Learning Environment Reflection

An essential tool to create a safe environment for students to learn is classroom management. I hope to create an effective classroom management plan that dissolves barriers that are stopping students from learning. I am highly committed to make my classroom a safe environment where my students are provided with the best opportunity to be challenged and engaged in learning. As a special education teacher, I seek to meet the needs of every student I work with, so they have a sense of belonging in my classroom. I believe belonging will create a classroom atmosphere that will be conducive to student-centered learning in which all students are challenged to be critical thinkers.

A school’s Behavior Matrix can create a school climate that reinforces good behavior, a positive and safe environment, encourages responsibility of actions, builds positive relationships, ensues high expectations, and builds community (Muscott, Mann & LeBrun, 2008). The consistency of responses, consequences, and rewards will create an atmosphere that promotes positive behavior and discourages negative behaviors. The strategies set forth by the Behavioral Matrix are set up for the entire school population focusing on the students that do not necessarily have behavioral issues. It is mainly for the purpose of increasing student achievement, discourage problematic behaviors, and increase positive interactions throughout the school environment (Bradshaw & Pas, 2011). Therefore, the goal of a Behavioral Matrix is in fact to strengthen positive behaviors that are already in place and give a consistent disciplinary action guideline to move those individual that commit negative infractions towards positive direction. Positive Behavior Support systems are set up to acknowledge the good that students accomplish, and does not allow infractions to define who they are and allows for them to reinstatement the good

Students all have their own personalities, which affects their actions within the classroom. Many times, a students’ behavior is caused by outside factors causing them to act out with disruptive behaviors and disciplinary issues. During these times, a teacher must have a behavior management approach to deter similar behaviors in the future. Many first time teachers are unable to handle dealing with the behaviors and leave their jobs making it all the more important to come up with an effective behavior management approach to curtail those worrisome behaviors before it gets to that point (Sugai, 2009). In an effort to thoroughly discuss an efficient behavior management approach, a common disciplinary problem within classroom and the foundation of the issue will be considered. A combination of approaches may be to needed to stop behavioral issues, such as providing motivation and establishing rules and procedures in a clear way will deter behavioral issues. Finally, an in-depth look at the steps needed in order to implement the approach into the classroom.

Every school has a positive and inclusive approach to managing behavior. We believe in encouraging behavior through a range of positive behavior management strategies. Through this positive approach we can aim to pre-empt inappropriate behavior, thus enabling us to focus on good behavior and teaching the children. We believe strongly in the importance of promoting and praising good behavior. We aim to provide care and support for our children and support them to learn how to manage their behavior appropriately.

My classroom management philosophy is rooted in B.F. Skinner’s Behavior Modification theory. I believe that negative and positive reinforcements are a key aspect in classroom management. Providing reinforcement increases the probability that a desired behavior will occur, while undesired behaviors will stop because they are not being reinforced (Manning and Bucher 47). Students who are demonstrating unacceptable behaviors may even begin to change their behavior in hopes of gaining approval through reinforcement (Manning and Bucher 47). In particular, I advocate for this theory because it also serves as another way to continuously reiterate classroom expectations. Through daily dialogue in the classroom, students will be able to understand which behaviors are supported, acceptable, and encouraged and which behaviors are ignored, unacceptable, and discouraged. Continuously putting this into practice will foster a supportive classroom climate with clear expectations. Throughout my field experiences in Horry County, I have seen this strategy used with success. I believe that once I have established relationships with my students this will be the most effective course of action for modifying their misbehaviors.

The implementation of positive behavior management systems in schools play a vital role in creating and maintaining a safe and supportive school environment. According to (safeschoolshub) “A safe school is one that takes action to promote and recognize positive student behavior, ensure student safety and minimize risk.”

The staff can collaboratively develop expectations for behavior in the common areas of the building … restrooms, hallways, lunch room, library … which will eliminate disagreements and will reduce student anxiety. The school administrator could also promote a school climate that supports positive behavior by implementing some of the ideas from the Ryan article, such as bullying prevention and intervention, character education, and creating a caring school community (p. 137). While these ideas will not eradicate all discipline issues, they will contribute to a more peaceful learning environment for students and

Unless discipline issues are at a minimum, instruction will be interrupted and teaching time lost. Additionally, poor academic performance may lead to students engaging in problem behavior that results in escaping academic tasks. The universal core system creates the foundation of a multi-tier school-wide model. Effective universal supports alone should be sufficient to meet the needs of most students to be successful in academics and social behavior. By meeting the needs of most, through effective instruction and behavior supports, fewer students’ will require more intensified supports. This outcome results in improved outcomes for the general population, as well as more valid, manageable, and cost-effective systems of supports at the secondary and tertiary levels (Goodman, McIntosh and Bohanan, 2016). Proactive classroom management includes strategies and techniques implemented before behavior problems occur, increase time devoted to instruction and focuses on group management rather than an individual student.

Today schools are faced with an overwhelming amount of behavior problems as a result they have incorporated programs to help create a positive culture within each school system. Several behavior management programs have been implemented in schools all over the United States therefore the school environment can run more smoothly. Here are some approaches that aid in creating a positive and safe environment in schools.

The first step in classroom management is to create an environment where students feel cared for and valued. To do accomplish this, teachers need to build positive student-teacher relationships. Marazano (2003) reports in his book, Classroom Management That Works, which is cited in the Jones and Jones (2013) book, that “Positive teacher-student relationships were the foundation of effective classroom management” (p.56). I am committed to creating a safe learning environment that is organized, structured and conducive to student learning. While influencing a classroom of community learners, I strive to also build positive teacher-student relationship with all of my

Schools need to maintain a disciplined and safe learning environment. There are many disciplinary actions that are in use today and although some can disagree about the amount of discipline that is best for maturing children, it is reasonable to be in agreement that a positive learning environment begins with physical and emotional safety. School safety includes a broad range of matters, including, fighting, bullying, drugs, alcohol, weapons, and etc. Many schools use varying methods in an effort to maintain school safety. Some schools limit school access and require all visitors to sign in. Physical surveillance is another common method of addressing school safety issues along with use of staff and student identification. Among all these

The principal’s role in developing positive community relations sets the tone for communication patterns, partnership formation and/or alienation (Fiore, 2013). There are many tasks that the principal has that is important to school and community relations. Some of those are being a good listener, diplomatic and tactful and all situations. They also have to promote the open door policy to be free to communicate with students, parents, and their staff. They also have to inform the superintendent and community about good and bad things that are

In today’s competitive world, people are expected to be highly effective and efficient. They need specific skills and knowledge for their education or work purposes. This has enforced various skill enhancement programs proposed by fraternity all over the world.

As the semester is coming to an end, I reflect upon the last several weeks of learning. Was my time in the classroom a productive learning experience? How can I use the last few weeks of internship to strengthen my teaching skills? Finally, how does positive academic notes effect the students as well as my perspective as a teacher? As I think about my time in the classroom, I can make positive changes in my life as well as in the life of my students when I am willing to change.

I believe that true learning requires much more than simply listening to a lecture, reading from a book, or watching a video. While these all may be involved in the process of learning, hands-on experience and a real desire for knowledge of the subject are needed to truly learn.