Author: alhouse2

Here’s the link to my plan if your interested:  file:///C:/Users/ahouse/Downloads/Comprehensive%20Classroom%20Management%20Plan.pdf

Overall, I have enjoyed classroom management class, research, and getting hands-on experience dealing with classroom management issues.  Every class has a different dynamic based on the students.  I find it interesting to see classroom management from the teacher perspective.  I appreciate any opportunities to learn how best to deal with differing situations.  Only time and experience will improve our comfort level in handling these situations.  I love being in the classroom.

Our childhood goes by in a flash.  Experiences in elementary and secondary school are such a small part of who you will become.  Being cool early does not determine your outcome in life.  The study that we read followed only 184 people. A person’s life is a mixture of all kinds of experiences: family life, school life, relationships, job requirements, etc.  Choices in life will determine your outcomes.  How you handle those choices will also determine your path.  The people that you let into your life can impact your experiences.  I really don’t like how students in schools are labeled in any sort of groups.  As teachers we should encourage individuality.  Everyone has something cool about them.  It is not until you grow up and are confident in yourself that you actually realize this though.  As a teenager, I never thought the kids that were breaking the law were cool.  I thought the kids that had similar interests as me were cool.  Looking back at my graduating class, there is a mixture of success.  Who determines exactly what success looks like anyway?  There are those that have never left home, but are content.  There are a few that are in prison, but that is related to life choice not coolness in school issues.  There are several that have passed on from accidents or health issues.  I think we should all just concentrate on living every day to the fullest.  Positivity is contagious.

I chose to observe a fellow colleague at Tanana Middle School that teaches 8th grade math and science.  The classroom environment was very well organized and engaging. To open the lesson a warm-up exercise was utilized.  This was beneficial because it focused student attention on the task, reviewed critical information from the previous lesson, and gave an opportunity for students to get clarification or help on the previous concept covered.  During the lesson, the instructor assigned students in groups and gave them a particular role (i.e. reporter, recorder, task manager).   I liked this technique because everyone knew what was expected from them prior to being asked a question.  And, finally a few minutes at the end the lesson was utilized for summary and follow-on assignment expectations.  The instructor utilized their notebooks reminding them to ensure they wrote down key concepts as well as any follow-on requirements.  The entire class period was utilized, and students were well behaved.  The instructor transitioned from warm-up, instruction, group work, and closure seamlessly.  She utilized a comic strip visual to get students engaged prior to the warm-up, and she divided students into groups with assigned problem sets.  Finally, she summarized concepts, gave time for questions, and proceeded with follow-on assignment instructions.  I appreciated her use of a spinner to determine who she was going to call on to complete certain tasks.  I will use this technique as it randomly selects students; this is nice because it avoids the teacher calling on the same students.

Relationships among teachers and students are important in the overall classroom dynamic and management.   When there is an atmosphere of positivity and caring, students strive to contribute and show an invested interest within the classroom.   Students want to do well for a teacher that they admire and respect.   Positive teachers foster a positive learning environment.    A teacher is responsible for teaching and mentoring students as well as providing opportunities for these students to feel success and to gain understanding.   Interactions within this environment are long remembered as students are determining who they are and how they fit into the larger group.  If a student has a bad school experience, then this will carry over in their behavior and will impact how this student feels and acts toward others.   Not everyone has a great day all the time, but fostering an environment of connection, caring, and discipline will have a positive impact and create an effective teacher-student relationship that encourages mutual respect and facilitates teaching and learning in a well-managed setting.

Three useful resources:

1.   Video:  https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/teacher-student-relationship

This video happens to be on a “Teaching Channel Website” that has video, question and answer blogs, and links to other relevant information.  I particularly like how this teacher is passionate about his job, his classroom, his content, reaching his students.  He makes a great point about bad behavior in the classroom – when he observes this negative behavior he looks at himself to find a different way to change the environment.  He used his own experience as a student as an example – he would personally act out when he was bored or not challenged.  He does not focus on the negative, but about how he can change the situation and redirect  If there is negative behavior, he believes he is doing something wrong.  He also concentrates on the good in a student and when a student realizes that you care – the negative behavior disappears.  This video and link is useful to obtain relevant information with regard to teaching practices.  Professional teachers give real classroom experiences and advice.

2.  Larry Ferlazzo’s blog  https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2011/03/08/the-best-resources-on-the-importance-of-building-positive-relationships-with-students/  gives a wealth of resources with regard to teacher-student relationships as well as other topics.  His website and blog provides a venue for connection to the current literature on the subject and also provides an environment where one is able to participate by asking questions or making comments.  The information found here is relevant and current.  It is important for aspiring teachers to constantly look for ways to continue to professionally develop.  Staying connected to other professionals within the teaching career field provides a great opportunity to consider ideas and continue the discussion on best practices.

3.  The American Psychological Association website  https://www.apa.org/education/k12/relationships.aspx  is also a valuable resource.  This website has information with regard to student-teacher relationships, but also has many tabs that are linked to education and psychology.  Psychological science is the study of mind and behavior and is directly related to the interactions that occur in the classroom daily.  Having an understanding of what/why a person behaves a certain way can only shed light on how to deal with this diversity in the classroom.

Sad article.  Suicide is a problem in our society.  I don’t even know where to begin this blog.  Our society places pressure on being the best at everything…the smartest…the skinniest…etc.  Social media has changed how people are viewed….as most people post the positive highlights that they want to share.  Also, social media plays a big part in bullying, etc.  How do we as educators and parents let our children know that we love them for who they are?  and that nothing matters except them…grades can change, expectations can change —death is permanent.  There is always tomorrow, a fresh start…but how do you reach that person that is deeply depressed?  It is easy to say that we need to be observant and work to help those that feel over pressured and stressed – and get them the professional help that they need, but often signs go unnoticed.  How do we show that we care? and that we really mean it?….

I don’t know how I feel about the hover parent comments either.  Is it wrong to want your children to have opportunity and to help them along?  Being actively involved in parenting is important.  Parents only want the best for their children.  How best can parents balance expectations with letting kids learn some stuff the hard way?