User talk:Tkinchen

Classroom Management

Effective classroom management it important to every teacher, whether he or she has been teaching twenty years or if this is his or her very first year of teaching. In order for learning to take place is a classroom, the teacher must have control of the room and the students in the room. Classroom management does include discipline policies, however, it does include other aspects. At the beginning of the year students should discover exactly what is expected of them and exactly what types of behavior will and will not be tolerated. "A significant aspect of this beginning is the teacher's establishment of expectations for student behavior, which are expressed through rules and procedures." ("Classroom Management," 2008) At the school where I currently teach, we have a student expectations rubric that is given to the students on the first day of school in the student's agenda. The homeroom teacher then reviews the rubric with the students. This way, students know exactly what behavior is acceptable in certain circumstances. For example, this rubric addresses behavior in the lunchroom as well as behavior in the hallways. The rubric is designed so that students will know exactly what type of behavior is expected. The behavior that is outlined in the student expectations rubric also addresses classroom behavior. This assists the teacher by addressing school classroom behavior policies and knowing when these policies have been followed or violated. The school where I currently teach provides positive reinforcement to those students who display model behavior and addresses discipline issues when needed. Classroom management also addresses how a teacher's classroom is configured. A classroom should be arranged in such a way that it produces the best possible learning outcomes. "Make sure the homework board is visible from all of their seats so students can copy their homework into their agendas." ("National Education Association," 2008)  I put this concept into practice in my classroom. The school where I am teaching provides an agenda book to each student at the beginning of the year. The students are expected to use these books. I have a place on my whiteboard that is used designated for homework. The students copy their homework into their agenda books. In order to help ensure that my students are utilizing their agenda books, I will periodically check each student's book. Another important to effective classroom management is to be firm and consistent with students. "A teacher can be firm yet still be supportive and friendly with students." (Murphy, 2008) I believe that students need a teacher who is consistent. This helps the students to gain a better understanding of what is expected of them in the classroom. I strive to be very consistent in my classroom. I am consistent not only with student behavior expectations, but also with my grading policies. For example, if I give my students an assignment that includes the completion of a project, I also give them a rubric with specific guidelines on how their project will be assessed. Tkinchen (talk) 18:42, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

Works Cited

Classroom Management. (2008). In ''Education Encyclopedia. ''Retrieved October 7, 2008, form Education Encyclopedia Online: http://www.answers.com/topic/classroom-management

Murphy, Tony. (2008). Guidelines for good classroom management practice.  Retrieved October 7, 2008, from: http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/ClassroomManagement.html

National Education Association. (2008). Classroom set-up. Retrieved October 7, 2008, from: http://www.nea.org/classmanagement/zookclass.html