Chapter 5 Synthesis

Chapter 5: Classroom Management

*Things I Do Right

     After reading this chapter, I feel like it is targeted more towards elementary school teachers, rather than secondary.  The reason I say this is because of sections like "Classwide Token Economy" and "Check-in/Check-out."  There are a few helpful tips in this chapter, though.  Mostly, classwide positive behavior supports (PBS).  I think I manage my classroom fairly well.  I do have a set of rules, and I post them at the front of the room.  I feel like I do a good job balancing between keeping control and practicing effective instruction.  My classroom is inviting, and the environment is colorful and shows student work in every area.  The rules and routines in my classroom are set, though I sometimes confess I lack consistency.  Because I teach juniors and seniors, it makes things like bathroom breaks a little less important.  I teach 90 minute class periods, so I generally just wait until several students ask to go to the bathroom, and then I let everyone go at the same time to ensure they do not ask again during class.  I do a good job of teaching the rules and regulations in my classroom and setting the tone at the very beginning of the year.  I use cooperative learning very often, and I feel that I have a good handle on how to organize this type of learning and keep it effective.

*Oops

     I am not consistent with my rules and policies the way I should be.  I think that this is partly the age group I teach, and a mixture of being way too busy for my own good and the drama that high schoolers are constantly bringing into the classroom.  When you have overloaded classrooms with 35+ teenagers who are in all stages of maturity, and you have to keep them interested and engaged for 90 minutes at a time, it can become easy to miss small behavior issues and correct them immediately the way I would like to.  It also makes it difficult to manage every little procedure when there are a million things going on in an overcrowded room.  Also, I need to work on my transitioning a lot harder.  Becasue I am so easy-going, humorous, and sarcastic, I often get off track during transitions.

*Things I Might Use

     I like the idea of a reward system, although for my growing teenage students, the best reward would likely be food.  They are always hungry for some reason.  I also like the idea of having the reinforcement menu on the wall to remind students to behave well.  I did not like "tootling" very much for my own personal classroom.  I just do not think it would be effective with my age group.  Positive or not, teenagers today are really funny about "snitching."