User:Zaire.Mathews

Classroom Management by Zaire Mathews

Managing Transitions

Norms In our classroom as a class we came up with “classroom rules” that are norms of how our class is run. “Rule” #1: “We Take Care Of Our Classroom”. This means that we clean up whatever we take out and treat all components of our classroom with care and respect. “Rule” #2: “Be Mindful”. In Our classroom being mindful has so many different meanings. Being mindful in our classroom is based on different questions like “Am I helping myself or my class by doing this?”, “Am I using our materials responsibly or am I being wasteful?” “Will what I do or say hurt someone else?”. In Our kindergarten class we want our kids to think with empathy while making decisions “Rule” #3: “We Use safe words and kind words.” In our kindergarten class we use safe bodies by never hitting or harming others. Students are not allowed to kick or hit anyone in our room. They are also expected to only say kind words that will encourage their peers. “Rule” #4: “Take Care of Your Feelings”: Some kids come to school with so much baggage or just have a rough time at school. When necessary students are expected to take care of their feelings whether this means going to take a break, going to take a rest, writing and submitting thoughts to our worry jar. Whatever kids need to do to take care of their feelings is allowed as long as they are being safe.

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Once we agreed upon these “rules” we wrote them and designed a poster so that we always know what the expectations are.

-- Procedures

In the beginning of the year classroom procedures are introduced .In our class we have procedures and our daily schedule so that students know what we are doing daily. If there is something outside of our daily schedule it is posted and we talk about it as a class. Procedures that our class does daily “ Early morning choices, independent learning times, transitions, switching lessons, and more are talked about and announced by teachers every day. Procedures for specific parts of class like our “talk it out table” have a poster on how to properly use the table. In kindergarten we post procedures with words and sometimes visuals to make sure students know what the procedure is. This way some procedures in our class are acknowledged by students and are done so independently.

Transition Plan:

-- In My classroom the transition plans are repeated daily. Step 1: I ring a chime to get all each students’ attention(the expectation is that students freeze, look at me, and become completely silent) Step 2: I give clear directions. It is important that my students know exactly what to do when the transition begins. For example “friends in about 2 minutes I will put on our clean up song. When the song begins I want friends to begin cleaning up right away. Once your area is clean come to your spot on the carpet”. This way students know exactly what to do. Step 3: For each transition I play different songs, and my students know exactly what each song means. In the morning I play “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars. My students know this means to clean up morning stations and come to the carpet. In the afternoon “High Tides or Low Tides” by Bob Marley plays while students pack up and they know the expectation is to get to the carpet before the song ends. If there will be any changes during the day that will mess with transitions I discuss it during our morning meeting so they know changes will be made during the day. Example: “instead of having a rest or reading time after recess today we will have a quick CARES lesson from the school counselor. I know this may be disappointing for a few of us, but let’s try to be flexible with the change in today’s schedule” If necessary consequences or rewards can be attached to transitions. If students are doing the best they can to do what is expected during a transition teachers can give rewards. Ex: “I noticed when I called our class to line up to go in from recess everyone came right away, so tomorrow we can play an extra 5 minutes tomorrow to play. If students don’t do what is expected while transitions teachers can give a consequence “I notice when I called our class to line up to end recess many friends continued playing so tomorrow we’ll end 5 minutes early to make sure our class is lined up in time to go in”

If there needs to be further discussion about it we will have a group discussions and I’ll the students different questions: “what could we have done differently to make this transition more successful?” “What can we do tomorrow to make sure we do this transition in time?” “Do I give you all enough time to transition or do we need more time?”. This way we have a group discussion where their concerns are talked about and we make a group plan about how we may be able to improve transitions. Transition Plan: In My classroom the transition plans are repeated daily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw_h6sbUS6Y&feature=youtu.be (above is a video of how I approach transitions, and gives great examples of how to approach transitioning, and other aspects of the classroom)

Expectations:

-- No matter what I grade I teach or work with I set high expectations for each student regardless of race, socioeconomic status, gender, or ability. In my class I expect and push students to do their absolute best, even if their best is not what their classmates’ best looks like. Students are encouraged to give opinions on topics, and our class is a safe place where even if opinions differ they are heard and respected. All people, and ideas are welcome in our classroom. No one is treated as if they are inferior to their classmates. Often African Americans, women, math novices and spanish speakers are treated as inferior to White people, men who are math experts. We set up a classroom where all are welcome and expected to put 100% effort into all that we do.

Citations

Finley, T. (2017, March 13). Mastering Classroom Transitions. Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/mastering-transitions-todd-finley

Strauss, V. (2014, May 06). What 'setting high expectations' for all students really means. Retrieved November 12, 2018, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/05/06/what-setting-high-expectations-for-all-students-really-means/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1338758da36b