Alondra Valeria Parada González

Sabrina Orozco Díaz

Research Statement

Classroom management skills and strategies are vital as teacher’s characteristics, not

only for higher but also for preschool education. As teachers it is important to be able to

manage any situation that can be presented at the classroom. For example, misbehavior, can

occur at any level of teaching, that’s why it is important for teachers to have a variety of

classroom management strategies and activities that permits teachers to take control of the

class.

Classroom management is important and necessary for every teacher, specially for

those new educators that have no experience on working with preschoolers that are usually

misbehaving because they are getting used to school, they are learning to follow instructions,

sharing their time with others kids, and many other factors. An English program school,

English4FUN faces some of this misbehavior problems mentioned before.

Importance of the Study

It has been observed that in English4FUN were these misbehavior problems occurs,

teachers have been using different kind of activities to control the group. But they are not

enough. How can teachers who lack knowledge on classroom management can handle this

situation presented at their classroom?

Therefore, it is important to create a handbook with classroom management strategies

with the purpose of helping English4FUN teachers, they can attend and feel free of searching

for the most suitable strategy depending on the necessity of their class.
Contextual Framework

The case study will take place in an English school, “English4FUN”, that offers a program

for preschoolers to learn the English language developing the four skills and using their

abilities. English4FUN is located in Tapachula, which is a city in the far southwest of the state

of Chiapas in Mexico, near the Guatemalan border and the Pacific Ocean, this English school

was born on 2015 and it came from the idea of two teachers interested on teaching the English

language to preschoolers.

One of this teachers is in charge of the program; it is formed of an eleven teacher based

structure which oversee approx. a hundred students in the different ages (3 to 6 years old).

The program is divided into six levels that counts with a course book named Learn, Play and

Grow, based on the communicative approach for ESL students.

Sample

There are 100 students approx. studying at English4FUN taking classes every Saturday

in different levels: first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. Two groups of this English school

will be observed.

Research Questions

 What can teachers do in order to create a good classroom environment?

 What strategies are suitable for classroom management in preschool level?

 What causes students misbehave at the classroom?

The objective of this research is to create a handbook with different and useful classroom

management strategies that can be helpful for teacher from English4FUN to have better

results on controlling their classroom.

Specific Objectives

 To create a better classroom environment for a community of learners.

 To search for different strategies for classroom management focused on pupils age.

 To implement strategies to facilitate teachers’ classroom management.

Preschool education is education that focuses on educating children from the ages of

infancy until six years old. The system of preschool education varies widely, with different

approaches, theories, and practices within different school jurisdictions. The term preschool

education includes such programs as nursery school, day care, or kindergarten, which are

occasionally used interchangeably. While pedagogies differ, there is the general agreement

that preschool is responsible for providing education before the commencement of statutory

education.

1.1 How do preschoolers learn?

At these stage children need Opportunities and props for dramatic play that help them

to learn. Hands-on opportunities for repetitive activities. Opportunity to talk and to be heard;

verbal interaction with children and adults. Chance to experiment with roles and social skills

through dramatic play; as Piaget mentions on his researches children learn by playing; a good

way to put in practice this point mentioned before is by repetitive play, Opportunity to be

physically active; indoor/outdoor space to run, jump, kick, throw balls, ride tricycles; climb. Now

days students enjoy learning by using the technology as they feel they are updated with the

new features. at this stage of their life students like to work by themselves and prefer working

in groups just for a certain time or non if possible.

1.2 Preschoolers characteristics

There are certain characteristics that are included in a preschooler such as,

Increasingly independent; still egocentric. Cooperative; working on conflict resolution

problems. Highly verbal; good vocabulary; application of linguistic rules (often with incorrect

results). Quite well coordinated, can balance on one foot, stand on toes, learns to hop and skip
later in this period. Can play with others; negotiate roles-like to help. Inquisitive at a

scientific/philosophic level; trying to find reasons and meaning; forming concepts based on

their perceptions. Use symbols expertly at a concrete level: thins that "stand for" other things.

Has formed identity as a person, member of family and extended family. Enjoy routines and

the power that comes from knowing the predictable, hate transitions and the loss of power

when adults control the pace of change.

1.3 Learning styles in preschool

As there exists teaching styles we also have learning styles. Which is important to

know as all of our students differ from one aspect to another.

There are currently seven “Learning Styles“:

Visual (spatial): You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding. Aural (auditory-

musical): You prefer using sound and music. Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using words, both

in speech and writing. Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using your body, hands and sense of

touch. Logical (mathematical): You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems. Social

(interpersonal): You prefer to learn in groups or with other people. Solitary (intrapersonal): You

prefer to work alone and use self-study. Your student will most likely not possess one style

exclusively but you may be able to see patterns in their learning preferences. For example, a

student who is visual may also be a very social and verbal learner and prefers to learn

especially difficult topics using their primary skills.

Is important to consider the different learning styles that can be shown in our classrooms as

this is helpful to maximize our student’s potential.

Classroom management is one of the most feared parts of teaching for new teachers.

For the students, lack of effective classroom management can mean that learning is reduced

in the classroom.

Classroom management is the term used by educators to describe methods of preventing

misbehavior and to deal with it if is exposed to. In another way it could be said that are the set

of techniques teacher used in order to maintain control in the classroom.

1.5 Classroom management theories.

There are several classroom management theories. Time and again, teachers across

the world have leveraged these theories to devise their classroom management plans.

*Behavior: One of the major classroom management theories, behaviorism is based on the

concept ‘practice’. This theory supports operant conditioning using which, a teacher can

achieve expected behavioral outcomes. The behaviorist theory of B.F. Skinner advocates

these practices, referring to them as ‘Behavioral Intervention Plans.’ It promotes the idea of

rewarding students in exchange for expected behavioral outcomes. However, this theory can

be used both for positive and negative reinforcements. While academic awards represent a

type of positive reinforcement, teachers using rules and guidelines with consequences are

ultimately involved in the practice of negative reinforcement. Behavior analysis: Under choice

theory suggested by Glasser (also called control theory), it is believed that every student

should learn how to control his/her own behavior. In this process, teachers guide students by

analyzing their behaviors. This theory encourages students to know all motivational factors

behind their behaviors, which will ultimately enable them to reflect on their behaviors and make

choices on their own.

popular than other theories. Kohn has lent his voice for student-directed learning. His idea of

democratic classrooms is in line with Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s social learning theories. As per

the theory, students should be given control as well as responsibility for their learning, while

teachers will only act as facilitators.

*Discipline: The theory, proposed by Lee Canter, suggests that students’ positive behaviors

should be recognized and encouraged. As per this theory, teachers should inform students

about expectations they have as well as rules they have set. Once they inform students, they

will closely monitor who follow these guidelines. According to this theory, teachers should be

entrusted with the right to teach without any intervention, while students should learn without

any interruption.

Although all classroom management theories have some pros and cons, they all shed

light on some good-to-follow classroom management practices, which can make the learning

environment more positive and the teaching-learning process more rewarding. Teachers

can follow any of these practices or even combine some practices in order to create a holistic

learning environment in the classroom, thereby ensuring students’ academic development.