Welcome To 1 Grade: Classroom Management Plan Vanessa Levy
Welcome To 1 Grade: Classroom Management Plan Vanessa Levy
Welcome To 1 Grade: Classroom Management Plan Vanessa Levy
ST
1 GRADE
PANDAMONIU
M!
Classroom Management Plan
Vanessa Levy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I Classroom Organization
Classroom Layout....................................p. 3
Classroom Organization.p. 3
Classroom Operations.p. 5
Recording Keeping..p. 5
New Students...p. 5
Classroom Cleaningp. 5
Displaying Student Work...p. 6
Major Infractionsp. 11
Cheating, violent or destructive behaviors
Parent/Guardian Involvementp. 12
My Role as a Professional....p. 12
Differentiation Policy........p. 17
Parent Conferences & Communication..p. 18
CLASSROOM
Classroom Layout
for gathering, a couch, and a couple of bean bag chairs for comfy lounging. This
area is designed so students can be comfortable during independent reading time,
literacy lessons, and whole group gathering time.
In the center of my classroom are ten small tables that I have arranged into
pods. Around each of these chairs are four chairs that face each other as well as
the white board and bulletin boards at the front of the classroom. I decided to
arrange the tables into pods to promote collaborative learning among my students.
The whiteboard and bulletin boards at the front of the classroom will contain
information about the class and current lesson. I will be redecorating the bulletin
board at the beginning of each unit. Also at the front of the classroom is a
projector and television, so we have lots of access to audio-visual instructional
equipment. In the front corner of the classroom is my teacher area with my desk,
computer, and filing cabinet. This is where I will store my materials and respond
to school-related and parent e-mails.
We also have an art-learning center in my
classroom. There are several easels, art desks,
and
various art materials outlooking a window of the
classroom. I have markers, construction paper,
colored pencils, crayons, scissors and glue,
glitter, yarn, stamps, hole punches, and several
other art materials in this area. This is designed
so that students feel comfortable expressing
themselves in an artful manner.
We will be conducting most of our whole
group lessons from either the area-meeting rug in
the literacy corner or the student tables at the
center. For small group and pair work, I have an
additional table at the back of the classroom. The
table
is U-shaped, so it allows me to conduct small
group
lessons while keeping an eye on the rest of the
students throughout the classroom.
We also have a class pet turtle! His name is
Louie. While Louie will stay in the classroom, students will have opportunities to
observe him and feed him if they wish.
Overall, my room is designed to be friendly, colorful, and welcoming for all
my students.
Classroom Operations
Recording Keeping
Organization is a top priority of mine. I will have a student record book ready
before the school year begins. I will use this record book to keep track of student
attendance, observations, scores on homework, activities and assessments, as well
as mastered skills. I will also follow any district-required record keeping
procedures. I will bring the record book to school each day and add information
throughout the school day. I will take it home with me each night and input any
student information into the schools online platform so parents and guardians have
access. If you would like me to keep record of any additional information about
your child I did not list above, let me know and I would be happy to accommodate.
Students in my class will practice setting goals throughout the school year.
Students will set goals in reading and fluency, math facts, and desirable behaviors.
Student goals will posted on their desks and throughout the classroom. I will also
keep track of student goals in my personal record book.
New Students
Making new students feel welcome is also very important to me. I will do
several things to make any new student feel welcome. There will be a
decorative poster hung on the students first day as they walk into the
classroom. I will have my students make cards to give to the new student on
their first day of school as well. I will have a table spot labeled with the new
students name and show them their cubby and storage areas are as well.
This will help the new student feel like they have a place in the classroom
and that we have been anticipating his/her arrival and addition to the class.
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Classroom Cleaning
Each of my students will come to understand that they have a role and
responsibility in the classroom. We will use a classroom job chart to keep
track of responsibilities. The job chart will consist of the students names
and their given jobs for the week. We will rotate the jobs during our
morning Monday meetings each week.
Some of the jobs will consist of line leaders,
weather reporters, cleanup crew and inspectors,
whiteboard erasers, caregivers of plants, pet
feeder, pencil sharpeners, and lunch count
keepers. Jobs can be added and changed
throughout the school year. To keep things fair,
every student will have a job each week and the
jobs will be strategically rotated so that students
will have the opportunity to do each of the jobs.
Students will also be in charge of keeping their
workspaces clean and tidy. They will be given
opportunities throughout the day to put away
materials and get clean and organized. Students
will be expected to have unneeded materials and
supplies put away at this time. I believe that students can pay more attention
and work more effectively if they have a clean and organized space. Having
excess materials put away limits distractions and allows students to focus on
the tasks given. Having a clean workspace also helps keep the classroom
feel positive and organized. There is a small cubby under each of the
students workplaces at their tables as well as larger cubbies and lots of
additional storage for their supplies throughout the classroom.
Displaying Student Work
Consequences
when they arrive to school the next day. This shows students that regardless
of how they behaved previously, they have opportunity to make up for it and
show that they can behave respectfully while in school.
Rule Infractions
Rule infractions will be handled with appropriate consequences. Minor,
mid-level, and major infractions will be handled with different consequences
to match the severity of the infraction. If a student breaks a rule, I want
them to know how to take the appropriate measures to make a better choice
in the future and not make the same mistake again. If a rule is continually
broken, the student and I will have a mini-conference together to discuss the
issue. We will brainstorm a list of ideas that both of us can do to help
prevent the infraction from occurring again in the future.
Minor Infractions
Student-to-Student Conflict
If two or more students are having a problem or conflict, I will first ask the
students to remove themselves to a separate part of the classroom to solve
their issue. This limits disruptions to other students and
provides a time and a place for the students involved to work
out
the issue. The students will then come up with a
plan
as to how they are going to solve
their conflict. Once they have
reached a plan and decided how
they are going to work
cooperatively with each other in the future, they will raise their hands and I
will come over. They will run their idea by me and I will provide feedback.
This helps the students take ownership and responsibility for their behaviors
and actions. It requires them to take leading roles in solving the conflict
with little teacher intervention.
Disrupting or Offending Another Student During Class
Students who are disrupting or offending other students during class will
first have their behavior clip moved down. They will then have a talk with
me after class or at a time where we can talk independently. I will discuss
with the student what they need to be doing instead of disrupting others. I
will also remind them of our class rule of respecting others. If the
disruptions continue to occur, I will implement additional supports. Students
who cannot work cooperatively with each other may be separated or
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assigned to separate groups during group work. Parents may be called if the
problem behavior persists.
Student Inattentiveness/Lack of Motivation
If a student lacks motivation or is inattentive during class, they will first
have their behavior clip moved down. The student will have a conference
with me to discuss what is going on. I will ask the student what I can do to
better motivate them. If the problem persists, additional supports will be
provided. The student can be given shorter, more manageable tasks for
example. These tasks would still be challenging and assessed to the same
standards, they would just be shorter and differentiated as to minimize
attention issues.
Tardiness
If a student is continuously tardy to class, we will discuss why they have
been late and what needs to be done to help correct the issue. If a student is
continuously tardy, their behavior clip will be moved down. Parents will be
notified if the issue persists. Students may lose computer time, their class
job, or class prizes if the issue continues to persist as well. Students will not
be penalized for being late if their ride dropped them off late to school.
Not Getting Work Done
If a student is not getting his or her work done or not attempting to do their
schoolwork, they will need to find time to make up the work. This may be
during free time or before or after class. I will meet with the student to
discuss why they are not getting their work done. If it is an issue about time
or resources, these problems will be addressed. If the problem continues to
persist, additional supports can be implemented.
Mid-Level Infractions
Student Disrespect to Teachers and Adults
If a student is disrespectful to me or other teachers and adults in the school, I
will first have a one-on-one conference with the student regarding his/her
behavior. The student will explain what they did wrong, what they can do to
prevent future disrespectful behavior, and why it is important to be
respectful and make good choices. I will also call their parents at the end of
the day. Once I have discussed the issue with the student and parents, we
will collectively assign an appropriate consequence to meet the level of
infraction. This could include a verbal or written apology to the adult
involved.
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Major Infractions
Cheating
I will stress the importance of being responsible for doing your own work to
my students at the beginning of the year. I believe that students need to take
responsibility of their learning and education and will stress these values
beginning day one. If student(s) are caught cheating, I will immediately
intervene. I will remove the student from the immediate area and have a
conversation with them about academic integrity and honesty. The student
will receive a zero on the assignment. They will have opportunity to make
up the assignment. If a student is caught cheating again, additional
interventions and consequences will occur. The student may need to be
removed from the classroom or assigned a separate test proctor while taking
assessments for example. Parents will be notified at the end of the day in the
event of cheating.
Violent or Destructive Behavior
If violent or destructive behavior occurs, I would first make sure that all my
students were safe and protected. I would have my students quietly gather
and quickly exit the room. They will wait outside the classroom lined up
against the wall. During extreme infractions of violent or destructive
behavior, I will focus on keeping my students supervised and safe to help
minimize potential risks. I will then call for back up support. A parent or
guardian will be notified immediately after the undesirable behavior
occurred. The student may potentially need to see the guidance counselor or
other personnel to assess why the behavior occurred. The parents, guidance
counselor, and myself will collectively decide how to handle the situation
and the most appropriate way to move forward.
Parent/Guardian Involvement
I think communication with my students parents and guardians is extremely
important. Before the school year even begins, I will call or contact each of
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my students and their parents/guardians. I will send them a survey that asks
them to answer a few questions about themselves. This allows me to know a
little bit about you and your child before the first day of school. Before the
school year begins, I will also be sending a welcome letter, supply list, and
letter about me.
I also plan to communicate with my students parents/guardians regularly. I
think regular communication with parents is critical to making sure
expectations match between school and home. I will e-mail or contact
parents on a regular basis, sharing information with them about their child.
This information will be both positive and negative to highlight the students
strengths and areas that need improvement. By communicating with parents
regularly, a connection is formed that serves as functional and cohesive
support network for the child.
My Role as a Professional
I take my role as a teacher very seriously.
As a teacher for young students, I realize
that I am model and someone my
students look up to. I will make sure to
dress appropriately and carry myself
professionally. I will also be sure to talk
respectfully with my students and model
appropriate classroom behavior. I eat
lunch in my classroom every day to
avoid potential gossip amongst
colleagues in the staff lounge. If I am
around when a colleague has a tangent
about a certain student, I remove myself from the situation. I think gossip leaves to
an uncomfortable work environment for all involved.
I collaborate with my colleagues and administration as much as possible. As a
teacher, I try to consult my fellow teachers regarding effective teaching strategies
and frameworks. I think collaboration is crucial to successful teaching because it
helps you see what works and does not work. If I were to disagree with a
colleague or the administration, I would first check to see if the disagreement
impacts the success of the students. For example, if the district or administration is
unwilling to provide necessary supports, resources, and services for students, this
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would be much more detrimental than if the administration invokes a new teacher
dress code. If the disagreement is over an issue that is not detrimental to the
students, I would forget the issue and focus on my career and students. If the
conflict does negatively impact the students, taking my concerns to higher district
personnel or transferring may be necessary.
designating
be
Field Trips
Field trips are welcomed and
appreciated and I try to get the
students
out in the community as much as I
can. Permission forms will be sent home prior to field
trips for parents or guardians to sign. These permission
slips are required by the school and must be returned
prior to the fieldtrip. Parents will be notified of
upcoming field trips a month in advance. If parents
would like to volunteer and come on field trips,
chaperones are always welcome. Students will travel by
school bus to the field trip location and are expected to
have appropriate behavior on the bus as well as at the
destination.
Homework
Students will be given clear and explicit directions in
regards to homework. Assignments will be written on the top left corner of
the whiteboard each day. Students will have a designated take-home folder
they will use to bring their homework and necessary materials in at the end
of each day. We will also review as a class any assignments that need to be
completed prior to dismissal.
Handing In & Passing Out Papers
Students are responsible for bringing their take-home folder to and from
school each day. Their completed assignments should be one side of the
folder and pending assignments on the other. When it is time to turn in
homework, students will be given directions to place their assignments or
completed work in a pile with their three other pod members. I will come
around and collect the assignments and then place them in a designated tray
on my teacher desk. The same will go for passing out assignments: I will
place four of the assignments or papers at the end of each pod for the group
of students to distribute amongst themselves.
Extensions/Activities if Students Complete Their Work
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Differentiation Policy
Differentiating instruction, activities, and tasks is extremely important to me
as I know there are a wide range of abilities and learning styles in my
classroom. Students that are struggling as well as students that are gifted
will be supported equally and have the same set of high expectations.
Gifted Students
Similar to my struggling learners, I will provide differentiated instruction to
my gifted students as well. I will use like-ability grouping in several
reading, science, and math lessons/activities to facilitate gifted students
learning together and expanding content. Gifted learners will not be
assigned more work, rather different work and sets of questions that require
them to expand and develop their thinking further. By placing the top
performing and scoring students in math and reading groups, I will be able
to teach these students at a faster pace. These students may also not need
some of the basic, foundational skill development that other students need.
They may also benefit from pullout enrichment programs and resource
rooms. Once again, I will make it a priority to get to know my students
throughout the school year so that I can differentiate tasks to best meet their
needs.
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Works Cited
Images
1. Panda on cover: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/509047564107786179/
2. Other pandas throughout: http://www.fotosearch.com/clip-art/panda.html
3. Bulletin board: http://www.2busybrunettes.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/07/Jungle-Theme-Student-Work-Display-1024x768.jpg
4. Pandamonium door: https://www.pinterest.com/lafoxyvegan/bulletin-boardsand-classroom-doors/
5. Panda behavior chart: https://www.pinterest.com/christinadirk/panda-s/
6. Classroom rule list: http://jlynnmarshall.wikispaces.com/Classroom+Rules
7. Fighting pandas: http://animal-kid.com/panda-face-sketch.html
8. Sharing pandas:
http://www.freeclipartnow.com/animals/bears/pandas/pandas.jpg.html
9. Reading panda: http://www.clipart-box.com/cliparts/UIUEUAp55eW2l82a/
10. School bell: http://studentsmatter.org/test-blog-1/
Resources
1. Curriculum and Pedagogy classroom discussions & videos
2. Sue Jones guest lecture during Curriculum and Pedagogy class
3. Mackenzie, R., Stanzione, L (2010). Setting Limits in the Classroom. US: Three
Rivers Press.
4. Wong, Harry K., and Rosemary T. Wong (2009). The First Days of School: How
to Be an Effective Teacher. US: Harry K. Wong Publications.
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