Action Plan
Effective classroom and instructional management by the teacher contributes to an efficient learning environment, an area of significance for the emotional and physical well being of children. In order to guide the young eager leaders of tomorrow to a path of success and achievement, it is important to develop, define and instill an appropriate classroom management action plan that will satisfy your expectations as a teacher, as well prevent problems, before they happen. The following will examine and explore the diverse, yet correlated main areas of focus that I believe to be of great importance for myself as an educator.
Creating a Climate for Learning
In order to create an active learning environment that provides a setting for exploration, discovery and success, it is important to get to know your students. As a teacher, I believe it to be highly important to gain a sense of who exactly you are teaching. We simply cannot teach our students in an appropriate manner until we get to know them, demonstrating that we care about them as individuals and connect with them on a higher level. I believe that with the creation of a bond or connection with the students, you enable a climate for learning in the classroom.
Rule Development
My personal philosophy for managing a room is not so much as management but rather a way for both my students and I to enjoy time together while learning and growth takes place. As a teacher, I believe it to be of great importance for the children to know what is expected of them from the first day they walk into your classroom. I am a firm believer that the teacher, along with the students, should share the control of a classroom. However, given my experience I make it clearly known that I reserve the right to decide when the students are allowed to make decisions for the class. In order to build a classroom community, it is important for the children to take a role in creating their place of learning, and as an educator I make use of sharing the responsibility in formulating the classroom policies and rules for the year. In creating a set of rules in a collaborative fashion, I make sure that they are logical, clearly thought through and most importantly they must reflect the rules that the children follow in their present daily lives, as well as future lives outside of the school enclosure.
Rewards
As a teacher, rewards can play a role in encouraging and supporting the learning of the children in the classroom. If done in an appropriate manner, where bribery is not the main focal point, rewards will act as a set of goals for the children. In my previous teaching experiences, I have introduced bank books as a means of organizing a reward system. The rewards itself were more or less intrinsic, in that they come from within. For instance, rewards would range from independent time for reading or working on various projects at the computer lab to helping out the teacher with a variety of tasks throughout the day. By introducing a reward system in the classroom, the children’s enthusiasm grows, as does their level of learning.
Consequences: Fixed or Responsible?
With every teaching experience, my techniques evolve and progress, but I have always been a firm believer that consequences must fit the infraction appropriately. Thus, if one of my students were to dirty a desk’s tabletop, they would have to clean it. In my classroom, violations are taken very seriously. As the educator, I meet with the student in violation of the rules in order to discuss what took place. By speaking with the child in question, I am able to gain a better idea of the reasoning behind his/her action. During these one on one discussions, it is my hope that I can explain to the child that there are more suitable manners of acting. Before facing their consequence, I believe that it is important for the child to reflect and learn from their actions by answering the questions, “what I did…” and “what I should have done…”, which once completed, will hopefully have aided them in learning their lesson.
Lesson Rhythm
With each lesson, I believe that it is important to engage the children by introducing a lesson in an intriguing and exciting fashion. By doing so, I am able to hook every child in the classroom from the beginning, guiding them through the lesson until it comes to its closure. As a teacher, it is important to not always provide teacher-directed instruction, and given that I want my classroom to be one that is filled with active student-centered learning, I make sure to employ exploration groups and instill collaboration in my classroom lessons and activities. Through the implementation of a variety of instructional approaches and strategies, such as extensive observation, exploration, examination, discovery and inquiry that allows all the children of various learning levels in my class to gain the knowledge, I am able to see the children progress socially, think deeply and learn from the shared ideas and thoughts of their peers on a particular subject matter.
Organization
As an educator who is one to be known as well organized, I make it my responsibility to help guide the children in becoming responsible, well organized learners. In order for the children to become organized and follow a structured classroom routine, I as a teacher, along with the children’s input must implement a clearly formulated classroom organization system. As a teacher, I believe it to be of great importance to have all subject matters be arranged by colour and appropriately labeled for easy recognition. By having materials sorted out and the classroom organized in a manner that works well for the teacher and the children, you are enabling active learning and overall growth to take place throughout the year.
Creating a Climate for Learning
In order to create an active learning environment that provides a setting for exploration, discovery and success, it is important to get to know your students. As a teacher, I believe it to be highly important to gain a sense of who exactly you are teaching. We simply cannot teach our students in an appropriate manner until we get to know them, demonstrating that we care about them as individuals and connect with them on a higher level. I believe that with the creation of a bond or connection with the students, you enable a climate for learning in the classroom.
Rule Development
My personal philosophy for managing a room is not so much as management but rather a way for both my students and I to enjoy time together while learning and growth takes place. As a teacher, I believe it to be of great importance for the children to know what is expected of them from the first day they walk into your classroom. I am a firm believer that the teacher, along with the students, should share the control of a classroom. However, given my experience I make it clearly known that I reserve the right to decide when the students are allowed to make decisions for the class. In order to build a classroom community, it is important for the children to take a role in creating their place of learning, and as an educator I make use of sharing the responsibility in formulating the classroom policies and rules for the year. In creating a set of rules in a collaborative fashion, I make sure that they are logical, clearly thought through and most importantly they must reflect the rules that the children follow in their present daily lives, as well as future lives outside of the school enclosure.
Rewards
As a teacher, rewards can play a role in encouraging and supporting the learning of the children in the classroom. If done in an appropriate manner, where bribery is not the main focal point, rewards will act as a set of goals for the children. In my previous teaching experiences, I have introduced bank books as a means of organizing a reward system. The rewards itself were more or less intrinsic, in that they come from within. For instance, rewards would range from independent time for reading or working on various projects at the computer lab to helping out the teacher with a variety of tasks throughout the day. By introducing a reward system in the classroom, the children’s enthusiasm grows, as does their level of learning.
Consequences: Fixed or Responsible?
With every teaching experience, my techniques evolve and progress, but I have always been a firm believer that consequences must fit the infraction appropriately. Thus, if one of my students were to dirty a desk’s tabletop, they would have to clean it. In my classroom, violations are taken very seriously. As the educator, I meet with the student in violation of the rules in order to discuss what took place. By speaking with the child in question, I am able to gain a better idea of the reasoning behind his/her action. During these one on one discussions, it is my hope that I can explain to the child that there are more suitable manners of acting. Before facing their consequence, I believe that it is important for the child to reflect and learn from their actions by answering the questions, “what I did…” and “what I should have done…”, which once completed, will hopefully have aided them in learning their lesson.
Lesson Rhythm
With each lesson, I believe that it is important to engage the children by introducing a lesson in an intriguing and exciting fashion. By doing so, I am able to hook every child in the classroom from the beginning, guiding them through the lesson until it comes to its closure. As a teacher, it is important to not always provide teacher-directed instruction, and given that I want my classroom to be one that is filled with active student-centered learning, I make sure to employ exploration groups and instill collaboration in my classroom lessons and activities. Through the implementation of a variety of instructional approaches and strategies, such as extensive observation, exploration, examination, discovery and inquiry that allows all the children of various learning levels in my class to gain the knowledge, I am able to see the children progress socially, think deeply and learn from the shared ideas and thoughts of their peers on a particular subject matter.
Organization
As an educator who is one to be known as well organized, I make it my responsibility to help guide the children in becoming responsible, well organized learners. In order for the children to become organized and follow a structured classroom routine, I as a teacher, along with the children’s input must implement a clearly formulated classroom organization system. As a teacher, I believe it to be of great importance to have all subject matters be arranged by colour and appropriately labeled for easy recognition. By having materials sorted out and the classroom organized in a manner that works well for the teacher and the children, you are enabling active learning and overall growth to take place throughout the year.
Procedures and Routines
As stated above in the organization category, I believe the overall organization of the classroom is of great significance to the children’s learning and growth. The same can be said for the implemented procedures and routines for the classroom, as they play an impacting role in how the children blossom. Structure, which includes procedures and routines, allows the children to become affixed to a way of functioning in the classroom environment. As an educator, I believe the classroom structure to be of great importance for the reason being that it allows the children to feel comfortable and safe in their surroundings, while introducing the children to daily routines; something that becomes more and more significant in years ahead.
The Relationship Between Instructional Options and Student Behavior
As stated previously, my methods and techniques to teaching range from teacher directed to collaborative active learning, in which children discover and explore together, sharing ideas and thoughts, while building knowledge that is like no other. As a teacher, I am well aware that student behavior does share a role in the manner that I teach the children. Therefore, I make sure to implement the appropriate teaching techniques for the given classroom situation, as I do not want to loose control of the class during a period of time in which the children are not in capable to work collaboratively. Given my view of the classroom as an environment where learning and growth takes place, I will be a teacher who makes the suitable decisions on the type of instruction I will make use of, based on the classroom situation at that very moment.
Communication and Parent Interactions
Communication is an imperative mean to sharing insights and ideas. Whether it is with my students or the parents/guardians, I make sure that there is an open line of communication with each and every family unit in my classroom. As a teacher, I believe that communication with your students will allow for a connection to form, thus creating a line of communication that the child feels safe and comfortable about, ultimately forming a solid rapport between teacher and student. In order to bring the line of communication full circle, I make it apart of my routine to always make contact with the parents/guardian’s of the children in my classroom. I make it a point to not only communicate warnings of inappropriate behavior or unfinished work, but to also share positive feedback about their child progression as a learner. By doing so, the parents/guardian’s feel a connection to their child’s studies at school, and it allows me to provide them with some feedback on how their child is doing in school, and what needs to be explored further or practiced at greater length.
As stated above in the organization category, I believe the overall organization of the classroom is of great significance to the children’s learning and growth. The same can be said for the implemented procedures and routines for the classroom, as they play an impacting role in how the children blossom. Structure, which includes procedures and routines, allows the children to become affixed to a way of functioning in the classroom environment. As an educator, I believe the classroom structure to be of great importance for the reason being that it allows the children to feel comfortable and safe in their surroundings, while introducing the children to daily routines; something that becomes more and more significant in years ahead.
The Relationship Between Instructional Options and Student Behavior
As stated previously, my methods and techniques to teaching range from teacher directed to collaborative active learning, in which children discover and explore together, sharing ideas and thoughts, while building knowledge that is like no other. As a teacher, I am well aware that student behavior does share a role in the manner that I teach the children. Therefore, I make sure to implement the appropriate teaching techniques for the given classroom situation, as I do not want to loose control of the class during a period of time in which the children are not in capable to work collaboratively. Given my view of the classroom as an environment where learning and growth takes place, I will be a teacher who makes the suitable decisions on the type of instruction I will make use of, based on the classroom situation at that very moment.
Communication and Parent Interactions
Communication is an imperative mean to sharing insights and ideas. Whether it is with my students or the parents/guardians, I make sure that there is an open line of communication with each and every family unit in my classroom. As a teacher, I believe that communication with your students will allow for a connection to form, thus creating a line of communication that the child feels safe and comfortable about, ultimately forming a solid rapport between teacher and student. In order to bring the line of communication full circle, I make it apart of my routine to always make contact with the parents/guardian’s of the children in my classroom. I make it a point to not only communicate warnings of inappropriate behavior or unfinished work, but to also share positive feedback about their child progression as a learner. By doing so, the parents/guardian’s feel a connection to their child’s studies at school, and it allows me to provide them with some feedback on how their child is doing in school, and what needs to be explored further or practiced at greater length.
