Linda Albert's Cooperative Discipline

Being a male going into the elementary school education profession, I feel that I can be a postitive male role model for students who might lack that kind of male role model leadership needs. One of the first things that I will convey to my students is my philosophy on classroom management. My philosophy can be summed up in just two words: RESPECT and LEADERSHIP.

I have heard that for many beginning teachers, classroom management can be one of the most challenging aspects of their new career.  Knowing this, I decided to experiment with many classroom management approaches during my student teaching to find one that fit both my students and myself.  Based on these experiences, I designed a classroom management plan that I will implement in my classroom as a beginning teacher.  It is important to note, however, that my classroom management philosophy will be evolving as necessary as I gain more experience and insight into the field of teaching.  Also, my classroom management plan may need to be altered to fit my specific group of students.

My philosophy of classroom management is that the management of elementary classrooms require several things.  Among patience, determination and motivation are: flexibility, careful planning and consistency.  A well-managed classroom did not get well-managed without a teacher who planned, had a flexible vision and was determined.  Any new teacher, who is asked, will say they want a classroom with as few behavioral problems as possible as well as one that is easily manageable.  But any experienced teacher, who is asked, will tell those new teachers that classrooms do not come "well managed".  They have to be made into well-managed classrooms.  These experienced teachers would also encourage by saying

In Kohn’s book, Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community, the first chapter focuses on the different classroom management theories regarding students in the classroom. The chapter discusses how many of these theories are incorrect, and how educators need to look at them under a fine tooth come before implementing them in their own classrooms. Kohn finishes the chapter by discussing what teachers should think about regarding their students when implementing classroom management procedures.

My classroom philosophy begins with what type of teacher I will be in my classroom. To have successful classroom management, one must be an effective teacher. Some qualities that make an effective teacher include maintaining high expectations, being consistent, and caring. As a teacher, it is important to have high expectations for your students academically, but also behaviorally. In my classroom, I will uphold the traits and characteristics that I want to see in my students, through my own actions and words. Another quality that I will instill in my classroom and myself is consistency. In my classroom, I will be consistent in my classroom management. I will not favor a student and let them get away with something, and I will not be overly harsh on a student who is having a bad day or week. One of the most important qualities in an effective teacher is their ability to care for their students. In order to have successful classroom management, I must build relationships with my students. The more that my students know that I care for them and want to help them,

Teachers have the ability to set up classroom rules to help maintain the structure with behaviors in the classroom. Bill Rogers, affectionately know as Mr. Rogers, has many effective techniques and approaches to classroom management, from prevention and positive correction to consequences. He does not advocate being a strict, disciplinarian, authoritarian teacher, but gives strategies to help teachers work with students to control their own behavior. The first part of Rogers’ plan gives techniques used to prevent discipline problems (Education World, 2003). As he discusses rights of the students, he talks about how they have the right to feel safe, be treated with dignity and respect and have the right to learn.

My philosophy of classroom management is to allow students to be responsible for their own behavior at all times. I believe allowing students to be responsible for their behavior and actions allow them to have a sense of freedom. When students have freedom, they seem to be more successful and respectful. Classroom management is more successful when the class is student-centered. Students should be included in the planning of classroom rules, room arrangement, and communication should flow smoothly between teacher and student. Although the class is student-centered the teacher should be in control of the classroom. The teacher should know what is going on at all times, plan interesting and informative lessons, and be

Creating my future classroom for first graders I chose rules that were similar to the SMART classroom management. The rules that I will put in place will target only behavior issues, separating my expectations in the classroom separately. This will allow less confusion for young students, as well as keeping it clear and simple for students to understand the rules themselves. Rules for my class room will be listen and follow carefully the instructions of the day, raise your hand before you speak or leave your seat, shows respect to others, keep hand, feet, and objects to oneself. I want to motivate students to make good choices, for each consequence students break the will have to think about their bad choice they made and how they can do things differently to improve their behavior. Behavior continue I would have to talk to student privately advising them that bad choices are being made and if they continue this route the next level would be contacting parents for bad choices made during class time. Either by sending a note for parent to sign or by phone.

To develop this artifact I followed the classroom management theories raised by Linda Albert, Frederic Jones, and Jacob Kounin. Whereas I implemented in my classroom Linda’s Cooperative Discipline model when I chose to work cooperatively with my students to develop a set of consequences to be invoked when the classroom code of conduct is transgressed. Consequently, students are more likely to accept them as fair and reasonable. I have also based my plan in the positive discipline model of Jones by rewarding my students for their appropriate behavior and effectively using a body language that includes eye contact, physical proximity, body carriage, facial expressions, and gestures. I also followed Kounin’s preventive discipline theory about

In Cooperative Discipline, Linda Albert explains that students not only need to feel connected to their teachers, they need to feel like they are contributing to the clas. This will foster motivation in your students and can be expressed in a variety of ways. One helpful piece of advice I have had from both my mentor teachers and Dr. Gentry was to help with the pacing of class to have students hand things out. Not only did having students pas papers help with pacing many of my students love being helpful. They feel like they can be a helpful part of the class experience. Albert agrees that students “relish being useful” and that assigning a daily task can fulfill the desire to be needed. I also try to have my students teach each other concepts.

The rules that I have established for my classroom resemble some of the expectations that can be seen in industrial labs. The students will be reminded of the classroom rules via visual (posters) and verbal (reminders) cues. An example of a verbal cue is the daily Lab Safety Contract reminder. Everyday I will read a line from the Lab Safety Contract that the students signed. The rule of obeying the Lab Safety Contract can be difficult due to the amount of information in the contract, but the daily reminders will ease the pressure of remembering all the details. In order to provide the semi-constructivist classroom environment, the student body will create one rule for the classroom.

Ms. Kimberly Rich is motivational. She does not fall short of inspiration, just like the other teachers from whom we have learned in the previous chapters. She has inspired me to implement her classroom management technique and she encourages other teachers in her school to learn strategies for effective social skills. I hope I can inspire students and other teachers the way she does. One of the main points she made was her classrooms management system. I am planning to use this method in my teaching career. I think it is a brilliant idea to create it as a level system. Both positive and negative sides come with “responsibilities.” Ms. Rich is

My philosophy for teaching is that all students deserve the best possible education a teacher can provide them, and that education begins with classroom management. Classroom management is the foundation to a proper education. The way a teacher manages his or her classroom determines how the classroom will function and how much information the students are able to learn throughout the school day and school year. Students need rules to follow in order to keep the classroom running smoothly. Without rules, students will be unruly and will cause disruptions that will prohibit their fellow classmates from being able to focus and comprehend the material being taught.

When I started teaching 17 years ago, I thought students would do what I asked them to do, because I asked. I have learned throughout the years that this is not always true, and that it is very important to have a classroom management plan ready every year before school starts. As a teacher, it is my job to provide a safe environment where my students feel welcome, and can receive the quality education they deserve. I believe that I should be assertive with discipline and teaching, have an organized, well-managed classroom, and teach students important social skills and how to behave appropriately in different situations they may encounter throughout their lives.

Classroom management is a key element to establish a successful learning environment in any classroom. An effective classroom management plan creates a positive learning environment. Classroom management is affected by the characteristics of the students and their behavior. Students’ behavior is influenced by their age, academic abilities, goals, interests, and home backgrounds (Evertson, Emmer, and Worsham, 2006). Teachers need a diverse array of classroom management skills to facilitate learning. A classroom with a proper management plan will spend less time in disciplining and more time in learning. Students in effectively managed classrooms know and follow clearly defined rules and routines. A classroom management plan should provide