Classroom Management Plan

Introduction
Through experience in a university classroom and with experience in two different
middle schools, I have developed ideas pertaining to my own classroom management plan. It is
important to arrive prepared and have an idea of how you want to run your classroom, interact
with your students and deal with behaviours that are inappropriate or disruptive to a class. This
document is doing just this, laying out some thoughts, ideas and concepts I would use in the
classroom. When developing these plans it is important to consider your physical environment,
as well as the emotional environment you want to have in your classroom. It is also important to
have some specific strategies listed that you could use to achieve the goals you want to reach in
your classroom.
Classroom Climate
I feel strongly that creating a welcoming classroom climate is important to the overall
structure of the classroom. As a teacher I strive to create a welcoming and respectful classroom
environment. In my own classroom I would include motivation posters, fun borders on bulletin
boards and have my desks in an orderly manner whether they be rows, pairs or groups. Arranging
desks strategically can also help if there are some behaviour issues in the class because it can
allow you to separate those who cant be together and bring together those who can and help
create a feeling of community. This would help my physical environment to reflect the positive,
inclusive and respectful environment I wish to achieve. I believe that respect is key to creating a
strong positive classroom environment. Respect for the teacher is important but I truly believe it
starts with teachers having respect for the students. By showing that you have respect for your
students opinions and ideas you foster a mutual feeling of respect, which is key to a positive
classroom climate. I think the best way to create a positive environment to lay out what you
expect to occur in the classroom and then model that for your students.
Rules and Procedures
Rules and procedures are incredibly important to the classroom. I really like what the book
Classroom Management that Works by Marzano (2003) has to say about rules and procedures in
the classroom:
The research supports the notion that designing and implementing rules and
procedures in class and even at home has a profound impact on student
behavior and on student learning. However, research also indicates that rules
and procedures should not simply be imposed on students. Rather, the proper
design of rules and procedures involves explanation and group input (p. 16).
Now there are some rules that are in place for student safety that cannot be negotiated or
removed because they are in place, usually by the school, to protect the students. I myself would
come in to the classroom with some basic rules and an idea about procedures for turning in work
and consequences for late work. I would then open the floor up to suggestions and ideas to tweak
or add to the already existing rules and procedures. I think this method works well because
students are having a say in what happens in their classroom and what they are expected to do. If
they have input on the rules and procedures they are more likely to remember them and it helps
the teacher when someone does not follow the procedures to use the prescribed discipline. I did

this with a Grade 6 class, we developed rules specifically for their literature circles. This allowed
students to know the rules and expectations and it held them accountable to them. This section
of my plan would be very much student generated and would help to tie back to the feeling of a
positive class climate and involvement in their learning process.
Creating Rapport with Students
Once again Marzano (2003) makes a great point about how having a good rapport with
your students is a corner stone required in classroom management, If a teacher has a good
relationship with students, then students more readily accept the rules and procedures and the
disciplinary actions that follow their violations (p.41). Building rapport involves some things as
simple as learning the names of your students. It is far more effective in a class to be able to use
a students name to call on them, then a generic time like you or grey shirt. This shows the
students you care enough about them to learn their names and that you value the as people. Then
as you get into the year using ice breaker excises allows you to learn about your students and
gain insight into their lives and make connection that way. I believe the best ways to build
rapport with students is to learn their names, and learn about them so you can show a genuine
interest in their lives and work. It sounds like simple things and ideas but they can make a high
impact on your students. I saw this with a student who had some behavioural issues, building a
rapport with him by learning his name, finding out what he was interested in and sharing
something about myself helped when I had to use discipline and consequences with him.
Dealing with Misbehaviour in the Classroom
I have learned a lot in my classroom management class about this and also from my cooperating teacher. During a case study in classroom management we discussed stopping a
situation between students or a behavior from one student but not addressing right then and
disrupting class time. If you can stop the behaviour and deal with it at a later time with the
student (s) involved it can save class time, and possible embarrassment for the students involved.
It also gives them a chance to cool down before addressing the issue. This is a methods I really
like and feel it is one of the best ones to put into practice. My co-operating teacher told me she
used a similar method. If a student is disruptive she removes them from the class to the hallway
to minimize the distraction. She will finish whatever it was before the disruption (she also leaves
her door open, so she can monitor the hallway) and once she is done that and the students are on
to the task they have been assigned she will go and address the student. This method seems
effective to me as well because it removes the distraction and helps the student to have a cool
down period before addressing the behaviour.
I realize these methods will not work for every situation but I feel they can be applied to
many different situations. I do not feel that detention is effective unless it is structured in way
that befits the student. An example would be if the student has to come in to detention at lunch
because they didnt finish an assignment, they are told they need to be in detention until they
finish their assignment and can leave when it is done. This was modeled in the middle school I
was in and most of the students did not resent it and felt that they had done something to deserve
that action. It is important how you structure and use your discipline methods to be effective.
Right now, this is where I stand with my methods to deal with students who misbehave.
Conclusion

This is just a beginning point to my classroom management plan. I understand that it will
change as I get more experience and figure out what works for me as a teacher and my class.
Flexibility in classroom management plans are just as important as flexibility in the lesson plans.
I know this is a living breathing plan and I will continue to add to it and change it as I continue in
my career and have many classes to learn from.