Author: cballek

I loaded my classroom management plan as a PDF so you guys can view the hole thing. I’m making a few last edits but here it is.

I want my classroom to be not only a productive learning environment but also a place that students have fun doing science. A productive learning environment takes a number of elements working together to create. These elements range from time management to good planning and from  respect to good behavior, but all of them are tied to increasing student engagement. My philosophy is to balance these elements using classroom management techniques.

When it comes to a productive learning environment I feel that classroom management is paramount. The number one thing that classroom management would provide to a productive classroom is increasing student engagement through carefully planned lessons. This includes the classroom management  ideas of time management, good transitions and well structured activities. Its important to use these elements intertwined into a good lesson plan to increase student engagement. Another thing that good classroom management can do for your classroom is increase student care, behavior and attitude. A classroom that is a safe and positive environment where students know they are safe and cared for is in itself a productive learning environment. Using classroom management to build a positive atmosphere in the classroom with good student teacher relationships is the important piece to this.

1. Management Strategies
   1. Beginning of class
      1. I like the use of Bellwork at the beginning of class to get the students started on things. Its usually book-work, practice quizzes or vocabulary that gets the students going on classroom work. I like this  strategy because I have seen students come in like a hurricane of energy, sit down to start Bellwork and the energy dropped right down making them  a lot more manageable.
   2. Midway through class
      1. One thing I have observed my mentor doing is breaking up the class by  getting the students moving through  having handouts in a location that they have to get up from their chairs to grab them during class.
   3. Closing Class
      1. I like the use of short fun videos or videos to recap the concepts  in the lesson as a way to end class. This is a great way to re-engage students at the end of the lesson when they want to leave.
2. Transition Strategies
   1. One transition I have seen is having the students get up and grab supplies while moving to the next project or assignment. weather that is art supplies of handouts. Its a great way to break up class as well as giving you time to regroup or prepare.
   2. Another transition strategy I  have observed is one used to go into the lab or transition to projects. The teacher gave the students a list of things to do or gather before they could move on to the lab or project, for example: “go grab goggle, an apron and gloves and when everyone is ready I’ll explain the lab”.
   3. the next transition strategy I have seen is the use of videos, explanations or demos to transition it the next concept. Videos, explanations  or demos that link the previous concepts to the new direction the concepts are going are the best for this strategy.
3. My Classroom Strategy
   1. I couldn’t decide so I choose to list two, but wanted to list  more. The two strategies that I have observed in the classroom that I would use in my class is both the Bellwork at the beginning of class and the  strategy of breaking up the class by having the students get up to grab assignments or supplies.

The article reminded me of my placed based education class. In that class we talked a lot about Alaska native education and how it works and should be working.One issue we covered is the difference in the western ways of knowing  and the native way of knowing. Cultures are different in many ways including ways of knowing.

One of our guest speakers in that class brought up some interesting ways to teach Alaska Natives while still maintaining the old ways of knowing  in the native culture. The article talks a lot about placed based learning and how this is an increasing movement looking  forward to different ways to improve Alaska native learning. This makes sense because as a teacher i’m trying to teach my students so why wouldn’t I  like to find the way that best educates them in that subject. I think this is really the only option that seems to work in this setting and that we should move forward in that direction.

I agree with the article that we need to get over this notion that the western way of knowing  is the only way of knowing  and need to embrace other cultures ways of knowing  in order to reach and educate the masses.