Classroom Management

Most educators would say this is not an easy task to teach a fourth and fifth grade combination class. However, I had to treat this class like any other class. Especially, when it comes to classroom management.

My objective is to make sure my students are active learners; love to learn; to take advantage of opportunities to learn by asking questions, and reflect on their own learning styles.  My classroom is set-up in groups, in a v- shape format. Thus, maneuvering around the tables is conducive for my students and I. I believe my class model includes several of the models discussed in week 1, especially the Hybrid model.

At the beginning of school, teacher expectations are addressed, through discussion, community building activities, lifestyle goals and discussing student’s expectations of the classroom, which are revisited every quarter as a check-in mechanism. The word respect is the theme of my classroom all year long. I let students know when you respect yourself, you understand about respecting others around you.

Under the umbrella of respect, we visit and discuss what cooperation, working as a team looks like and varies other life skill topics. These lifestyles posters are place on the walls. So, we can revisit and see if we are abiding by our classroom norms. (Bell & Newman, 2013) states, “… setting goals can create a process that ensures success for your students, as it helps focus their long-term vision and motivation.” That’s why I feel that you should set-up expectations at the beginning of the year.  Not setting up teacher’s expectation at the beginning will cause your classroom to come unglued. On the other hand, if problems do arise students will know the correct ways to approach a situation. For example, after lunch, students have been trained to resolve their own problems through conflict management and to use skills learned from Soul Shoppe, which is an organization that comes into the schools to help students handle their emotions. I feel…. My bubble is full when someone….  These types of phrases are used.

My agenda is placed on the whiteboard daily. Thus, this year I have generated agendas for my students and have handed it out to my class to read while they are in line before they enter the classroom environment. I have found that this helps students to get into a positive learning mind-set when they know what routines are expected of them and activities that will be introduced throughout the day. As I hand out the schedule, I start by greeting my students. Good Morning! I address my students by their first names.  

By greeting my students in the morning, it allows me to detect if one of my students is having a difficult morning and the issue at hand can be addressed immediately. As (Bell & Newman, 2013) states, “students come to our classroom filled to the brim with different life experiences, thoughts and ideas, dreams and desires. They also come to us with differing responses to motivational strategies.” I personally keep this in mind at all times.

My agenda incorporate times so students can stay on schedule. Newman (2013) stated, “While managing a classroom involves making many decisions and requires exceptional organizational skills, it is a skill that is developed over time (p. 86).”

Students walk into the room, put their backpacks on back of their chairs. Sit down, we go over the schedule; answering any questions they may have. Students’ pull out their journals and start with their quick-write activity. While the students are writing and reflecting on the question of the day, I am taking role and lunch count. Student check off what they have done on the schedule and I check to see if students are finish in the allotted amount of time or if they need more time to finish in the morning.

As the class continues, objectives are clearly communicated and outcomes. There is a lot of teacher modeling takes place before each topic, making connections to previous topics. Do now; which is basically a warm-up are no more than 5 minutes long and given before each topic.  Do now activities are mainly given before grammar and mathematics or other topics as needed before releasing responsibility to the student.

Built into each lesson is a CCD, which is cognitive content dictionary, a GLAD strategy used for classroom management and to introduce new words daily. These word (s) are use to transition from one activity to the next. Plus, other cultural relevant strategies are used for classroom management such as equality sticks, talking sticks, number heads, turn and talk etc. All this strategies keep students engaged and focused in my class and a sense of humor never hurts. Students have an opportunity to communicate with their peers throughout the day. They restate information, make observations, analyze and problem solve, make connections to world, to other text and to their own life throughout the classroom experience. Also, in my lesson plan is a lot of reading, such as, Individual reading, read aloud, reading for academic purpose etc.

In the article (Bronzo & Flynt, 2008) states “Teachers who plan content area instruction with evidence-based principles of reading engagement in mind will seek ways of making learning interesting and worthwhile (p. 172)”.

I always check-in with students to make sure they understand the concepts. Students actively participate in the class. They come up to the Elmo or the board and demonstrate their talents. They get very excited.  I become the student/coach and they become the instructor explaining every intimate detail of the problem, the sentence etc.

The hierarchy of need (Maslow & Newman, 2013) states that, “if you address the internal esteem needs students will attaining self-respect and achievement. ‘In return, students external esteem needs will be meet in staining a high social status, positive recognition, and attention.”  Again, these needs can be meet through the classroom experience by students to achieve their goals, recognizing successes throughout the school year… Then, students can turn their attention toward the highest level of need: self-actualization.”

This is why I check-in with my class once a week to see how they feel they are doing in the class both academically and socially. Newman (2013) stated, “Motivation can also increase if a student can improve his or her self beliefs of success in an activity” (p.1). I want to know how students are personally feeling about the classroom environment itself to make needed adjustments.  It also aids me in reflecting on my own teaching practices. Thus, technology is a large part of the classroom experience.

 In the article, “Advancing Digital Age Teaching” (2008), The National Education Teacher Standards states, it is important for teachers to use their knowledge of subject matter when it comes to teaching, learning, and technology in order to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments (p1).

The smart board is used frequently in my class. This technological mechanism allows me as a teacher to display interactive lessons. Students have the opportunity to come up and physically move items from one place to another. This technological tool promote students in solve problems using digital tools.

Students go to the computer lab twice a week to do research on current events and use word software to type their reports, which address item. Thus, students work on computer programs to get more practice in math and language arts. Some of these programs are IXL, Ten Marks and Learning Farm. This software programs give the students an opportunity to work on basic skills on the computer at their grade-level. These programs assess student’s needs, offers tutorials, generate homework for each student’s needs and assess individual strengths and area of concern.

The program allows me to both generate class reports or individual reports. I can monitor his or her growth from home as well from work. Thus, I can send e-mail to each student when necessary. Each week, the company sends a report to my e-mail to let me know how my students are doing in relations to common core standards.

School loop is another digital tool, which is used to display assignments, post notes and grades so parents can see. Each student has their own individual passwords assign to access their own grades. As a class we analyze test scores and set goals for improvement.

My role in the classroom is simple. I am there as a coach to guide them through instructions, making sure the classroom environment is continuously safe; model instructions, make sure students are following classroom norms and assessing their knowledge, and re-teaching when needed.

Students are expected to make wise choices, problem-solve, actively engage in lessons and respect themselves and everyone around them.  After all, (Newman, 2013) states “teachers help shape the characteristics and individuality that students embody and help them find meaning in the content they are studying.’ Thus, the full extent of our role as teachers, and the way we influence, engage, and motivate our students, is often indescribable (p.2)."

Students are our future. It is our jobs as a teacher to make sure students goals are continuously achieved.

Reference

Advancing Digital Age Teaching (2008) Retrieve from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-t-standards. International Society for Technology in Education (P1).

Newman, R.  (2013).  Teaching and learning in the 21st century: Connecting the dots. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Bronzo, W., G., Sutton, E., F., (2008). Motivating Students to Read in the Content

Classroom: Six Evidence-Based, (P172).

Brozo, W. & Flynt, E. S.  (2008).  Motivating students to read in the content classroom: Six evidence-based principles. The Reading Teacher, 62(2), 172-174.  Retrieved from the EBSCOhost database.

The Big Interview Part 1 Educational Philosophy

Introduction

There is a strong correlation between good parenting and teaching.  Both entail develop young minds in order for them to become productive, healthy and successful citizens in this world.  My personal philosophy of education was influence by the environment around me, and my intimate personal experiences.

Observing some of my peers working towards the limited career choices that have been traditionally associated with undereducated and low economic areas, I have found that my education has always equipped me to assess all my options, and in particular those of which were beyond the scope that were presented to me at times.  I visualized my role in the world and wanted to affect change in a significant way. What better way to do so than by influencing the minds of the youth, who are the future?  Also, I witnessed too many of my peers internalizing self-hatred that have been perpetuated by oppressive forces in society.  I am grateful to my parents for deflecting such positive influences for me to grow on, and now I have been a great impact on my own children, granddaughters, and student’s lives.

a.     Student Expectation

Teacher expectations are set up at the beginning of the school year and community building activities, like introduction games where students learn about other students in the classroom.

 Life style activities are introduced. Learning to have respect for self and others is the theme that is foster to help create a safe environment.  Routines are put in place, which provides students structure throughout the school year. Both life skill activities and routines are revisited each quarter.  My students can expect a positive mind set, consistency, dependable, availability, clear objective, as well as to be well informed of what is expected of them. My students can expect their lessons to be engaging and an environment where it is ok to ask questions and voice ideals.

b.   Parent Expectation

Parents can expect reliability and clear communications of their children test scores. Thus, parents will understand that the curriculum is aligned with the common core standards, and earning styles are addressed. Thus, it will be communicated to parents how students are socially adjusting in the classroom setting. These are some of the array of items I will share with the parents. In addition to the above, my knowledge of the curriculum and the student knowledge will be shown through test scores, personal and academic growth and how they explain the topics to their parents. I will always show professionalism in parent conference, and be assessable to parents needs.  My parent conferences are student centered. I have activities in place where centers are set up and the student becomes the teacher. Students take their parents around and communicate and show what they know about each subject matter. This will show I have a personal investment in their child’s future by being available, sustain a safe environment and giving their child clear expectations.

c.  My Personal Expectation as a teacher

I believe a balance approach to education is important for all students to assess the knowledge this wonderful institution offers.  Therefore, the California State Standards (Core Standards) with my own personal philosophy guides my classroom.

As an individual and an educator, I always reflect on myself and work toward continuous self-improvement.  I obtain knowledge by taking advantage of opportunities for continual learning. I attend professional development seminars in and out of the district, in-service workshops, workshops in the community, read articles on cutting edge research and have discussions about new techniques and strategies on social media with other educators in different parts of the country. I stay flexible an organized in my teaching practices.  I make sure that I am addressing all students’ needs, by giving ongoing assessments both formative and summative. I believe teachers should keep their students engaged in their studies and give them opportunities to communicate, observe, analyze and problem-solve in all subject matters and connect and apply these skills to real life situations.

d. What is the most important responsibility of being a teacher?

The most important job of a teacher is to keep students safe. If student do not feel safe, they cannot focus on learning. They are worried if they will be hurt in and outside of the classroom setting.  These thoughts distract a child from learning. Teachers are mandated reporters. Teachers are responsible for reporting any signs of neglect, physical or mental abuse. This is a part of keeping a child safe. When a child feels safe than you can make sure he or she is receiving a high quality education.

e. Values

Family is the central focus of my life.  Working together as a team and loving and supporting each other dreams, advising one another and learning from each other and respecting each other as individuals are the primacies of my family.  

Learning is continuous throughout my life. You never stop learning. You can learn from all living things. I am always looking to re-invent myself. I try to always look through different lenses to understand what someone else maybe experiencing. I stay humble in my approach when I do learn new things in this world.

Parenting is the best thing that every happen to me. As a parent, I am focus, informative, giving, motivated, encouraging and loving. I have instilled these values into my children. Thus, I have taught my children to take pride in them self and be confidence, in everything you do, but stay humble.

f.  Method of Teaching

My classroom culture is student-centered with some tradition variations. My strategies and techniques I used are current because I keep up-to-date on current research. I don’t believe that one method will be affective in a classroom.  I give students agenda every morning while they are in line to start their day off knowing what we will cover throughout the day. This agenda includes times each assignment should be completed. Students check off assignments, which make them accountable and it gives, me a swell as them a portfolio to know where they are individually when it comes to their learning. I believe in modeling the topic, guided practice, independent work, group work and presentations, expert groups, children using technology for reports and student centers.  Also, I believe it is important to make sure students communicate their thoughts with one another. Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) model. The GLAD model is used in the area of language acquisition and literacy. The strategies from this model promote English language acquisition, academic achievement, and cross-cultural skills.

Thus, this instructional model has clear practical strategies in promoting positive, effective interactions among students and between teachers and students. Glad strategies promote metacognitive use of high level, academic language and literacy. Plus, coupled with English Language Development (ELD) has proven to be effective, scaffolding is often used in my classroom with cultural relevance strategies as well. As a teacher, I should always give clear objectives and tell students what’s expected, and what they should learn at the end of each lesson.

g. Student Learn Best

Students learn best when they know their classroom environment is safe. Thus, they have eaten breakfast that morning. Many models should be employed in the classroom and multiple strategies should be used to address different learning styles.  Assessments should be given to understand students individual needs and these test should drive the classroom to inform the teacher of what needs to be retaught.  Students should be able to collaborate with their peers to communicated information that is learned. This information should be tied to real life situations through activities. Such as videos, current events, people from the profession etc.

What I want students to learn?

Education is important. That school doesn’t teach you everything. You have to build a foundation and read and experience other measures in society to understand the world around them.  Students need to understand that the skills they learn throughout their academic careers will allow them to become compete in the global market. I want to gain organization skills and variety of ways to deal with situations that they feel are not right. I want my students to know how to apply the knowledge they learn in my class with worldly applications and viewpoints.

I. What students should know and do as a result of being in my class?

Students will learn that education can be engaging and fun. What appears to be difficult is actually simpler than what they thought because with constant practice of a topic or concept, the work becomes much easier. Students will gain a variety of knowledge and understand how topics are connected and why they need to learn about these topics. Students will be able to make connections to the world around them.

j. How can your teaching facilitated student learning?

My teaching facilitates learning by making sure the students understand the curriculum in depth. Plus, by me making sure that I am mentally rehearsed before actually executing the lesson. Thus, reflecting and analyzing my lesson to make sure there is no information missing.  Modeling the lesson and using multiple strategies and allowing students to communicate and apply their knowledge to real life situations and assessing students’ knowledge, formally and informally will help students become independent thinkers. Being an independent thinker, students will be ready for the 21-century global competition.

k. How do you as a teacher create an engaging or enriching learning environment?

Creating an engaging and enriching learning environment consist of several things, creating a safe environment, a student center environment, consistency with routines and activities, room for communication, taking advantage of learning opportunities and re-assessing, connecting and revisiting topics.

l.  How do you engage with colleagues”?

I engage with my colleagues at grade-level meetings, at professional development seminars, cross grade level meetings and leadership meetings and other formats. During these discussions, we put the students first and our personal feeling aside. We look at students’ data, samples and analyze varies trends that we observe among our students as a whole. My colleagues and I discuss interventions, if we should reteach or switch lessons around in order for the lessons to be more effective. Plus, we teach mini lessons at our grade level meetings. This way we can pick up on different style of teaching, and take away strategies that we can apply to our own classrooms to make them more effective. I have a positive and professional relationship with my colleagues.

m. What type of continual learning do you engage in?

I am always taking professional development class. I take class related to common core, intervention, social, cultural relevancy classes, technology and host of other classes. I attend seminars in the summer that is provided by California Teacher Association (CTA). This organization gives a variety of workshops that deals with a vast range of topics.

In closing, I challenge everyone to continuously improve, to love your-self, and learn about the many facets of education. Everyone has the right to know that they matter, and that they are able to contribute to the betterment of society.