Running head: COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

ComprehensiveClassroomManagementPlan
PatriciaCardoso
ESEC556SecondaryEducationProfessionalSeminar
February12,2016

COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

Abstract
Classroom management in the social studies classroom is extremely complex. As
citizenshipteacherswemustteachourstudentsskillsthatwillbeneededbothinourclassroom
andbeyondit.Wemuststrivetorelatethecontenttoeverydaylifeandwehavearesponsibility
to educate responsible citizens. A properly managed classroom, free of disruptions and
distractions,isvitaltocreatingapositivelearningenvironment.FollowingtheworkofJacob
KouninIhavecreatedmyownpersonalphilosophyonteachingandIhavedeterminedthe
componentsofclassroommanagementthatwillworkbestformycontentareaandthestudentsI
willsomedayteach,whilestayingtruetomypersonality.InmyclassroomIwillstressthesix
pillarsofcharacter:trustworthiness,respect,responsibility,fairness,caring,andcitizenship.I
realizethatIaskforalotofmystudentsbutIknowtheseareallattainablegoalsthatevery
student can achieve no matter the gender, color, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, primary
language,disability,orlearningstyle/level.
Keywords:classroommanagement,socialstudies,secondaryeducation,JacobKounin

COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

ComprehensiveClassroomManagementPlan
StatementofPhilosophy:
Whenitcomestoclassroommanagement,itismybeliefthatpreventivereactionsare
betterthanreactivereactions.Whilereactivereactionsarenecessarywhenthereisacrisis,Itrust
thatpreventivestrategieshavetheabilitytoavoidthemajorityofnegativebehaviorandmost
crisesthatwouldrequireareactivereactioninthefirstplace;thislineofthinkingfollowsJacob
Kouninstheory.MuchofKouninsworkissomethingthathasbeeninstilledonusfromthe
verybeginningofourteachereducationprogramsattheUniversity.Kouninidentifiedasetof
teacherbehaviorsandlessoncharacteristicsincludingwithitness,smoothness,momentum,
overlapping,andgroupalerting,thatwereassociatedwithstudentworkinvolvementand
freedomfromdeviancy,(Emmer&Stough,2001,p.104).
AccordingtoKouninwithitnessreferstoateachersabilitytoinhibitnegative
behavior;byusingnonverbalcommunication,suchaseyecontactorproximity,ateachercan
avoidcertainbehaviorsfromrepeating(Kounin,1970).Fromtheverybeginning,teachers
shouldmakeitexplicitlyclearwhatisacceptableandwhatisnot,andwhattheyexpectfrom
theirstudents.Furthermore,Kuninalsobelievesthatallteachersshouldknowhisorherstudents
onapersonalbasis;theyshouldknoweachstudentsinterests,strengths,andweaknessesand
attempttoadapttheirlessonstofitthosestudentcharacteristics.
ThesecondcharacteristicofKouninsmanagementtheoryisoverlapping.Teachers
shouldalwayshaveenrichmentworkavailableforthosewhofinishearlysothatthosestudents
arenotlefttodisrupttheotherswhoarestillworking.Thethirdcharacteristic,momentum,
meansthatteachersshouldtakeadvantageofthetimetheyhavewhilealwaysgivingstudents
plentyoftimetoprocessnewinformation.Thisalsofollowsthecognitiveloadtheory;lectures
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COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

shouldbeshortwithfrequentbreaksandgroupworktoreinforcethenewlylearnedinformation.
Movementisalsoimportant,bygivingstudentstheabilitytomovearoundtheclassroomthey
arenowabletorelax,unwind,andshifttoanewactivity.
Smoothnessreferstoateachersabilitytoeffectivelymanagetheirtime.Byhaving
studentsusedifferenthandgesturesteacherscandeterminewhetherastudentneedsadrink,has
togotothelavatory,orhasaquestionregardingthelesson(Kounin,1970).Oneofmyfavorite
highschoolteachershadusraiseourfisteverytimewewantedtogotothebathroomandwould
simplynodratherthandisruptingtheflowofthelesson.ThefinalcomponentofKouninstheory
involvesgroupalerting;whichiskeepingthewholeclassinvolvedinthelearningprocesssothat
everystudentisactivelyparticipating(Kounin,1970).
JacobKouninsprinciplesofclassroommanagementhavestoodthetestoftime.Looking
backonmyhighschooleducation,Icanthinkofmultipleteacherswhoadoptedhisclassroom
managementstyle;Ialsorememberhowsuccessfulthoseteacherswereatcreatinganeffective
classroom.Inretrospect,InowrealizethatthosearetheclasseswhereIreceivedthebestgrades.
Forthisreason,Icanconcludethatclassroommanagementnotonlyinhibitsnegativebehavior
butalsofostersaneffectivelearningenvironment.
StatementofPurpose:
Ibelieveclassroommanagementisoneofthemost,ifnotthemost,important
componentsinanyeducationalsetting.Itisonlywhenaclassroomisproperlymanagedthat
efficientandeffectivelearningcanhappen.Theclassroommanagementstylethatteachers
employshouldbecongruenttotheteachersinstructionalgoalsfortheirstudents,thetypesof
activitiesusedintheclassroom,andthecharacteristicsofthestudentsthemselves.(Emmer&
Stough,2001,p.104).Itismystrongbeliefthatmyjobisnottosimplyteachthemsocialstudies

COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

content;myjobalsoentailspreparingthemfortheupcomingworldtheywillthethrowninto.As
aSocialStudiesteacher,mymainpurposeistocreateactivecitizens;itismygoalthatattheend
oftheyearmystudentsaretowalkoutofmyclassroomreadytobeproductivemembersof
society.Thisincludestheabilitytocommunicateeffectivelyandrespectfully,theabilitytobe
trustworthyandresponsible,theabilitytobefairandtolerant,andtheabilitytocreateabetter
community,country,andworld.InorderforthistohappenIamfollowingamodifiedversionof
thesixpillarsofcharacter:trustworthiness,respect,responsibility,fairness,caring,and
citizenship.
Rules:
TheSixPillarsofCharacter:
1. Trustworthiness
2. Respect
3. Responsibility
4. Fairness
5. Caring
6. Citizenship
Consequences:
Positiveconsequences:
PickingthePandoraStationforgroupworkactivities
Havingclassoutsideonnicedays
Reviewgamebeforetests
AlternativeAssessments
Negativeconsequences:
ExtrashortanswerORessayquestionsontestANDlessmultiplechoice
GeneralReminder
IndividualReminder
Detention
Officereferralandparentcontact
Surfacemanagementconsequences:
Proximity
Ignoring
Eyecontact

COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

Procedures:
1. Beginningofclass:
a. BellRinger
b. Getoutallmaterialsneededforlesson
2. Duringclass:
a. NOISE
b. Handsignals
3. Endofclass:
a. ExitTicket
b. Waittobedismissed
4. Groupwork:
a. Groupschosenbymebasedonability
b. Allmaterialswillbeprovidedbyme
c. Deskswillbeorganizedbygroups
d. Groupswillbetoldwheretosit
e. Explicitinstructions
ActionPlan:
Ontheveryfirstdayofclassmystudentswilllearntheserulesandtheywillbe
reinforcedregularlywithoutexceptionsafterthefirstweek.Duringthefirstcompleteweekof
schoolIwillredirectthemtofollowtherules,IunderstandthatIamnewtothem,thatImfairly
strict,andthatittakessometimetogetrememberallthesenewrules.FollowingthatweekIwill
nolongerredirectthem,Iwillsimplyignorethemuntiltheyfollowrules(forminorthings)or
taketheappropriateactiondependingonthebehavior.Thechartattheendofthisclassroom
managementplanwillbeblownupinmyclassroomandIwillpointtoitandreviewitwhenever
Ideemnecessary.Parentcontactwillbefrequent,bothpositiveandnegative,Iwillusemye
mailtosendparentsregularupdates(twiceperquarter).Iwillalsosetupaclassroomwebsite
whereallthematerialsreviewedinclasswillbeavailable.Additionally,IwilluseRemind101to
sendoutremindersofhomeworks,assignments,orteststhatarecomingup.
Fromthetimethebellringsstudentswillhavefiveminutestositdown,getoutalltheir
materials,andcompletethebellringer,whichwillbeahigherthinkingquestionthatreviewsthe
previouslessonandintroducesthemtothematerialbeinglearnedduringthisupcominglesson.
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COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

Atthebeginningofeveryunit/chapter(dependingonhowIdecidetobreakupthecurriculum)
thewordNOISEwillbewrittenontheboardforeveryclass.Whentheclassgetstorowdythey
willgetawarningandiftheydonotfollowdirectionsaletterwillbetakenawayeverytimethe
classgetstooloud.Foreveryletterthatistakenawayanadditionalshortanswerquestionwillbe
ontheirtestandamultiplechoicequestionwillberemoved.Ifalllettersaregonebytheendof
theunit,theywillhave5shortanswers,nowordbanks,anessayonthetest,andnobonus
points.Whenstudentsneedtogotothebathroom,theywillraisetheirhandsintheformofafist,
Iwillsimplynodtosignalapproval.Iftheydisruptmyclasstoasktogotothebathroominany
otherwayIwillignorethemuntiltheydoitright.
Duringgrouptransitions,groupswillbepickedbymebasedonability.Iwillputlow
levelstudentswithmidlevelstudentsandmidlevelstudentswithhighlevelstudents.All
materialswillbeprovidedforeverygroupandthedeskswillbearrangedinsquares/rectangles
(dependingongroupsize)whereeachgroupmemberisfacingeachother.Furthermore,students
willbedirectedonwheretogowhichwillhelpefficientutilizationofclasstime.Attheendof
theclass,studentswillhaveanother5minutestocompleteabellringer,whichwillserveasa
waytosettlestudentsandasawayformetoassesstheirlearning.Studentswillnotleavethe
classroomuntiltheyaredismissedbymeandinorderformetodosotheymustbesettled(not
tooloud,butsometalkingisacceptable).
Reflection:
Sincemymaingoalistocreateproductivemembersofsociety,Ichoseclassroomrules
thattranscendedtheclassroomandcanbeappliedtoeverydaylife.LackawannaTrailhasalong
listofrulesthatstudentsshouldfollow;thereforeinmyclasstheywillbeexpectedtofollow
thoserulesalongwithmyown.Ifoundthesixpillarsofcharacteronlineandthoughtitwasa
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COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

greatideathatreallyalignedtomypersonalphilosophy;Imodifieditfromitsoriginalversionto
bettersuitmyneedsbutthepillarsremainthesame.Thesearecharacteristicsthateveryperson
shouldhaveandthatIhopetoinstillinmystudents.Iwantpeopletobeabletorelyonthem,I
wanteveryonetorespectthem,Iwantthemtostandupforthemselves,Idontwantthemtoplay
thevictimbutinsteadtotakeresponsibilityfortheiractions.Iwantthemtorealizewhentheyare
wrong,Iwantthemtodebatetheiropinionscleverly,Idontwantthemtobelieveineverything
theyseeontheinternet,Iwantthemtolookatbothsidesofanargumentbeforemakingafinal
decisionontheirbeliefs.Iwantthemtobeabletohandlecriticism,Iwantthemtobetolerantof
peoplewhoarenotlikethemorpeoplewhodisagreewiththem,andIwantthemtohavea
positiveimpactontheircommunityandcountry.Iwantthemtorespectauthoritybutalso
maintaintheirindividuality.Iwantthemtoalwaysstriveforthebest,Iwantthemtobe
compassionate,Ihopetoteachthemthatthingswillnotalwaysgoasplannedandthatisokay,
andmostimportantly,Iwantthemtobeabletohandlewhateverlifethrowstheirway,goodor
bad.IrealizethatsalottoaskforofHighSchoolstudentsbutIwillbeteachingSocialStudies
andthatsubjectsurpassesmerecontent,itgoeswellbeyondteachingstudentsabouttheBlack
Plague,theRevolutionaryWarortheThreeBranchesofGovernment,itteachesstudents
valuablelifelessonsandinthewordsofGeorgeSantayanathosewhodontrememberthepast
arecondemnedtorepeatit.
InordertocreateapositivelearningenvironmentIwillattempttocreategood
relationshipswithmystudentsandtheirparents.Iwillbeinconstantcommunicationwiththeir
parents/guardiansandIwillalwaysbeavailabletothem,shouldtheyhaveany
questions/concerns.Iwilltrytokeepupwithpopculturebywatchingpopularshows,movies,
andmusic;andIwilltrytogettoknowthemthroughtheactivitiesandprojectsIassign.By
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COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

gettingtoknoweachstudentsstrengths,weaknesses,likes,anddislikesIwillhaveabetteridea
onwhatsupportsanindividualstudentneeds.Irefusetoteachonlytothetest,Iwillkeepup
withallofmystandardsbutIwillalsogowellbeyondthem.Icaredeeplyaboutthiscountryand
theworldweliveinandtheonlywaywecanbetterourselvesistocreateabetterandsmarter
generation;andthatismymostimperativegoal.

COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

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References
Emmer,E.T.,&Stough,L.M.(2001).ClassroomManagement:ACriticalPartofEducational
Psychology,WithImplicationsforTeacherEducation.EducationalPsychologist,36(2),
103112.RetrievedFebruary9,2016.
Kounin,J.S.(1970).Disciplineandgroupmanagementinclassrooms.NewYork:Holt,
Rinehart&Winston
TheSixPillarsofCharacter.(n.d.).RetrievedFebruary9,2016,from
http://www.gvsd.org/cms/lib02/PA01001045/Centricity/Domain/122/charactercounts
poster.png
WhatdoesMs.Rollisonneedtounderstandaboutstudentbehavior?(n.d.).RetrievedFebruary9,
2016,fromhttp://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/beh1/cresource/q1/p03/#content

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CLASSROOMRULES

Behonest
NEVERcheatorsteal
Bereliable
Alwaysdotherightthing
Beloyal

Treatothersthewayyouwanttobetreated
Betolerantofotherpeoplesopinions
Usegoodmanners
Beconsiderateofotherpeoplesfeelings
Debateinasophisticatedandintelligentway

Dowhatyouaresupposedtodo
Nevergiveup,nomatterhowhardthingsget.Alwaystryyour
best
Comeprepared
Takeresponsibilityforyouractions
Thinkbeforeyouspeak/act
Alwaysholdyourselfinhighregard

Playbytherules
Taketurns
Beopenminded
Donttakeadvantageofothers
Acceptthefactthatyouarenotalwaysright.Beableto
recognizewhenyourewrong

Bekind
Besensitivetootherpeoplesfeelings
Standupforthosewhocantstandupforthemselves
Behumble
Haveintegrity

Volunteer.Participateinyourcommunity.Vote

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COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN

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Knowwhatisgoingonintheworldandalwaysaimtomakeit
better
Protecttheenvironment
Obeylawsandrules.Respectauthoritybutdontbeblindly
compliant

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