Classroom Environment
Classroom environment sets the tone for student and teacher success. Everything matters from the tone of your voice to the number of windows inside the classroom. Teachers should want to create a positive environment were students feel safe. Respect plays a key part in a student and teacher relationship. I will include some of my techniques for classroom management and my expectations for students.
Ms. Kimbrough's Classroom Management
Effective teaching and learning cannot take place in a poorly managed classroom. If students are disorderly and disrespectful, and no apparent rules and procedures guide behavior, chaos will occur. Below is some artifacts I used during my Apprentice teaching for classroom management techniques.
The first artifact is a reflection from a book written by Harry Wong, The First Days of School: How To Be An Effective Teacher. This book has given me different techniques on how to properly manage a classroom. The book talks about rules and procedures, first day techniques and proper ways to introduce yourself to the class. Below you will find a written a reflection of my thoughts and summary of this book.
The second artifact I included is a behavior management log that was given to me by my cooperative teacher during my apprentice teacher. This log gives student 3 behavior chances. Every time a student violates one of the rules on the signature log, the student must sign and date the log. The first signature is a warning and the student is pulled aside after class. The second signature is a call to parents and meeting with counselor. The third signature is an office referral and a citizenship change. This signature log gives a way to actively monitor behavior and holds students accountable for their own classroom management. The signature log is always posted inside the classroom so every student knows the expectations of the classroom.
Managing Student Behavior
I have include a group contract that me and my partner constructed together during Project Based Instruction. We came up with specific meeting days, expectations of each other, and goals for the end of the project. This contract is something I would implement with my students. This contract signifies productivity and sets agreeable boundaries between members of a group. This contract will inform all my students of my expectations and goals. In my classroom I would have my students add things to the list they expect from me as a teacher. It will also hold them accountable for behavior inside and outside the classroom. I have also provided a seating chart used during my clinical teaching. Each nine weeks my cooperative teacher and I comes up with a seating log. Making a 'T', we seat the students that we have discussed may have issues with a specific topic. This ensures that we actively monitor these students and make sure they are participating. The seating chart is adjusted periodically during the nine weeks to accommodate students behavior and understanding.
Safe Learning Environment
The importance of creating a safe learning environments for my students is something that is of extreme importance. The environment of the classroom itself plays a significant role in their development. Safe learning environments translate into comfortable learning environments. One of the biggest steps towards a safe learning environments is identifying what you can be doing to make sure students are safe at all times. Below I have included two artifacts that was used during student teaching.