Monday, March 15, 2010

Classroom Management Plan

Classroom Management Plan

David L Tetterton

804-437-1173

dlquadt@yahoo.com

blog:  http://davidtetterton.blogspot.com

Secondary (grades 6 – 8)

Resource

Statement of Purpose:

Our classroom is a safe, creative and positive learning environment.  Here, students will be encouraged to share, interact and be excited to learn and succeed in order to achieve their academic potential and social skills.

 

Rules and Relationships:

5 Rules: I will:

1.               Be in my seat ready for start of class when the bell rings.

2.               Be kind, in my words and my actions, to my classmates.

3.               Follow all instructions when given the first time.

4.               Keep my hands, feet and all other objects to myself.

5.               Continue working on projects until dismissed by teacher.

 

Teaching Rules Strategies:

To teach the rules, I will have them posted on the whiteboard on the first day of class, and then on a poster board near the door.  This way all the students and their parents can see the rules as they enter and exit the room.  Each student will also be given a sheet (like a 3x5 card) with the rules and the consequence chart so they can have it in their notebooks for each access. On the first day of class, I will go over the rules, by giving them examples and non-examples of the rules, and then divide the class into groups and have them assigned one of the rules and have them come up with a role play to share with the class later that day or during class on one of the following days. This will continue until all the rules have been explained by the students in their groups to the other groups.  I will also teach any concept of the rule that the students do not understand.

 

Booster Sessions; Re-teaching the Rules: 

Throughout the year, I will maintain and follow the rules.  The students will be recognized and praised for following classroom rules.  Should a student struggle with any of the rules, I will, as needed, remind him/her, individually of what the rule looks like individually.  When a majority of the class has issues with one of the rules, I will re-teach that rule using direct instruction complete with examples and non-examples.

 

Parental notification; Classroom rules:

Prior to the start of school, approximately one week, I will send a letter to each parent introducing myself and explaining to them what I want to accomplish with their children in my class this year.  This will take a little homework on my part so that I can individualize each letter for each individual student.  In this letter, I will also give my contact information to include my phone number, e-mail address and my class blog-spot. As part of the introduction letter, I will send two copies of the classroom management plan (one for the parents to keep and one for the parents and student to sign).  This will allow all concerned parties to know the expectations of the student, parent and teacher in my classroom.  This letter will be sent out in time prior to the “back to school night” that the school holds each year. 

 

Build/Maintain Relationships with students/parents:

Students:  The best method for building and maintaining a relationship with students is by showing them genuine concern and interest in them.  This will be done by giving them the attention they deserve in assisting in getting them to complete their tasks and being by being kind to them. Through a lot of praise and compliments, the students will learn that when constructive criticism or correction is given they will know I am concerned with their success and trying to help them grow.  By greeting them daily, I will let them know I care about them.  By getting to know them individually I will demonstrate my interest in them is not confined to the only the classroom, but it in their whole development into adulthood.

Parents:  I will build and maintain a positive relationship with the parents by showing them that I care about their children.  This will be done by my investing into the success of the child in my classroom.  Sending notes home with the student as to their progress, calling the parents and/or sending emails as necessary.  I will update my class blog-spot on a weekly basis with updates and other information that will assist the parents in the academic and social success of their children.  Flexibility is a must in maintain and building relationships and I will be willing to meet the parents on their schedules if they are ever worried about or want to discuss their child’s progress in my class.

 

Consequences

POSITIVE

NEGATIVE

Free and Frequent:

Smiles

Praise

General praise written on home/class-work

 

Intermittent:

Emails, Notes, or Phone calls home

Blog-spot spotlight

Bonus “Bucks”

 

Strong and Long Term:

Class Party

Bonus “Bucks” redemption

 

1st time:  Verbal Warning

2nd time:  Lose Bonus “Bucks”*

3rd time:  Parental notification via email or telephone

4th time:  Office referral

 

 

 

 

 

 

*See section regarding Bonus “Bucks”

 

Data Collection Method:

Student Name

Positive Consequence

Negative Consequence

Parental Contact

 

 

Date         Consequence

Date            Consequence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Method for Monitoring Student Consequences: Backup Reinforcers:

Bonus “Bucks”:  These are actual “Bucks” (see example to follow).  They will be varied each week by color and a special code.  This will alleviate any counterfeiting and will not carry over after expiration date of “Buck”.  Redemption will be at the end of each month or when needed for special considerations.  Lost “Bucks” will not be replaced and are assigned to each student so they are not transferrable.  “Bucks” are earned intermittently.  They will be distributed at my discretion of when and why they are given.  On the last Friday of each month, or the last day of the term or semester, students will redeem their earned “Bucks” if they so choose.  It is the responsibility of the student to keep track of their “Bucks”.  This will be done by giving each student an envelope to store them. 

              1 Bonus “Buck” = hall pass rental

              10 Bonus “Bucks” = 5 extra credit points (once per week)

              25 Bonus “Bucks” = 10 minutes free time (student decides) or 10 extra credit points

              50 Bonus “Bucks” = homework assignment waived (big projects excluded)

As part of the negative consequences, when a student does not follow established rules for the classroom they will have to lose 3 “Bucks” on the 2nd offense.  Should the student not have 3 “Bucks”, they will have to come into the classroom before the start of the next school day and perform a service for the students by cleaning something in the classroom for 5 minutes.

 

Procedures:

Describe: Implemented: As I am teaching in the secondary setting, there will be a new set of students about every 75 minutes.  When students arrive in the classroom, I will greet them and give them an assignment to begin after the bell rings.  Until that time, they are free to move around, talk to each other and perform other needed tasks such as sharpening pencils and asking me questions.  After the bell rings they are expected to be in their seats ready for the start of instruction (Rule #1).

There are different types of routines that happen throughout the classroom period.  These can include: group instruction, small group work, and individual work.  Since this is a common procedure in my classroom, there will be transitions happening to allow students to move from one location to another.  These movements will be kept to a minimum to avoid confusion and distractions. 

There are two other times when transitions occur and they are when the students enter and exit the room.  Rule #1 talks about when entering the room and Rule #5 discusses when leaving the room.  Students are expected to be performing their assigned tasks until I dismiss them.  This will normally occur after the bell rings at the conclusion of class time.

Bathroom usage:  Knowing the needs of students and also of trying to maintain a positive, creative environment in my class, I will require that the students will raise their hands and request permission to go to the bathroom.  As stated above, it will cost the student 1 “Buck” to rent the hall pass.  Only one student is allowed to the bathroom at a time.

Students are expected to maintain “school rules” when transitioning from one classroom to another.

Should the occasion arise; that is an emergency/crisis (fire, earthquake, flood, lockdown, etc.) the classroom will follow the district and school policy. 

When my students need to regroup or I just need to get their attention, I will say, “Attention Class.”

Taught: 

I will teach my class starting the first week of the importance of keeping the classroom rules.  I will demonstrate with examples and non-examples of what to do when the bell rings at the start of class and also at the end of class.  Transition will also be taught at this time by demonstrating how to go from large groups to small groups for instruction by dividing the class into small groups; they will learn the rules through role playing by using examples and non-examples.  Reinforcement will continue throughout the semester by re-teaching and booster sessions for obeying and following classroom procedures.  The students will be reminded as they transition from one activity to another, whether group or individual work. 

Crisis procedures will be taught as per the school or district policies and regular scheduled drill practices. 

Physical Layout of Class: Rationale

The physical layout I chose will allow me as their teacher to be able to maintain control of the classroom.  There is an area for remedial reading with bookshelves and the appropriate books that will give the students a chance to achieve their academic success.  Using tables instead of individual desks will allow fewer distractions from the windows and the door.  The students will be assigned seats that I reserve the right to change at any time.  This will also give the students the opportunity to transition to individual and small group instruction as required.  There is a half partition which slightly isolates the remedial reading area from the rest of the class and yet allows monitoring from all points of the classroom.  There is a partition near the door which isolates the computers from the persons when entering the classroom.  This removes that distraction.  The reason for selecting this format is that I feel that the center of attention will be the instruction rather than the distractions that come from the windows, door and general types of distractions from the students.  The space is more adequately utilized for teaching rather than just filling up an area.


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