Class Management

Focused Observation Guide: Classroom Management Strategies--Beginning the Year Activities
[Links to VI. Learning Environment B. of the TN Framework for Evaluation and Professional Development]

Observe: What do teachers do to ensure a positive and orderly start for a new year? Arrange to observe teachers during the first weeks of school. As you observe, focus on any socialization or gettingstarted activities that help the students feel comfortable in their new environment; know the expectations, rules, and procedures; and learn the instructional routines, etc. Focus in on how the room looks and is arranged, what the teacher says and does, the amount of time used for specific activities, any indications of prior planning that make for a smooth beginning. Effectively managed classrooms,free from disruptions and with opportunities for students to meet both academic and social needs, have a positive impact on student achievement. Analyze/Apply: Planning for classroom management is a major factor in preventing student misbehavior. Effective teachers decide on and employ specific strategies to ensure an orderly and positive start to the new year. If management is not going wellafter the school year has begun, it may be possible to have a “new beginning” at an appropriate point--at the beginning of the week, after a long weekend, after a holiday, etc. Teachers can use the following checklist in developing “new beginning” plans. Check off each item as strategies are identified. Initial Socialization Activities ____ Welcome students. ____ Provide opportunities for students toget to know each other. ____ Provide opportunities for students to get to know the teacher. ____ Share information about the school and classroom. ____ Develop and/or communicate and model norms for student-student and student-teacher interactions. ____ Give overview of the year and describe normal daily schedule. ____ Communicate expectations for students and for the teacher. Getting StartedActivities ____ Review assessment data about student performance. ____ Allocate appropriate time to teach and practice rules and procedures. ____ Arrange for beginning-of-the-year activities (seat and locker assignments, book and materials distribution, fees, information getting, etc.). ____ Prepare and distribute a letter to parents include optimistic outlook for the year, important goals,significant events, behavioral and homework expectations, etc. ____ Initiate positive incentive system. ____ Initiate monitoring practices. ____ Make a positive phone call home to the parents to introduce yourself and express interest in working with the child, etc. Instructional Activities ____ Greet the students daily as they enter the classroom. ____ Design whole-group activities. ____ Prepare academicassignments at appropriate level of challenge. ____ Prepare “extra” or supplementary activities (to fill any available time). ____ Introduce procedures as necessary. ____ Communicate grading standards. ____ Allow time for interaction with individual students.

Adapted From Bellon, J.J., Bellon, E.C., & Blank, M.A. (1992). Teaching from a Research Knowledge Base. New York: Macmillan PublishingCompany.

Focused Observation Guide: Classroom Management Strategies--Classroom Rules
[Links to VI. Learning Environment B. of the TN Framework for Evaluation and Professional Development]

Observe: What rules appear to be in effect? Recording information about student and teacher behavior (statements or actions) related to rules will help answer the question. For example, rules may be posted,or students may be reminded of the rules as classroom activities progress. Assess the extent to which the rules and expectations seem to be realistic in terms of the students’ characteristics (e.g., age, developmental level, special needs). It may be helpful to determine whether students were involved in developing the rules as a means to assess students’ understanding of and commitment to...