My Philosophy of Classroom Management

I believe students learn best when:

They are given choices about what to read and what to write about.

They are given real audience and purpose to their assignments.

They can relate their learning to their lives outside the classroom.

They are allowed to create their own goals.

There is an atmosphere where everyone's opinions and interpretations are valid and all students are allowed to express their ideas without being judged by their peers.

There are a variety of assessments including writing, creating, and presenting.

They are given a structure of rules and expectations within which they can be creative and constructive.

They understand what is expected of them by clearly defining rules, appropriate behavior, and procedures.

While I intend to employ all four motivational theories in my classroom, I am primarily a believer of the social learning theory. It is the theory of motivation based on the belief that people's efforts to achieve depend on their expectations of reward. This model is based a lot on the students' belief that they can succeed and how important it is to them that they do succeed. Ultimately Social Learning is the combination of Behavioral and Cognitive Theories and involves both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Students need to be motivated by both external rewards of grades, praise, parent recognition, and graduation and the internal belief of their ability to succeed. It is the combination of the student's belief that they can do the task and it is worth it. Ultimately students need to work to gain success but at the same time know success is possible.

In my particular classroom this theory takes many concrete forms. The main drive of my social learning theory is choice. I believe studen...

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... up the teacher's desk to ask questions during work time.

The students will choose groups, until it becomes apparent that groups are not being productive. At which time I will begin selecting the groups.

I will provide a pencil cup near the other classroom supplies where students can use common pencils. I will fill it up at the beginning of each semester and inform the students that they are free to use the pencils but these are it. When they have all been stolen no more pencils will be provided for the class.

Pencils will be collected at the end of each class to ensure pencils for all who need them.

In terms of notes, I will allow Talking Time when the entire class has finished an assignment. During this time students are free to write, pass and read notes freely. Occasionally as well, writing a note will be the do now and as a reward for good behavior.