007). Retrieved from http://mg039.k12.sd.us/Rules and Procedures.htm

Michael Linsin (2012, January 14). Smart classroom management. Retrieved from

http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2012/01/14/building-rapport-with-students/

Murray Bonnie. (n.d.). Head off behavior problems with classroom procedures. Retrieved from

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/head-behavior-problems-classroom-

procedures