Running head: CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN 1

Cecilia Rodriguez Gonzalez

Classroom Management Plan

California State University of Dominguez Hills

Classroom Management Plan

As I complete my fieldwork hours at Ambler Elementary, I have realized how important

it is to have a well establish classroom management plan. After observing and working in Mrs.

Tinson’s second and third-grade classroom with a total of twenty-three students, I have noticed

that teachers need to be able to engage the curriculum efficiently with all students as well as

meet their own individualized needs. With a total of twenty-three students in the classroom and

trying to meet each and every one of their needs, Mrs. Tinson also needs to be able to

accommodate to the students who are classified as gifted, a struggling reader, students who have

individualized education plans (IEP) and those who are at different academic levels.

As a future educator, I believe that classroom management is the key to having a safe learning

environment for all students. Students need to be able to feel safe and welcome in a classroom to

be able to allow learning to take place. My plan needs to be inclusive of all students no matter

their needs or abilities. My main priority is to be able to provide the environment in which all

students can learn by implementing good classroom management. Once that has been

establishing, we can let the learning begin. Students “A” is an English learner whose native

language is Spanish. Although student “A” is a smart individual, she often struggles when

expressing herself on paper. Student “M” is a gifted child who currently has an IEP, he often

falls asleep in class and does not show much interest in current classroom activities. He is a very

bright student who tends to think outside the box. Student “H” is below reading level and is often

disruptive in the classroom. He seems to be more focus on being the center of attention in class

even if it means negatively.

As we go more into detail of placement on the classroom management spectrum I have

concluded that I fall in the reward-and-routine focus. I like to have balance in my classroom
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where no one is dominating anyone or feels like they are not taken into consideration. My main

focus in the class will be on the positives. I believe that more often students are punished or

notice when they do something wrong. Instead, I will focus on what they are doing right and

acknowledge their good qualities to build up their confidence. Laura Pinto (2013) informs us in

From Discipline to Culturally Responsive Engagement that, “all students desire and need social

recognition. When that need is not fulfilled, they display various misbehaving” (Pinto, 44). I

strongly believe that students seek attention and will do what is necessary to get it. If we focus

on the positive discipline, then the students will avoid misbehaving. In this position routines, also

rely on this classroom management spectrum. Routines are when a teacher has set a social

pattern within her classroom that is set to reduce misunderstanding of what is expected of the

students. I believe routines allow for the classrooms to have fewer disruptions and confusion

within the students. When a student automatically knows what to do it allows them to spend

more time in focusing on their learning. When teachers have established these routines within

their classrooms, they seem to have plan lessons to flow more smoothly and helps maintain the

momentum (Pinto, 45).

Having the opportunity to be able to observe in a community that is well diverse with

students of different cultures, languages, and funds of knowledge has made me realize that I need

to improve my cultural responsiveness approach. I have to say that I feel much confident about

the Latino community and will be able to engage my students in incorporating their culture in

parallel with helping them become successful students. When it comes to other ethnicities, I may

not be as confident or knowledgeable of their culture. As an educator, I have to make sure I

expose myself to all of the cultures presented in my classroom either by reading and researching

on it or by simply communicating with my students and their parents. I am aware that this will
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not be easy and that first I have to gain my students and parents trust for them teach me about

their culture. As I learn about my student's cultures, I need to be careful on what I choose to

apply in the classroom. “What may seem obvious and “normal” in one culture may be

completely unfamiliar or uncomfortable in another” (Pinto, 16). My main goal of learning about

my student’s culture is to make sure I include all and to not offend anyone while doing so. I

would have to find a commonality within all students to help them understand that we are not

much different when it comes to wanting to be successful in school.

As an individual one has different perspectives on what is the best effective way to teach

your students. I am aware that my own believes or ideas might not be ideal for all of my students

and that I have to be willing to make adjustments for my classroom as a group or individuals. To

be able to implement my ideal classroom management plan in need to take in consideration my

students own funds of knowledge. For example, base on “Culture in the home” worksheet that

Mrs. Tinson provided with information on three of her students. I can see and learn why Mrs.

Tinson does not only read her books more than once to her classroom but also shows them a

video clip of the book being read and animated to them. Based on the information gathered, I

know that both her IEP student and gifted students use technology as a form of entertainment and

her struggling reader is more of hands on since he okays with toys for entertainment.

As I have my students walk into the classroom, I will greet them with a smile and greet

any parents or guardians are around. By doing this every morning, I hope to allow both my

students and the parents to feel like they can come to me if anything is needed. My future

classroom it will be clean and organized with vibrant colors on the wall that will display students

work as well as important information related to what is being taught in the classroom. I will

label important trays, cups, and areas in which will make it easier for the students to navigate.
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For example, I will have a tray for where students are expected to turn in their homework, a tray

for line paper, and a tray for complete assignments. I will have the student’s tables arrange for an

even number of students in each table, preferably facing each other. This will allow the students

to easily pair share when needed. By having students be able to face their classmates, they can

have rich discussions and learn from each other. Within the classroom, there will be a designated

area for students to be able to lounge and read. Will have basic supplies station in a section of the

room where it is accessible to all students when needed. In the classroom, I will have our

classroom rules display for the students and visitors to see and follow. Our rules will be created

the first day of school as a community where everyone would have had a saying in. I want for the

students to feel included in our classroom decisions that way there is no confusion or

misunderstanding. I feel that when students are included in creating the classroom rules, they feel

more connected and take ownership when being addressed to one. Our classroom schedule will

be displayed in front of the classroom where is visible to all students. This will help students

know what is next and help them manage their time. My desk will be located in the back corner

of the classroom where I am not giving anyone my back. I want for my classroom to represent

my students and for them to be proud of it.

Strategies that I will implement in my classroom and lesson plans will be guided-choice

models. My goal is to include choices and alternatives for students to take responsibility for their

actions and work. All students are different, and for that reason, we need to provide guided-

choice models that will give the students creative ability to come up with a solution to the

problem or method to be able to complete the assignment to the best of their ability (Pinto, 86).

The verbal feedback strategy is one that will be beneficial to both the student and teacher. It will

help the teacher to focus on the positivity and recognize those students who are on task. By
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saying the praise in a verbal way other students will hear it and would want to be praised as well.

This means that students will do what is needed to get your attention and to be praise (Pinto, 93).

When a teacher is calm and stable, the students are calm and stable. More often students reflect

their teacher's attitude within themselves. Another strategy I would like to implement in my

classroom will be the saving up time. This strategy helps students to be more responsible for

themselves and the classroom as a whole. It allows them to have a sense of control and

encourages students to work together to correct each other when doing something incorrectly

(Pinto, 117). I like this strategy because it can be used with any grade level and throughout the

school year. With all strategies as a teacher consistency is a key, no strategy will work if the

teacher does not follow through or isn’t consistent. Students seek your approval and attention

and will do what is needed to receive it. Within every strategy, it may have to be modified to

meet each and of my student’s needs. I have to stay alert when my EL, IEP and struggling reader

needs classroom assignments and homework to be modified to their level. I want them to stay

engage and continue their academic level to grow.

To provide fairness and equity, I will use popsicle sticks to call on students, talking chips

when students are in groups for all students to participate. Another method will be dice; one dice

will represent the table and the other the student chosen. Next will be the Month and day of birth;

I will use popsicle sticks one set label numbers 1-12 for the months of the year and another set

label numbers 1-31, which will be the day. This will provide fairness and equity since I will have

no control over who is chosen.

As a teacher, I need to not only keep up with my students but also with their parents. I

need to keep a close and good relationship with them since they are my resource to helping my

students grow. I will have an open-door policy that will allow the parents to come in and speak
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to me about their concerns or successes. I will send home positive notes once a week in which I

will write down one or two sentences on something good their child did during the week. By

doing this we will have positivity in both the household and at school. An unbreakable chain that

will become part of the norm for all. I will also create a monthly classroom newsletter that will

include highlights of our classroom as well any information that might be helpful for the family,

community events, and important dates. Having this newsletter will allow those parents who

work long hours and at times feel like they are missing out in their children education feel

included. The newsletter will be one double-sided page filled with important information once a

month. I will be more than happy to receive parent volunteers to help put together homework

packets or other paperwork. A list will be provided in which parents can sign up to volunteer

from home. In my student’s homework, I will include a section in which parents can write down

any comments/suggestions/concerns. This can be a form of teacher-parent communication. I

want for my student’s parents to be involve as much as possible with the school and within the

classroom. Another method in which I can keep in contact with the parents is by classroom-

messenger. Classroom messenger is an application that can be download in both android or apple

electronic device. This application allows for teacher and parents to communicate in a form of a

text/email. The text/email will only be seen by the sender and the recipient. Pictures can be send

through this application as well. Is a very simple application that is easy to navigate. In the

beginning of the school year I will have a “Welcome” event in which I will give parents a guided

tour of our classroom and inform them of the many ways they can help and can communicate

with me when needed.

Instead of focusing on the negatives I want to focus on the good behavior and attitudes of

my classroom. I strongly believe that I will be able to accomplish that by setting the strategies
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that will make an environment that will involve all students. The most important part of

classroom management is creating an environment where students are encouraged and can build

a good relationship their classmates. To encourage them to succeed by being positive and setting

high expectations for each. By creating a safe, welcoming, and engaging curriculum, it will limit

the disruptive behavior problems in the classroom. By having strong parent involvement, it will

allow me as teachers learn about their culture and funds of knowledge of the students and their

families. As a future educator, I realized that one strategy or method might not work for all

teachers or students. I will have more than one plan for the same situation with changes made to

meet the student needs. A strategy needs to be implemented for some weeks since it takes time to

get adjusted to. One needs to be consistent and follow through otherwise; you lose credibility. In

general, I want to provide a positive learning environment for my students. I want them to have a

good learning experience when in my classroom and be able to recall to it when they get older.
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References

Pinto, Laura. E. (2013). From Discipline to Culturally Responsive Engagement. Thousand Oaks.,
CA: Corwin.