classroom management plan grades 1-3

8
1 Katherine Brou Classroom Management Plan Philosophy My philosophy is a good mix of a lot of different ideas. It is greatly influenced the Dreikurs Model, the Skinner Model, the Jones Model, the Glasser Model, the Ginott Model and the book The Power of Guidance by Dan Gartrell. I believe that children always have a reason for what they do and it is my job as the teacher to try to figure out that reason and act accordingly. I believe that “misbehavior” is actually often mistaken behavior. The Dreikurs model is closely related to my view of mistaken behavior. According to Dreikurs, there are four instigators of mis/mistaken behavior: seeking attention, gaining power, taking revenge, and displaying inadequacy (Andrius 2011). Each of these has the same goal, to elicit a response from the teacher or others. Using the ideas of this model we know if a teacher takes the time to understand where the child is coming from and why he/she is acting a certain way, then this mistaken behavior can be addressed appropriately for long‐term instead of stopped just for the short term. The Ginott Model focuses on teacher’s providing an environment conducive to learning and when mistaken behavior occurs, to look at the child’s feelings and social/emotional development (Andrius 2011). This to me means to have a loving understanding atmosphere in the classroom and to not focus on the child’s character but instead on his/her feelings at the time in order to understand where he/she is coming from. Ginott was adamant about teachers modeling the correct behavior in the classroom so as to promote acceptance (Andrius 2011). Guidance techniques help teach children problem‐solving skills that will develop “the social‐emotional skills [they] need to function as healthy and productive adults… [and] the life

Upload: katherine-brou

Post on 05-Mar-2016

215 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

DESCRIPTION

This is my classroom management plan for the primary grades

TRANSCRIPT

1

KatherineBrouClassroomManagementPlan

Philosophy

Myphilosophyisagoodmixofalotofdifferentideas.Itisgreatlyinfluencedthe

DreikursModel,theSkinnerModel,theJonesModel,theGlasserModel,theGinottModeland

thebookThePowerofGuidancebyDanGartrell.Ibelievethatchildrenalwayshaveareason

forwhattheydoanditismyjobastheteachertotrytofigureoutthatreasonandact

accordingly.Ibelievethat“misbehavior”isactuallyoftenmistakenbehavior.TheDreikurs

modeliscloselyrelatedtomyviewofmistakenbehavior.AccordingtoDreikurs,therearefour

instigatorsofmis/mistakenbehavior:seekingattention,gainingpower,takingrevenge,and

displayinginadequacy(Andrius2011).Eachofthesehasthesamegoal,toelicitaresponsefrom

theteacherorothers.Usingtheideasofthismodelweknowifateachertakesthetimeto

understandwherethechildiscomingfromandwhyhe/sheisactingacertainway,thenthis

mistakenbehaviorcanbeaddressedappropriatelyforlong‐terminsteadofstoppedjustforthe

shortterm.

TheGinottModelfocusesonteacher’sprovidinganenvironmentconducivetolearning

andwhenmistakenbehavioroccurs,tolookatthechild’sfeelingsandsocial/emotional

development(Andrius2011).Thistomemeanstohavealovingunderstandingatmospherein

theclassroomandtonotfocusonthechild’scharacterbutinsteadonhis/herfeelingsatthe

timeinordertounderstandwherehe/sheiscomingfrom.Ginottwasadamantaboutteachers

modelingthecorrectbehaviorintheclassroomsoastopromoteacceptance(Andrius2011).

Guidancetechniqueshelpteachchildrenproblem‐solvingskillsthatwilldevelop“the

social‐emotionalskills[they]needtofunctionashealthyandproductiveadults…[and]thelife

2

skillstheyneedascitizensofdemocracy:respectingothersandone’sself,workingtogetherin

groups,solvingproblemsusingwords,expressingstrongemotionsinacceptableways,and

makingdecisionsethicallyandintelligently”(Gartrell,2005,pp.19‐21).Theseguidance

techniqueswillgivethechildthepoweroflearningself‐control.Thisisverymuchrelatedtothe

Fred‐JonesModel.Thismodelisallabouthelpingstudentslearnself‐controlandusingbody

cues,incentives,andindividualassistanceasdisciplinetechniques(Andrius2011).Iliketheidea

ofallowingthechildrentolearntheirownself‐controlbecausethisisaskilltheywillneed

throughouttheirlife.IthinkIalreadyusebodycuesandfacesalottoconveymyapprovalor

disapprovalintheclassroom.IdidnotliketheJones’ideaofindividualhelpbecause,although

heistryingtomaketimemoreefficient,heisnotallowingtimeforthechildtoprocess

somethinginhis/herownway.Tellingthechildwhathe/sheshouldbedoinginsteadofasking

therightquestionstohelphim/herfigureitoutisnotsomethingIbelievein.LastlytheFred

Jonesmodelincludedtalkofincentives,whichiscloselyrelatedtotheSkinnermodelor

behaviormodificationtheorywhichinvolvesrewards,punishments,andrestrictions.Ibelieve

thatthesethingsworktomodifybehaviortoacertainextent,buttheyarejustdealingwiththe

behaviorinsteadofunderstandingandtryingtochangeit.Ibelievethatthereisatimeand

placeforthismodelonanindividualbasis,however,asaclassroompolicyitisnogood.

TheGlasserModelhelpstoshowwhatIbelievewillhelpmeetasmanyofthechildren’s

needsaspossiblesoastopreventthemistakenbehavioraltogether.TheGlasserModelalso

reaffirmsmybeliefthatifthechildrenareinterestedandengagedinwhattheyarelearning

andseeingintheclassroom,thenmistakenbehaviorwillbeminimalandonlyforthefour

instigatorsmentionedbeforeintheDreikursModel.Glasseralsofocusesonself‐control

believingthat“students[can]makeappropriatebehavioralchoicesthatleadultimatelyto

3

personalsuccess”(Andrius2011).Ibelieveinusingguidancetechniques,suchasclassroom

meetingsmentionedintheGlasserModel,asopposedtopurelydisciplinetechniquesto

addressallmistakenbehavior.Usingguidanceasopposedtodisciplinewillhelpprevent

mistakenbehaviorthroughteacherunderstanding,insteadofaddressingitafterthefact.

OverallIbelievethatitismyjobfirstoffistoprovidealoving,understandingand

acceptingenvironmentthatkeepschildrenengaged,interestedandthatisconduciveto

learning.Thiswillpreventasmanymistakenbehaviorsduetoboredomandlackofinterestas

possible.Ialsobelievethatbeingclear,assertive,anddirectaboutmyexpectationswithmy

bodylanguage/cuesandwordswillpreventunnecessarymistakenbehaviordueto

misunderstandingsorconfusion.Ialsobelievethatwhenmistakenbehaviorsoccur,itismy

dutytofirsttrytounderstandthebehaviorandthefeelingsorneedsbehindthisbehaviorin

ordertoaddressitappropriately.Whenaddressedappropriatelywithguidanceonself‐control,

mistakenbehaviorscannotonlybeunderstood,butprevented.

4

Policies

1. Ifachildactsoutinclassinordertogetattentionmyclassroompolicywillbetoexplain

tothechildtheexpectationsandfindawaytoprovidehim/herwiththenecessary

attentioninanappropriateway.

2. Ifachildactsoutinclassinordertogetsomethingotherthanattention,Iwillremind

thechildofourclassroomrulesandtellhim/herthatIwillhelphim/hergetwhateverit

istheyneed/wantatamoreappropriatetime.

3. Ifthechildisupsetbecauseofsomethingthathappenedwithanotherchild,my

classroompolicywillbetotalktobothchildrenandhelpthemcomeupwithasolution

totheproblemtogether.

4. IfthechildisupsetbecauseofsomethingthatI(theteacher)hassaidordone,Iwilltake

thechildasideatanappropriatetimeandworkthroughtheproblemwithhim/her

rememberingtobethinkingabouthis/herfeelingsandneeds.

5. Ifthechildisbullyingothers,Iwillobserveandtalkwiththechildtodeterminewhatitis

thathe/sheitsgettingfromthebullyingandworktohelphim/herfindanotherwayto

getthat.

6. Ifachildisbeingbulliedthenmyclassroompolicywillbetoprovidethechildwiththe

resources,stability,andesteemtolearntostanduptothebully.

7. Ifachildhasalackofself‐esteemanddoesnotwanttotry,myclassroompolicywill

involvetalkingtothechildandgivinghim/hersmalltasksthathe/shecanachieveto

builduphis/herself‐esteem.

8. Ifachildisactingoutbecausehe/sheisalwaysfinishedearlyorboredwiththelesson,I

willfindsomethingmoreengagingandchallengingofthechildtodowhileatthesame

timere‐examiningmyteachingtobettersuitthedifferencesamongstudentsinmyclass.

9. Iwillpracticeguidanceasopposedtostrictlydisciplinethroughoutmyclassroomhoping

tounderstandandpreventanymistakenbehaviorsthroughhelpingchildrenlearnself

control.

5

Guidelines–Classroom“Rules” Pre‐KthroughKindergarten

1. Weareallfriendswhoworktogether2. Weusewordstosolveourproblems3. Weusegentletouchesonly4. Weusewalkingfeetandtalkinquietvoiceswhileinside5. Wetaketurnsandsharewithoneanother

FirstGrade

1. Weareallfriendswhoworktogether2. Wearerespectfulofourselvesandothers3. Weareresponsibleforourownworkandbelongings4. Wecooperateandcompromisewithoneanother5. Whensomeoneistalkingwelistenwithoutinterrupting6. Weusetheclassroomandourfriendstohelpussolveproblems

SecondthroughThirdGrade

1. Weareallfriendswhoworktogether2. Wearerespectful3. Weareresponsible4. Wecooperateandcompromise5. Whensomeoneistalkingwelisten6. Wehelponeanothersolveproblems7. Wearereadytoaskquestionsandlearnnewthings8. Weareabletobeourselvesandappreciatethosearoundus.

6

Activities/LessonPlans Ithinkitisimportanttonotethatwhilethesearemyclassroomguidelines,eachyearIwouldgoovertheseguidelineswiththestudentsandaskiftheyhadaproblemwithanyofthem.Wethenwouldworktogethertochangeitasnecessarythroughcompromise.

1. Weareallfriendswhoworktogether• Havetheclassworktogethertomakeabookaboutfriendship.

Allowthemtowrite,draw,color,etc…butthetopicneedstobeaboutfriendship.

2. Weusewordstosolveourproblems• Makeahumanknotandhavetheclassworktogethertoundoit.

Ifthatistooadvancedforyoungerchildren,havethemworktogethertosolvesomesortofproblem.ORPresenttheclasswithafewproblemsandhavethemtalkitouttocomeupwithasolution.

3. Weusegentletouchesonly• Havethechildrencomeupwithactoutwhythisisanimportant

rule.4. Weusewalkingfeetandtalkinquietvoiceswhileinside

• Tiptoearoundtheroomwhisperingdemonstratingwalkingfeetandquietvoices.

5. Wetaketurnsandsharewithoneanother • Playgamessuchasconnectfourthatrequiretakingturnsandtalk

aboutwhythatisanimportantrule(foryoungerchildren).ORUseafeltboardtomakeupastoryabouttakingturnsandsharing.

6. Wearerespectfulofourselvesandothers• Haveaclassdiscussionandpossiblyallowstudentstoactout

situationsinwhichthisrulewouldapply(haveseveralpre‐madesituationsinahat).

7. Weareresponsibleforourownworkandbelongings• Haveaclassdiscussionandpossiblyallowstudentstoactout

situationsinwhichthisrulewouldapply(haveseveralpre‐madesituationsinahat).

8. Wecooperateandcompromisewithoneanother• Talkaboutwhatitmeanstocooperateandcompromise.Possibly

compromiseontherulesiftheclasswantsto…

7

9. Whensomeoneistalkingwelistenwithoutinterrupting• Talkaboutrespectandwhyitisnecessarytolisten.

10. Weusetheclassroomandourfriendstohelpussolveproblems• Poseafewhypothetical“problems”andhavetheclassusethe

roomandeachothertocometoasolution.11. Wearereadytoaskquestionsandlearnnewthings

• Talkabouthowweshouldrespectoneanother’squestionsandbeexcitedaboutthemsothatwecanlearnnewthingsfromthequestions.

12. Weareabletobeourselvesandappreciatethosearoundus.• Discussbeingappreciativeofthosearoundusandhowbeautiful

differencescanbe.Maybefindsomenaturaloccurringdifferencesthatturnouttobebeautiful.

***Fortheyoungergrades(PK/K),handsonactivities,pictures,androleplayarenecessarytothemunderstandingtherules.Forfirstgrade,thesameapplies,butalittlebitmoreabstractdiscussioncanbeaddedin.For2ndandthirdgrade,discussionsareallthatisnecessary,however,examplesandactivitieswillonlyhelpreinforcetheguidelines.

8

Resources

Andrius,J.(2011).Teachermatters.Retrievedfromhttp://www.teachermatters.com/

Gartrell,D.(2005).ThePowerofguidance:teachingsocial‐emotionalskillsinearlychildhood

classrooms.Canada:DelmarLearning‐ThomsonLearningInc..