Wong Unit C Notes

How to Have a Well-Managed Classroom

 Effective teacher manage a classroom. Ineffective teachers discipline
their classrooms.
 Organize a well-managed classroom where students can learn in a task-
oriented environment
 Classroom management overarched everything in the curriculum
 Consistency!
 Characters of a well-managed classroom
o 1. Students are deeply involved with their work, especially
academic, teacher-led instruction
o 2. Students know what is expected of them and are generally
successful
o There is relatively little wasted time, confusion, or disruption
o The climate of the classroom is work-oriented, but relaxed and
pleasant.
o A well-managed classroom is a predictable environment- both the
teacher and students know what to do and what is supposed to
happen in the classroom.
o “power comes when you make life predictable for people”
How to Have Your Classroom Ready
 Teachers who are ready maximize student learning and minimize student
behavior
 Have the room ready
 Have the work ready
 Have themselves ready
 Preparation, preparation, preparation
 A teacher’s discipline problems are directly proportional to the teacher’s
distance from the students.
 The effective teacher maximizes proximity to the students and maximizes
proximity to materials.
How to Introduce Yourself to the Class
 Right or wrong, accurate or not, your reputation will precede you.
 Protect your reputation by maintaining a positive image, you have
nothing to lose and everything to gain.
 Preschool invitation:
o Send a letter home to parents before school begins
 Tell parent that you are looking forward to having their child
in your class
 Ask them to put dates of the school’s open house on their
calendar, and explain why it is important for them to attend.
 You will be explaining homework, grading, discipline, and
your classroom procedures.
o Send a letter home to each student before school begins
 Include a message of welcome
 Tell the students who you are
 Invite them to call you if they have questions
 Help them prepare by listing the materials they should have
with them. They will be ready if you are ready. Do not surprise
your students.
 Tell them your, not their, expectations
 Have a sign outside your classroom, so students know if they are in the
right classroom.
 Stand at the classroom doors with a big smile and a ready handshake
 Everything possible should be done to welcome the students and to make
sure that they know where to go and how to get there on time.
 Increase probability that school will start successfully for both you and your
students by:
o 1. You have your room ready
o 2. You are at the door
o 3. You have assigned seating
o 4. You have the first assignment ready to go
 First day- state your name and your expectations
o Students want to know who you are as a person and if you will treat
them as a person.
How to Arrange and Assign Seating
 The students must sit in such a way as to accomplish what you want them
to accomplish.
 Reasons for a seating chart
o Facilitates roll taking
o Aids name memorization
o Separates potential student problems
How to Post Your Assignments
 Your very first priority when the class starts is to get the students to work.
 Post the assignments in the same place every day.
 Students must be responsible for classwork.
 The effective teacher teaches responsibility.
When and How to Take Roll
 3 effective ways to take roll efficiently and effectively
o 1. Look at your class and refer to your seating chart
o 2. Have folders or something personal in a box at the door. When
students come in they are to take their folders, go to their seats and
 get to work on the posted assignment. After the students are at
work, you look in the box to see what folders are left.
o 3. Have each students’ name on a clothespin. Clip these pins to a
cutout such as an animal or a seasonal object like a heart.
 the effective teacher takes role without disturbing the class
How to Maintain an Effective Grade Record Book
o it is imperative that you decide before you begin the school year just what
you want to record.
o A grade book should let you see student’s results and progress
immediately
o To keep good student records you probably need 3 or 4 lines after each
student’s name.
o 1. Attendance
o 2. Scores
o 3. Running Total
How to Have an Effective Discipline Plan Part 1: Rules
o The 3 most important student behaviors that must be taught the first days fo
school are:
o 1. Discipline
o 2. Procedures
o 3. Routines
o The effective teacher presents her rules clearly and provides reasonable
explanations of the need for them.
o A Discipline Plan:
o Rules- what the expected behaviors are
o Consequences- what the student chooses to accept if a rule is broken.
o Rewards-what the student receives for appropriate behavior
o 2 kinds of rules
o 1. General rules-more encompassing and may cover a plethora of
behaviors: respect others, take care of your school, be polite and
helpful, help the room clean
o 2. Specific rule- are to the point and clearly cover one behavior: be in
class on time, keep your hands and feet to yourself, listen to instructions
to the first time they are given
o It is important to introduce the discipline plan on the first day of school.
o The rules should be written and permanently posted in the classroom and
give to students on paper or copied by students into their notebook.
How to Have an Effective Discipline Plan Part 2: Consequences and Rewards
o School must be a safe and protected environment where students can
come to learn without fear.
o Students need to feel that someone is in control and responsible for their
environment and not only sets limits but also maintains them.
 o Rules must have consequences
o A consequence is the result of a person’s chosen action
o Consequences are not punishments
o Continue to do what you are doing, and you will continue to get what
you are getting.
o Positive consequences- rewards that result when people abide by the
rules are positive consequences
o Negative consequences-penalties that result when people break the rules
are negative consequences
o Do not stop instruction when giving out a consequence
o Always deal with the behavior, not the person.
o You leave a person’s dignity intact when you deal only with the behavior
or the issue.
o The best reward is the satisfaction of a job well done
o Reward: 30 minutes Friday Free Time
o The effective teacher has high expectations and confidence in his or her
capacity to teach young people self-discipline.
How to Have Students Follow Classroom Procedures
o The number one problem in the classroom is not discipline, it is the lack of
procedures and routines.
o A procedure is simply a method or process for getting things done in the
classroom.
o Discipline concerns how students behave
o Procedures concern how things are done.
o Discipline has penalties and rewards.
o Procedures have no penalties or rewards.
o Procedure=what the teacher wants done, routine- what the students do
automatically.
o Classroom procedures that must become student routine:
o Beginning of period
o Quieting a class
o Students seeking help
o Movement of students and papers
o End of period
o Every time a procedure needs to be corrected: 1. Remind the class of the
procedure 2. Have the, experience the procedure.
o Techniques for teaching procedures
o 1. Explain
o 2. Rehearse
o 3. Reinforce
 -remind
 -experience