"He who dares to teach must never cease to learn." - John Cotton Dana
Managing a classroom effectively is very important and I feel it is instrumental in the students’ learning. If a classroom is mismanaged, it is highly unlikely that proactive learning will occur. It is essential to have a classroom that is friendly, welcoming, safe, and organized. Classroom management can be as unique as the teacher who is planning it. Good classroom management can be the reason why a group of students pay close attention and follow rules; if classroom management is not up to certain standards, on the other hand, there is a chance that the students will dislike going to school, feel unable to learn in their environment, or simply feel uncomfortable in the classroom. A good classroom management plan is something that every full-time, supply, and student teacher should have.
The first week or two of the school year could be the “make or break” weeks for teachers to establish trust and respect in the classroom. The teacher’s confidence in engaging the student must shine through. If a teacher is visibly nervous or negative, students will notice this, and it may possibly affect them for the rest of the year. In saying this, it is fine for the teacher to let the students know that he or she is nervous or simply having an “off” day; the students will likely feel a connection because of this; it makes the student realize teachers are human too.
In my opinion, the physical plan for a classroom is just as important as lesson plans and classroom routines. I envision my future classroom as bright and tidy with many posters relevant to the grade up on the walls. For example, a great elementary classroom layout would be one that has the alphabet posted, colours, numbers, shapes, and a word wall. “Subject stations” may also be helpful and something that I would consider depending on space: a math station where there will be manipulatives, worksheets, rulers, and pencils; a writing station where there will be a sheet with the alphabet, pencils, blank paper so the children can practice their printing or do a piece of writing of their own choice; a science centre, and a social studies station. Tidiness is very important, especially if there is a student who is visually impaired, or a child with autism who may get overwhelmed with clutter. Emitting a warm, welcoming energy through actions as well as the classroom layout is essential. Students of all ages need to feel safe in a classroom, so it is necessary for teachers to make connections with them from day one. Always having a warm smile on one’s face when the children come in the morning, speaking in an assertive but gentle tone, and simply having an air of confidence and a gentle demeanour is how a great teacher would perform. I truly hope that I can be this teacher in the future, and feel that I am making great strides in this area.
Regarding rules, I will not have a black and white “master copy” posted up in class. I do not believe that there should be a zero-tolerance policy because all students deserve a second chance, and the reasons why a student broke a rule must be taken into consideration. If a student yells at another student, maybe it is not best to take the student out of class or make him or her stay in for recess. Instead, I would want to find out the underlying reason he or she yelled; perhaps the student who got yelled at provoked the other to do so; perhaps he or she was bullying the student who yelled for a while before he or she decided to act. I do want to have a general list of rules to follow in the classroom, such as “be kind to students” and “do the best work you can do” but general is the key word here, and I believe there is always room for interpretation and variety. One school in which I completed my internship has "The Golden Rule" which I would like to instill in my future students: "Treat others with respect." Everything else will eventually fall into place if students understand and follow this rule.
Having an inclusive classroom is very important to me. I want all students - regardless of socioeconomic status, culture, gender, physical features, and exceptionalities – to feel welcome, safe, accepted, and happy in my classroom. I will teach my students about the cultures of the world and about personal differences in order for them to have the background knowledge and to be able to form a positive outlook on the differences inside the classroom. I will teach my children that acceptance is one of the more important personality traits to possess.
Reflecting on important aspects of the learning environment – such as transition time, physical classroom layout, demeanour of the teacher, and his or her relationship with the students is essential in order to have a classroom that is friendly, welcoming, safe, and organized.
"He who dares to teach must never cease to learn." - John Cotton Dana
Managing a classroom effectively is very important and I feel it is instrumental in the students’ learning. If a classroom is mismanaged, it is highly unlikely that proactive learning will occur. It is essential to have a classroom that is friendly, welcoming, safe, and organized. Classroom management can be as unique as the teacher who is planning it. Good classroom management can be the reason why a group of students pay close attention and follow rules; if classroom management is not up to certain standards, on the other hand, there is a chance that the students will dislike going to school, feel unable to learn in their environment, or simply feel uncomfortable in the classroom. A good classroom management plan is something that every full-time, supply, and student teacher should have.
The first week or two of the school year could be the “make or break” weeks for teachers to establish trust and respect in the classroom. The teacher’s confidence in engaging the student must shine through. If a teacher is visibly nervous or negative, students will notice this, and it may possibly affect them for the rest of the year. In saying this, it is fine for the teacher to let the students know that he or she is nervous or simply having an “off” day; the students will likely feel a connection because of this; it makes the student realize teachers are human too.
In my opinion, the physical plan for a classroom is just as important as lesson plans and classroom routines. I envision my future classroom as bright and tidy with many posters relevant to the grade up on the walls. For example, a great elementary classroom layout would be one that has the alphabet posted, colours, numbers, shapes, and a word wall. “Subject stations” may also be helpful and something that I would consider depending on space: a math station where there will be manipulatives, worksheets, rulers, and pencils; a writing station where there will be a sheet with the alphabet, pencils, blank paper so the children can practice their printing or do a piece of writing of their own choice; a science centre, and a social studies station. Tidiness is very important, especially if there is a student who is visually impaired, or a child with autism who may get overwhelmed with clutter. Emitting a warm, welcoming energy through actions as well as the classroom layout is essential. Students of all ages need to feel safe in a classroom, so it is necessary for teachers to make connections with them from day one. Always having a warm smile on one’s face when the children come in the morning, speaking in an assertive but gentle tone, and simply having an air of confidence and a gentle demeanour is how a great teacher would perform. I truly hope that I can be this teacher in the future, and feel that I am making great strides in this area.
Regarding rules, I will not have a black and white “master copy” posted up in class. I do not believe that there should be a zero-tolerance policy because all students deserve a second chance, and the reasons why a student broke a rule must be taken into consideration. If a student yells at another student, maybe it is not best to take the student out of class or make him or her stay in for recess. Instead, I would want to find out the underlying reason he or she yelled; perhaps the student who got yelled at provoked the other to do so; perhaps he or she was bullying the student who yelled for a while before he or she decided to act. I do want to have a general list of rules to follow in the classroom, such as “be kind to students” and “do the best work you can do” but general is the key word here, and I believe there is always room for interpretation and variety. One school in which I completed my internship has "The Golden Rule" which I would like to instill in my future students: "Treat others with respect." Everything else will eventually fall into place if students understand and follow this rule.
Having an inclusive classroom is very important to me. I want all students - regardless of socioeconomic status, culture, gender, physical features, and exceptionalities – to feel welcome, safe, accepted, and happy in my classroom. I will teach my students about the cultures of the world and about personal differences in order for them to have the background knowledge and to be able to form a positive outlook on the differences inside the classroom. I will teach my children that acceptance is one of the more important personality traits to possess.
Reflecting on important aspects of the learning environment – such as transition time, physical classroom layout, demeanour of the teacher, and his or her relationship with the students is essential in order to have a classroom that is friendly, welcoming, safe, and organized.
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