Classroom Management
As an educator, I believe that your management and organizational style should reflect your teaching philosophy. The theoretical framework I identify the most with is the student-centered constructivist theory. Constructivists believe that learning is the active construction of knowledge; it uses the student’s background and prior knowledge along with collaboration and discussions to aid in the learning process. Students should not only play an active role in the learning process but also in the classroom. I want my students to feel that the classroom is their home; this will be accomplished by giving them classroom jobs in order for them to have ownership in the classroom. As you will read, my classroom organization and management plan incorporates many different learning styles but remains constant in that it follows the beliefs of the student centered constructivist theoretical framework.
The classroom should be a home for students while they are in school. In order for this home to run smoothly, the students will contribute in making rules, carrying out classroom jobs, and take ownership of the classroom. Collaboratively, the students and I will sit down during the first week of school and come up with a classroom mission statement or goals that will help guide us throughout the school year. The mission statement will help to create a community of learners. Classroom rules will focus on how to behave to achieve the mission statement rather than the traditional no talking while others our talking. Students will apply for the job(s) that they want in the classroom and be paid weekly for these jobs. The class will be able to use their money for a variety of rewards that will vary based on their interests.
I believe it is important to have a warm and welcoming classroom environment. This will be achieved by making the students feel the classroom is their home. I will hang students work and encourage them to help to create bulletin boards to represent the classroom. Another way I will do this is to encourage group work and discussion. To aid in this, students will sit at tables or in groups of desks. I will also take in to account that at times students may need a quiet place to work, so I will have an area for independent learning. All students learn differently, so my management and organizational style will changed based on my students needs in a particular school year.