As a teacher, we strive for our students to be successful in both academics and real-world experiences. However, in order to push our students to their fullest potential we need to ensure they have a safe and comfortable classroom environment with many opportunities to maximize their learning experience, both academically and socially. Taken these factors into consideration, I have created a statement where I will describe how important classroom management is. These strategies are highly influenced by William Glasser.
The foundation to classroom management begins with the classroom, as this is where the learning happens. To make sure students feel safe and comfortable, I will work to make the room appeasing to all. It will be decorated with calming colors and lights to prevent students from being overstimulated, as I believe a classroom should be cozy and an area that students can call home. With a comfortable classroom, I will immediately begin forming and establishing classroom relationships with my students. This engagement will have a beneficial role in classroom management because it will allow me time to get to know my students—their strengths and interests. Once this bond is formed, students will understand that students of all cultural backgrounds, strengths, interests, weaknesses, disabilities and abilities are not only welcomed in my classroom but valued. With equal treatment, students will come to understand that I will always be there to provide unconditional love and support. Because of this, my classroom management will be smooth and effective, as my students will learn to take control of their learning experience, discovering their personal purpose for coming to school every day.
Another key to classroom success stems from the establishment of procedures, routines and behavior expectations. Students have to be fully aware of the rules of the classrooms and the routine, as any confusion will lead to chaos—affecting the learning flow. At the beginning of the year, I communicated my rules and expectations clearly to all of my students and parents. In fact, behavior contracts were sent home at the beginning of the year, so students can communicate with their parents my classroom expectations. Signed contracts, by both the student and their parents, were then brought back to school. Knowing my rules and expectations students will be fully aware of the consequences, in terms of both academics and behavior—keeping all involved parties on the same page. To minimize wasted instruction time, I display visual aids for daily schedules, routines, and expectations around the room. Through visibility, students become familiar to the expectations within the classroom, as these visual aids can always be seen. Consistent practice with procedures and routines will not only establish the safe, positive, cozy and working environment, but provides more time for quality and engaging instruction time and less time for frequent interruptions and distractions.
I strive to create a classroom environment that is lively and fun, where activities flow from one into the next. To ensure that my classroom time is used widely, my lessons will have to be planned and prepped ahead of time, with my materials organized and accessible. Overall, my classroom will be built with a strong sense of community and managed in a way where students are comfortable with a strong desire to learn.
InTASC Alignment: Standard #8: Instructional Strategies