Classroom Management Plan
Welcome Parents and Students!
Hi, I’m Ms. Bodily and I’m going to be working with you this year! I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you in this coming year. This blog has been set up for the sole purpose of answering any questions you might have about my classroom management policies. It will also be a good resource for posting new happenings in class and anything to be aware of. Please take the time to look over everything in the post, including Statement of Purpose, Rules& Consequences, Proper Procedures, and even the set up of our classroom! Make sure to read over everything so you will be aware of the classroom rooms and policies that we will have in our resource room here at Rocky Ridge High School.
Statement of Purpose:
This classroom is a place of respect and learning that fosters curiosity, creativity, and academic progress. All students will work hard to achieve their best, and will strive to learn academic and life lessons alike.
Rules & Consequences:
Classroom Rules
- Be in class, in your desk, on time.
- Be ready to work with all your materials.
Speak to peers and adults using appropriate tones and words
Follow instructions; work on assignments when asked and complete in a timely manner..
- Raise hand and wait for permission during whole class instruction.
Use and touch the computers, couches, bean bags, and books in a manner so they are kept in good condition
Strategies for Teaching Rules
On the first day of class, I want to dedicate the period to talking about my rules, policies, procedures, and expectations for the class. I will have a poster made up with all the rooms that will be posted in two places in the room at all times. We will go through the rules together as a class, and I want to have a discussion about why we have those rules in place. I will then split the class up into small groups of 3 or 4 and given them each one of the rules to focus on. They will then come up with a quick demonstration of both adhering to the rule and an example of breaking the rule. The students will perform these little skits for the class and we will reconvene and talk about what we learned. We will then cover the positive and negative consequences attributed to each rule, and what will happen if they are broken as well as followed.
Strategies for Re-Teaching
First off, when we have a holiday, or even a long weekend, I plan on dedicating a portion of class time to going over the rules and consequences quickly, just as a refresher. If I find that an individual student is having problems with a certain rule, I will address it with that student personally and employ consequences as needed. If the class as a whole is struggling with a rule, I will again take time in class to re-address the rule, and let the class know that I have noticed them struggling and will open up the class for discussion as to why they might be struggling. I will let them know that I will be watching their behavior more closely and remind them of the negative consequences for breaking the rules.
Keeping Parents Informed
I have created a blog with all my classroom policies and procedures that I will provide the parents with within the first day of class, whether that be by email or by sending fliers home. I will also send hard copies of my statement of purpose, rules, consequences, and incentive systems home to the parents so they can keep them for reference if they wish. I want the parents to have access to my blog so they can feel updated and connected to what is going on in the classroom.
Building Positive Relationships with the Parents
I want the parents to know that I am dedicated to helping their students learn and progress. Along with the class management materials, I will send home a letter to all the parents within the first week of school that details my passion for teaching and my desire to help their children succeed. I will tell them of my intentions, goals, and plans for the year. I will also let them know that I welcome contact with them at any time and will provide them with my contact information. I also want to, as the year goes on, pick a different student every week and find something that they did great, that is noteworthy, and call home and talk to the parents about their good behavior. I want to personally talk to the parents of each and every one of my students and let them know that I see potential in their child.
Building Positive Relationships with the Students
More than I want the parents to know that I am dedicated to their students, I want the students to know that I come to school every day for them. That I am there to help them and support them through their academic career, and that I’m not there to punish them or put them down. I want them to know that I want them to progress and grow. I will hopefully achieve this by talking with students personally about any behavioral problems I am seeing first, before jumping to conclusions or lashing out with punishment. Part of that is really putting forth the effort to get to know my students and to better understand their behavior. I also want to make sure I take time to individually acknowledge good behavior and accomplishments of my students. When there is need for negative consequences, as there undoubtedly will be, I want to do all I can to not embarrass students in front of the class, and any time possible address problems privately. If that isn’t possible, I want to make sure I always use a calm and even toned voice as to not escalate anything and to not make the student feel demeaned in any way. I also want to make sure and praise them as often as possible, and make sure they know that any praise they receive from me is sincere.
Consequences
Positive Consequences
Free and frequent - verbal praise, personal acknowledgement, smiles.
Intermittent – praise notes home/in class, joke of the day, free/couch/computer time, snacks/candy
Strong and Long Term – class outing at the middle and end of the year which they can earn by filling up a “jar” of good behavior throughout the year
Negative Consequences
Individual:
1st - a verbal warning
2nd - removal from group, loss of personal/classroom privileges
3rd –personal privileges on hold
4th – removal from classroom, office referral, communication with parents
Group:
1st - a verbal warning
2nd - loss of opportunity for coins in the jar, the “lid goes on the jar”
3rd –removal of coins from the jar
4th – suspension of jar privileges for extended period, i.e. “lid stays on until tomorrow or until excellent level of behavior is reached”
Data Collection
Student Name & Date: | Positive Consequence earned | Negative consequence received |
Monday | Note sent home | |
Tuesday | ||
Wednesday | Two verbal warnings | |
Thursday | ||
Friday |
Using this chart, I will keep track of student behavior so I can have on record what kind of consequences are being given in my classroom and to whom, so I can keep track of who is acting out the most, and who is behaving most consistently etc. I would probably keep this on the computer as a document on Excel or something of that nature so I could keep a running total of everything and have the ability to print it out if I ever needed.
Student Monitoring System
I want students to take charge and responsibility for their own behavior. So, they will be responsible for turning in “How am I doing today?” slips at least 4 times a week. I will have files for each of my students to put them in. They can only do one a day, and they must be dated or they will not count. If they do not remember to do them, they will lose privileges for the next week. I want them to take time to reflect back on their behavior (in both my class and their other classes) and give an honest evaluation of how they thought they did; what they did well, any misbehavior, and thoughts about it. They will be writing about how they thought they behaved that day and how they can do better or what they can continue to do well. I will provide 5 minutes in each day for any students who want to write their “How am I doing today” slips. I will be sure to let my students know that only I see them and that they are to help them keep track of and be aware of their behavior. If I get enough of them turned in a week, I will add coins into the jar for the entire class.
Procedures
Schedule
Class time will be about 45 minutes long. Students will be in their desks, with their needed materials, within two minutes after the bell rings. I will have a trivia question or challenge question or journal topic for them to be working on as they sit down. We will talk about it as I begin class. Then we will go over the schedule and talk about any housekeeping items. If I have any whole class instruction to do, I will start out with that, which will last between 10 and 15 minutes. Then students will split up to do individual work, group work, and other projects. I will monitor their work and make sure everyone has the help that they need. They will work on their own work until the last 5 minutes. They can earn free time, couch time, and computer time once their work is finished. In the last five minutes they will be back in their desks and I will release them after going over anything else I need to.
Transitions
Trips to the Bathroom
Students will be allowed 4 bathroom breaks for the whole semester. I will have a booklet at my desk where I mark down who has used the bathroom pass and who hasn’t. Students will have to come to me and ask for the bathroom pass to use the bathroom, and they must be back within 5 minutes. Any deviation from the rules will result in loss of privileges.
Start and End of Class
I will have a challenge question at the beginning of class and points out of their jar will be lost if it takes more than 5 minutes for me to begin because of talking, tardiness, unpreparedness etc. We will come together as a class in the last 5 minutes of the period, and the class will not be released until all are in their seats and listening.
Signals
If I need to get my students’ attention, I will clap my hands and say “Students, look at who?” to which they will reply “Teacher, look at you!”. Points will be rewarded for successful signal response and can be taken away for lacking response.
Classroom Layout:
Rationale:
This is the set up that I would have in my classroom. The desks are all facing away from the door and from the computers, which can be distractions. The desks are all evenly spaced and facing the teacher, and not each other, which can sometimes be a distraction to students. There are two round tables for doing group work, as well as a station for computers and a station for students to place their belongings if needed. There are also two bookshelves and places students can comfortably sit and read if they wish. If I were to be at the teacher’s desk, I am at a vantage point where I can see the whole room, and nothing is blocked from my view. This way I can keep an eye on the class at all times, if I am not already up and walking around.
Contact Information:
(719) 337-8376
k_bodily@rrhs.com
http://kyliesclassroommanagement.blogspot.com/ http://kyliesclassroommanagement.blogspot.com/2012/02/classroom-management-plan.html
