Nastasha Green

TWS 9: Learning Environment

Classroom Management:
Classroom management is what makes the classroom successful. The students and
teacher must all work together in order to have an effective year and to make learning
fun. The way to build classroom management is to create a positive climate where
students feel safe and comfortable. Two ways that I would create a positive climate is
through morning meets and group activities.
Morning meetings are where students will greet one another; share how they feel
or what they have been doing, a class activity, and then the agenda for the day. This
activity will build classroom community through interaction with the students while
teaching them how to become a great listener and speakers. Students are able to connect
with one another outside of the classroom based on the information they share with one
another. The students are to be open minded and respectful towards one another and their
feelings. Another strategy I will use to build a positive climate in the classroom is
through group activities and class discussion. These activities are great for students
because it helps build commutation, social, and critical thinking skills. The students will
work together to develop different solutions for different situations as a team. I believe
class discussion will also provide different perspectives for students and allow them to
truly think about the topic. Class discussion will teach students how to explain their
opinions while incorporating evidence to back their thoughts up. These two ways are the
first activities that I would incorporate in the classroom from the beginning to end of the
school year.
The classroom environment will have a positive atmosphere when students know
and understand the behavioral expectations you have given them. Before setting
expectations for the year, I will provide the students with rules I believe are accurate and
fair to use in the classroom. As I am going over these rules, I will ask the students for
input or alternatives that can be used. The students and I will establish three to five rules
and discuss why they are important for the classroom. Here is a list of behavioral
expectations that I believe would suffice in the classroom:
o Students will be respectful towards their classmates and teachers.
o Follow directions when given.
o Be responsible.
o Keep hands and feet to yourself.
o Make learning fun.
The first rule means that students will give each other time to speak by being a good
listener, making eye contact and paying attention. Students will also raise their hand
when they have a question or statement. Following directions when given is top priority
because it helps establish their listening and direction skills. Students should also be
responsible by turning their homework and assignments in on time. Keeping your hands
and feet to yourself is a rule I would use in the classroom to make sure everyone is safe
throughout the classroom. I ended my rules with a positive statement because I want
students to know that learning can be fun when they have an open mind. These rules will

be written down on a white poster board and hung up in the front of the classroom. The
students will all sign their name of the poster board stating that they understand the rules
and know that there will be consequences when broken. Here is a list of consequences
that I will set for the students:
o 1st Offense: Verbal Warning
o 2nd Offense: Walk time during recess
o 3rd Offense: Conference with teacher
o 4th Offense: Note home to parents
o 5th Offense: Office Referral
When the behavioral expectations have been broken, the student will receive a
consequence. If it continues to happen, the students will keep going down the line of
offenses. I will be sure to explain why they are receiving this offense and state what rule
they are breaking. If the students behavior is out of hand, he or she will be escorted to
the principals office. I hope that by building classroom community, I will not have to
result in sending students to the principals office. These rules and consequences will be
restated when needed throughout the year.
I want the students to know that I appreciate their hard work and good behavior
throughout the classroom so I plan to praise them when they do a great job. One way I
will show my appreciation is through verbal praise. I will provide the students with
positive feedback such as great job; you did wonderful on that homework assignment,
thank you for trying so hard today. Using this intrinsic reinforcement will show the
students that they are appreciated and that their hard work is not going unnoticed. As for
extrinsic reinforcement, I will offer more recess or free time on Fridays, allow the
students to sit next to friends at lunch, and send notes home to their parents. These
rewards will set an example of what a good student is and what they will receive when
they are on their best behavior. I believe using these extrinsic reinforcements will provide
motives for the students to behave and participate throughout the day.
Non-Instructional Routines and Procedures:
I believe that routines and procedures are elements that set the environment of the
classroom. These elements help establish boundaries and expectations for the students
and teacher. I will instill routines and procedures in the classroom on the first day and so
on that so students will know what I expect them to do. I will begin class by greeting the
students at the door with a handshake or high five, and state that they need to enter the
classroom quietly. Once the students are in class, I will have students take their
homework out and place it on the corner of their desk, then write their homework
assignment down for that day in their agenda. When they have completed that task, the
students will place their agenda in their desk and they will quietly work on their morning
work as I take attendance and lunch choices. During lunch choices, I will provide the
students with the lunch menu and call on one student at a time to tell me what lunch
choice they would like for that day. After I have completed the morning assignments, the
class and I will go over morning work, conduct a morning meeting and begin class. After
I have taught the first subject of the day, I will line the students up for a restroom break.
Every student will have an opportunity to go at this time. The students will also have a
chance to use the restroom after lunch. Students may also choose one time during class to

go to the restroom, if it is an emergency. I want to make sure that the students are not
using the restroom as an excuse to leave the classroom, so if they have to go more than
the allowed time, they will walk at recess for the time spent in the restroom. Before
leaving class, the students will line up in the classroom quickly and quietly. The students
will not leave the room until there is a straight line and no one is talking. When we enter
the hallway, the students are expected to act how they were in the classroom. Their hands
should be to themselves and there should be no talking.
When it is time to distribute materials, I will choose two students that I believe are
paying attention and following directions to hand out the needed materials. The students
will be assigned a certain area of the classroom to distribute the materials too so that they
will be able to work equally, and not rush to pass all the materials out before the other
person. I will also choose two students to collect materials such as classwork or activities
throughout the day. However, if students are completing test or graded assignments, I
will provide a designated area near my desk for students to quietly place their work in
while others are finishing up. I will also assigned jobs for the students throughout the
school year. I will choose students that have been showing responsibility, good behavior,
and who have been following directions to a job that will last for two weeks. These
students will be given the job of line leader, door handler, PowerPoint monitor (meaning
they will control the slides as I teach), bathroom monitor, pencil sharpener and secretary
(this student will write the homework and lunch choices on the board at the end of class).
At the end of the two weeks, new students will be assigned to the different roles.
At the end of every day, I will have the assigned student sharpen a cup full of
pencils for the next day. I will give every student a sharpened pencil to use throughout
the day. If the students need to sharpen their pencil as I am teaching, I will provide them
with a manual pencil sharpener so that they will not disrupt the class or lesson. When the
school day is coming to an end, the students will be told to pack their book bags up with
the materials needed to complete their homework and put everything else away neatly in
their desk. Their agendas should be placed in the corner of their desk, so I can come
around and write down notes and behavior issues for the day. Once I have signed their
agenda, they will place it in their book bags, and sit quietly until it is time for dismissal. I
will allow the students to talk with a classmate next to them as long as they are using
their whispering voices. When it is time for dismissal, the students will line up quickly
and quietly and walk to their designated area.
Those routines will be used everyday and discussed if not done correctly. The
students will also review procedures to follow during emergencies. At the beginning of
the school year, the class and I will discuss rules and expectations needed during an
emergency. As a class, we will write these expectations down, review them, and discuss
why they are important. If there is an emergency, students will line up as they normally
do. If a student or students act out during this time, I will place a mark by their name and
address the situation when we get back into the classroom. When we have made it to our
designated area, I will conduct a role call and make sure my students stay in a circle that I
will be monitoring. Once we are able to go back into the classroom, I will take
attendance again to make sure all of the students are safe and back in the classroom.
When routines and procedures are incorporated in the classroom, things seemed to
run smoothly. As a future educator, I would establish these routines and procedures at the
beginning of the school year and remind students of them when necessary. I would

discuss these elements with the class and explain why they are important. Students truly
benefit from structure and routines so it is a great idea to establish them from the start.