Philosophy Of Management Statement
Written December 2012
I believe in a cooperative learning environment where students are able to collaborate and share ideas. I believe that classroom management is a collaborative effort between the students and teacher. Misbehavior can be deterred when students have their needs met within the classroom; when students feel they belong; and when students choose to follow the rules because they understand why the rules exists and why consequences are in place.
Cooperative Learning Environment
I believe in a cooperative learning environment where students are able to collaborate and share ideas. I believe that classroom management is a collaborative effort between the students and teacher. Misbehavior can be deterred when students have their needs met within the classroom; when students feel they belong; and when students choose to follow the rules because they understand why the rules exists an why consequences are in place.
I believe that teachers should work hand-in-hand with students to create the classroom code of conduct that all are to follow throughout the school year. Levin and Nolan (2012) state, “From the collaborative point of view, students become capable of controlling their own behavior not by simply following rules but rather by understanding why rules exist and choosing to follow them because they make sense” (92). In chapter four, Levin and Nolan (2012) also say, “In collaborating classroom, rules an procedures are developed jointly by the teacher and students.” I incorporate this collaboration and cooperation in my classroom arrangement. The student’s desks are set up in pods of four. This helps to facilitate group projects. As stated by Levin and Nolan in Principle of Classroom Management (2012), “If a teacher’s primary instructional strategy involves a lot of group work, the teacher may put three or four desks together to facilitate these activities” (133). My classroom physical arrangement shows that I have students working in pods and in groups of three or more during centers time.
To meet students’ needs, teachers need to make them feel like a part of the class. I have done this throughout my community building activities, as found on page 16 of this document. I want students feel as if my room is a safe and comfortable place for all to learn and grow.
Joint Responsibility For Addressing Misbehavior
I believe that students as well as teachers are responsible for classroom management. Linda Albert’s Cooperative Discipline (2002) has proved to me that, “students’ behavior – and misbehavior- is a consequence of students’ attempts to meet certain needs” (68). Linda Albert states that the main focus if cooperative discipline is, “helping teachers meet student needs so that students will choose to cooperate with the teacher and each other . . . Cooperation is made likely when students truly feel they belong to and in the class” (68). Teachers can help meet student needs by, “help[ing] students connect with others, contribute, and feel capable,”(67) says Albert in Cooperative Discipline (2002). When students’ needs are met within the classroom by encouragement, teachers can reduce misbehavior greatly and establish classrooms where students participate cooperatively with the teacher and each other. I have included in my community-building plan, found on page 14, a collaborative Classroom Code of Conduct. This code of conduct will help students understand the rules and why they are in place. One of Albert’s (2002) focuses is that, “A class code of conduct that fosters an optimal climate for learning and teaching” (67).
There will be times though when students choose to misbehave. Therefore, students and teachers also need to collaborate in developing a set of logical consequences to be used when the classroom code of conduct is not being followed. Linda Albert (2002) states, “When students participate in developing consequences, they are more likely to accept them as fair and reasonable” (69). In my behavior plan, students are asked to reflect upon their misbehavior. I may ask them which code they are forgetting to follow and then ask them to explain that code to me in their own words. This self reflection will help students to be able to self-monitor their on behavior.
I believe in a cooperative learning environment where students are able to collaborate and share ideas. I believe that classroom management is a collaborative effort between the students and teacher. Misbehavior can be deterred when students have their needs met within the classroom; when students feel they belong; and when students choose to follow the rules because they understand why the rules exists an why consequences are in place.
I believe that teachers should work hand-in-hand with students to create the classroom code of conduct that all are to follow throughout the school year. Levin and Nolan (2012) state, “From the collaborative point of view, students become capable of controlling their own behavior not by simply following rules but rather by understanding why rules exist and choosing to follow them because they make sense” (92). In chapter four, Levin and Nolan (2012) also say, “In collaborating classroom, rules an procedures are developed jointly by the teacher and students.” I incorporate this collaboration and cooperation in my classroom arrangement. The student’s desks are set up in pods of four. This helps to facilitate group projects. As stated by Levin and Nolan in Principle of Classroom Management (2012), “If a teacher’s primary instructional strategy involves a lot of group work, the teacher may put three or four desks together to facilitate these activities” (133). My classroom physical arrangement shows that I have students working in pods and in groups of three or more during centers time.
To meet students’ needs, teachers need to make them feel like a part of the class. I have done this throughout my community building activities, as found on page 16 of this document. I want students feel as if my room is a safe and comfortable place for all to learn and grow.
Joint Responsibility For Addressing Misbehavior
I believe that students as well as teachers are responsible for classroom management. Linda Albert’s Cooperative Discipline (2002) has proved to me that, “students’ behavior – and misbehavior- is a consequence of students’ attempts to meet certain needs” (68). Linda Albert states that the main focus if cooperative discipline is, “helping teachers meet student needs so that students will choose to cooperate with the teacher and each other . . . Cooperation is made likely when students truly feel they belong to and in the class” (68). Teachers can help meet student needs by, “help[ing] students connect with others, contribute, and feel capable,”(67) says Albert in Cooperative Discipline (2002). When students’ needs are met within the classroom by encouragement, teachers can reduce misbehavior greatly and establish classrooms where students participate cooperatively with the teacher and each other. I have included in my community-building plan, found on page 14, a collaborative Classroom Code of Conduct. This code of conduct will help students understand the rules and why they are in place. One of Albert’s (2002) focuses is that, “A class code of conduct that fosters an optimal climate for learning and teaching” (67).
There will be times though when students choose to misbehave. Therefore, students and teachers also need to collaborate in developing a set of logical consequences to be used when the classroom code of conduct is not being followed. Linda Albert (2002) states, “When students participate in developing consequences, they are more likely to accept them as fair and reasonable” (69). In my behavior plan, students are asked to reflect upon their misbehavior. I may ask them which code they are forgetting to follow and then ask them to explain that code to me in their own words. This self reflection will help students to be able to self-monitor their on behavior.