Classroom Management

     There are several factors that contribute to classroom management. In particular, organization is the key to a successful classroom. I believe that organization is highly important in any educational atmosphere. A classroom can quickly become chaotic if there is an absence of structure. I would like to organize my classroom in a similar manner that related to a classroom that I previous completed fieldwork in. This classroom contained organization and structure for almost every classroom activity. For example, the teacher followed a strict time limit, and consistently notified her students of the day's continuous schedule. For example, she made a large chart that listed the times of the day, and the activities that would be completed during that time. This way, students were fully aware of what subject area that would transition into. Also, this keeps the students on task, because they are fully aware of what work/activities need to be completed at that time. Furthermore, the teacher made a poster that listed all of the tasks that need to be completed at the end of the day. The end of the day poster reminded students of their obligations, and for the most part, prevented chaos from developing.

     In relation to classroom management, I think it's important to also incorporate a sense of responsibility within my classroom. Responsibility needs to be instilled in students because it will benefit them in the future. My previous fieldwork teacher used several strategies to incorporate responsibility into the classroom. In particular, she came up with a clever idea to assign classroom jobs to each student. The teacher used small, laminated shapes that were labeled with a task such as "paper passer" and "homework collector." The teacher wrote each of her student's names on each of the shapes, and everyday the students had a new job. I think it's important for students to have a sense of responsibility because it creates a community within the classroom.

     Finally, I think the most important idea that I have in relation to classroom management is to incorporate activities into the classroom that make it feel like a community. In EDU 414, the required text book, Child Development and Education, McDevitt and Ormrod discuss the idea having the classroom be a "community of learners." The text states, In one model, children form a community of learners, a classroom arrangement in which students help one another to achieve a common learning goal" (572). Treating the classroom similar to a community encourages participation, socializing, and comfort ability for the students. I want my students to connect to one another and be able to successfully work with one another in groups. Overall, I think that these three main aspects are most important in my future classroom.