Noreen's Classroom Management Plan
Bullying/ exclusion
At the beginning of every school year, highlight the effects of bullying and exclusive behavior. Use books that promote empathy such as the Invisible Boy and Bully Box. Have students listen to anti-bullying songs and create posters for pink shirt day.
If bullying becomes a problem, talk to the students involved.
Try and determine if problems can be resolved, but if not and the behaviour continues, parents should be called.
Provide your colleagues with information regarding the behaviour
so that it can be monitored during recess and lunch breaks.
Goals
Goals will be included in the mission statement
however, students will also create individual goals.
At the beginning of the school year have students
write a letter to themselves stating what they want to
achieve. Check in with students twice a year to ensure they are on track.
Check out of the classroom every day by checking in with the teacher. Students will let the teacher know how their day was and if they have any concerns about the material covered, or are having any other issues.
Ensure the goals are realistic to encourage feelings of success
Disruptions to teaching and learning
Ensure lessons are not too long. Encourage student engagement by asking questions and active participation. Regularly check for understanding, disruptive behaviour could be due to being overwhelmed by unfamiliar material.
if students are being disruptive during teaching time,
pause instruction for a brief moment until they realize
their behavior is a problem. Using phrases such as "I can wait," are effective in gaining attention.
Students do not typically like being
made an example of in front of their
peers. A reserved approach to disruptive behaviour is best.
If a teacher loses their temper, then the focus is automatically
directed to their negative response.
Determine why a student is being disruptive.
Certain children cannot remain sedentary for long periods
of time. Ask these children if a break is needed, they might like to go for a walk or have a go on an exercise bike.
External disruptions
Disruptions happen in classrooms all the time.
if the phone rings or someone enters the classroom, instruct
students to carry on with what they are doing. If they do as they are instructed, reward them with a dojo point and praise.
Class dojo points system.
Rewards for good behavior and consequences for bad behavior
At the start of each school year, a class points system will be established. it will be decided how many collective points are needed for a reward.
The first reward will be free play
gym time.
the second reward will fun time in the classroom.
students can bring a device, play games or use a Chromebook
for one block.
the third reward will
be a movie and popcorn afternoon,
probably a Friday before a break.
Fourth reward will be a class pizza party
at the end of the year.
Seating
Seating arrangements will change at the beginning of each week. The classroom set up will consist of sofas, bean bags, white board tables, crates and regular desks. Each student will get the opportunity to sit everywhere. This is a good way of ensuring students do not only sit with their friends and have the opportunity to interact with all of their classmates.
In my classroom, there will be a luxury chair. This
be reserved for students on their birthday and as a reward for
good behavior. When it is a student's day to use the chair, they receive the VIP treatment for that day for example, they can pick the gym activity, be first in line, first to get a Chromebook and they get to decide the departing song for that day.
Responsibility
Highlight the responsibilities of students.
Student responsibilities will be in relation to their learning, overall attitude in the classroom and emotional health.
Create a safe space in the classroom
where students can talk to the teacher about work or
problems they are having. The Alberta Teaching Quality Standards document states that teachers are responsible for "demonstrating empathy and genuine caring for others."
Create a teacher responsibility list
so that students are provided with a model.
This will also be effective in creating an environment
of equality. Both the students and teacher have responsibilities to each other and themselves.
Cultural awareness
As our classrooms become more diverse, it is important that we are aware of the cultures within them.
To enhance learning of other cultures, the class could hold annual culture days and acknowledge class members' holidays and festivals such as Christmas, Eid al-Fitr and diwali
Fun time
Ensure students enjoy the classroom environment by
incorporating fun with the curriculum. For subjects such as math, have students create geometric cities, make up mathematical songs and take part in gardening projects. This approach will work for any subject area. Ask students what their interests are and include it in their learning.
Fun time should involve some non curriculum activities such as movies and music. Students can have fun by listen to music during subjects like art. Movies can be a fun way to reward children for good behaviour.
For more difficult subjects like science, students should be encouraged to learn in fun ways for example, through art. Students can learn about planets and constellations by drawing them and getting creative. For novel studies, students could act out chapters. This is a fun way of learning the content, allowing students to move around the classroom.
Classroom jobs
At the beginning of every new week, students will be assigned new jobs for example, the handout helper, library assistant and runner.
All students will be expected to take their jobs seriously and if their job at times has them out of the classroom, they must mover respectably through the hallways.
These jobs will provide the students with a sense
of responsibility. At the end of each week, students will be given a small reward, such as a piece of bubblegum or a sweet.
Relationships
Good relationship building strategies
will be incorporated into classroom activities
for example, through group projects. if good classroom
relationships are observed, points will be added to the class dojo points system.
if negative relations are observed
addressed in a way that does not resemble
punishment, but encourages solutions.
Art projects can be a fun way for students to expand
their knowledge. For example, for science students could
do space and constellations artwork. During certain times of year, art can be used to celebrate holidays such as Christmas. Art can also be a fun way of highlight the different cultures within classrooms for example the celebration of Diwali.
Drama and role play are fun ways
for students to express themselves.
Drama and role role play can also be used
to cover more intense material and make it fun.
Drama is also effective in the promotion of positive relationships. It provides outgoing students with an outlet and more reserved students with an opportunity to express themselves.
It will be expected that students behave
respectively towards their classmates. Respectful interactions
will be modeled by the teacher through the use of stories and
interactions with students and staff.
Classroom name and mission statement.
Every September, Students will come together to
decide on a classroom name followed by the mission statement.
Deciding on a classroom name will be a fun way of incorporating
each student's individuality into a collective name. An example of a name is, We are the grade five rock stars and our mission this year is to be awesome, kind and to have a fun time learning.
This will give students the opportunity to state what is important to them at the beginning of the year. It will also serve as a good reference point for self monitoring throughout the year.
We will reflect on our classroom mission statement to make sure we are all track and to determine if anything needs to be added throughout the year.
