Classroom Management Plan

Beliefs about Education

As an educator, I believe that each student walks into the classroom with a story that is unlike
that of any other person. Each student is unique, and should be treated as such in regards to
learning. Despite differences of background, interest, and experience, each student has the ability
to learn, and it is an educators job to find out how their students learn best.
I believe educators play an essential role in providing students with the quality of life they
deserve, regardless of their out-of-school circumstances. Since school is where children spend a
large portion of their time, it is important that they feel comfortable and safe at school.
Classroom management plays an important role in providing a safe, caring, and productive
learning environment for students. Without effective classroom management, students do not
reach their full potential to learn in the classroom, and consequently, in life.
It is my responsibility as an educator to build a positive learning environment for my students. In
a positive learning environment, students feel safe, respected, and confident in their abilities to
learn and grow as a student, and as a citizen. It is my personal goal to make a connection with
each student in my classroom in order to build a trusting relationship with them, and a
welcoming school environment for them to help establish a positive learning environment. This
type of environment will need to be maintained through myself as I interact with and manage the
students in my classroom in an effective way.
Classroom Organization
I believe that a majority of inappropriate classroom behaviours can be prevented. Effective
organization of the classroom is one way in which many behavioural problems can be prevented.
Although the classroom I am currently teaching in has already been set up in a specific way, I
can still contribute to the organization of the classroom in a way that will help prevent problem
behaviours.
Each day, I will place all of the materials I need I will need for that days lessons on the table at
the back of the classroom. This gives me the chance to ensure I have everything I will need for
the day. Organizing required items in this way makes lesson material easy to access, and easy to
distribute to students, reducing down time, and getting students engaged with lesson activities
right away. In addition, this organization reduces my stress levels, which allows me to be calm as
I teach. I believe students can pick up on the moods of others, so its important to minimize stress
when teaching.

Class Rules/General Expectations

Limits and boundaries need to be established by teachers so that students know what acceptable
and unacceptable behaviour looks like in the classroom. Although basic behavioural expectations
have already been established by my mentor teacher, it is up to me to enforce these rules and
expectations so that classroom interactions can run smoothly for the both of us. Some of the
general expectations of students in my classroom are as follows:
1. Students are to be respectful by listening attentively while others are speaking in the
classroom, without talking.
2. In order to answer a question or contribute to discussion, unless otherwise specified,
students will raise their hands and wait to be called upon in order to speak.
3. Unless students are in the gym, they should be walking while moving.
4. Students should interact with everyone they encounter in a respectful way.
5. Students will try their best in everything they do.
These general expectations and classroom rules help create and maintain a positive learning
environment for all students through the use of respect and safety. Classroom rules have already
been communicated to the students by my mentor teacher, and they will be enforced by me
through regular reminders during class time, or when I notice that expectations are not being
followed. I will need to be firm and consistent with expectations and consequences in order to
enforce the classroom rules.
Key Procedures
To have successful classroom management, there are particular conscious behaviours that I must
display, and certain procedures that I must follow as a teacher. A key component of good
classroom management comes from a teachers planning. I will put thought into how my lessons
are structured in order to minimize time for distractions and off-task behaviours. This will be
done through well-designed introductions, transitions, instructions, closures, and sponge
activities in day-to-day lessons.
Additionally, I will make the conscious effort to conduct myself in a way that lets students know
that I am the head of the classroom. This requires positioning myself in ways that I can see
everyone in the class, even when I am helping an individual student. Another thing I will have to
ensure is that instructions given to the class are clear and direct, rather than unclear and passive.
Another key procedure that is interwoven with good classroom management is the use of a
variety of teaching methods. The instructional strategies that I use while teaching will be diverse,
and meet the learning preferences of a wide variety of students. Lessons will have multiple
activity changes in order to keep students interested and engaged. Using a variety of teaching
techniques will increase student interest, and decrease student distraction and disruption during
class time.

Strategies for Responding to Inappropriate Behaviour

Strategies for responding to inappropriate behaviour include consistency, following through with
consequences, low key responses, positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviours, and
punishment. Depending on the type of inappropriate behaviour being exhibited, a response may
be something as simple as changing the proximity between myself and the student(s), or saying a
students name to get their attention. If a behaviour continues or escalates, a student may be
spoken to individually about their behaviour. If this happens, the student will be reminded of the
expectation they have not met, and the student and I will discuss what needs to occur in order for
them to improve their behaviour. In instances where a student is continuously disrupting the
learning of the rest of the class, a student may lose recess time so that we can meet one-on-one to
discuss my expectations of the student, and how they plan on improving their behaviour.
Another part of responding to inappropriate behaviours includes the praise or positive
reinforcement of appropriate/desired behaviours in the classroom. Positive reinforcements will
be specific so that students know what their own behaviour should look like, and how they can
improve their current behaviour. It provides all students with a model of how they should be
behaving.
Any consequences given to students will be followed through by me. If consequences are not
followed through with, my authority as a teacher is undermined, and students that exhibit
problem behaviours may feel as though they can get away with the behaviour in the future,
causing them to continue exhibiting the problem behaviour as time goes on. This is an important
part of consistency. By enforcing the rules, students will come to understand that I mean what I
say.
I will choose consequences that are easy to enforce. Students will receive a warning, and then
lose privileges such as group work. For behaviours that continue, a student will be moved to a
different area in the classroom where they are not being distracted by those around them, but still
have the opportunity to learn in the classroom environment.