Classroom Management Plan:
The methods I use in my classrooms to ensure the my students can be the most efficient in a warm and safe environment are organized with in a framework divided into four categories. These include expectations, environment, daily routine and behavior management.
As a teacher I have certain expectations of the students when they are in the classroom. These expectations are as follows.
Respect: The student is the highest priority in the classroom. As such, students have a basic right to learn with out being disrupted by others. Therefore, students are expected to be respectful to the teacher and to other students. They are also expected to show respect for the property of others, the classroom and themselves. Students are reminded to: respect others, yourself and property.
Be prepared and productive: My second expectation is for students to come to class prepared so that they can work to their highest potential.
Be Safe: There are many things in the art room that can cause injury or could make you sick (e.g. different paints, exacto knives). Because of this, the last, but equally important expectation is that students practice safety with the materials and the equipment in the art room at all times.
Interesting and relevant Lessons: In addition to expectations of students, I place the expectation on myself as a teacher to always create lessons and provide learning materials which are stimulating, meet the student’s needs and push the students to be the best that they can be. I expect my lessons and teaching methods to be varied and will strive to provide lessons that are relevant to the students.
Classroom Environment As a teacher, I will make sure that the classroom is uncluttered and clean to provide a space that is pleasant and easy to work in. I will decorate the room with inspiring images along with visual aides. Work space should be arranged so students can work cooperatively, yet allow for a free traffic flow and visibility for students when I am demonstrating or presenting information. I will also ask that in general, noise be kept at a minimum, as I have discovered that even though it is nice for students to be allowed to socialize, they are not as productive as they could be when they work quietly. The classroom is set up so that their are six tables of students. Each table has a different color associated with it. Each seat at the table is numbered. Whoever is seated at a specified number is the table manager. They are responsible for passing out supplies along with keeping the peace at his/her table.
Daily Routine: The students in my classrooms are initially trained into a routine so that they know what to expect. The first thing we do each day is use a silly voice and say each of the six rules out load. The six expectations are as follows:
1. Be Kind.
2. Listen when the teacher is talking.
3. Sit unless told otherwise.
4. Start silently, then work quietly.
5. Follow directions quickly.
6. Clean up after yourself.
Also included in this routine will be a daily schedule posted so that students can look at in and know immediately what we will be covering that day. This is followed by going over what we did last time so that everyone can get get reacquainted with the material before anything new is introduced. This is followed my a demonstration of the project and finally studio time. During studio time, students are asked to work silently for the first five minutes so that they can focus on their work before they are allowed to quietly talk with their neighbors. During the this time, and for the rest of class students listen to relaxing music. Students will wait for my instructions before they begin a project. They will be expected to clean up after themselves as well as help their classmates with cleanup if they finish early. They will also be responsible for putting away their assignments in their proper storage areas and will be excused only after the art room is cleaned up and everything is in its proper place. During clean-up time, a jazz song is played in which they must be returned to their seat and done cleaning up their materials along with getting the materials out for the next class before it is over.
Class Rewards: Classes can earn up to four points each class. Once a class has reached 15 points, they receive either an art free choice day or treat. The four points that each class can earn are as follows:
1. Come in quietly and kindly listen to the day's instructions.
2. Start silently, then work quietly.
3. For the remainder of class, students work peacefully with each other.
4. Everyones eyes are on the teacher while clean-up instructions are given. Supplies are cleaned up properly and everyone is back in his/her seat before the song is over. Everyone lines up silently when table is classed.
Individual Behavior: Misbehavior is disruptive to learning and teaching. It will be dealt with consistently with consequences that will be reviewed on the first day of class. Sometimes a district has a school wide discipline policy. In the event that there is not a school wide policy in place, my policy will generally be:
1st offense: verbal warning as well as oral statement of the rule that is being ignored.
2nd offense: Student who is misbehaving will have their name written on the board.
3rd offense: Student may be moved to a ‘time out’ area of the room as well as given a worksheet to be completed by the end of the period.
4th offense: Student will be sent to the principal’s office and/or a phone call will be made to the student’s parents.
Good Behavior will also be recognized in my classroom. When students are behaving positively and being productive, I will recognize them, verbally pointing out to the class that I am happy with how those particular students are acting. When the entire class is behaving positively, I would like to have a ‘point’ system in place where the class would accumulate points towards an end prize, such as a free art period, or an art party.
In general, I would like my classroom to be a welcoming, safe and happy environment for all students to be able to participate in. This, however does not mean that students should feel that art class is a free for all, goof off period, as I have witnessed in some of my observations. Therefore, I will make all of my above procedures clear from the first day of class and be firm and consistent when it comes to maintaining the environment I feel is most conducive to learning and teaching art.