Start of Year Checklist/ Room Layout/ Material List - The beginning of the school year is critical but can be a stressful time if not prepared.   Using my experience teaching first grade, as well as the text from my classroom management class (Evertson, 2017,) I developed a classroom layout, beginning of the year checklist, and materials list to assist me in preparing.    Click to See Checklists and Pictures

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        Classroom Rules, Procedures, and Routines - When I taught first grade, we developed our classroom rules together.  We learned about Citizenship on the first week of school.  During that same week, I allowed to students to suggest classroom rules that would make us good citizens.  Even though I let the students make the suggestions, I did the writing and I already had a list of rules in mind.  I simply guided the students toward those rules.  On constitution day we signed our rules list using a quill.  Both the discussion and the signing of the document gives the students a sense of ownership that will help them follow the rules we come up with.   Click to See Rules and Procedures to Model

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       Instructional Planning - My lesson planning is done through planbook online.  It's a wonderful app that can be accessed using my phone as well.  This makes it easy to work on my planning on the go.  It also has all the Va SOLs in the application so I can add them easily to my lesson plan.

     Technology is actually a goal of mine in the class room.  My personal goal is to make sure that in my own classroom I give the students some tech time at least once a day (using the ipads or computers provided to me.)  What is the reason for this?  Firstly, the students enjoy it.  So it's an easy way to motivate the students to review content (using apps like RAZ Kids, for example.)  It is also important that the students learn to be proficient in computers to become future productive adults.  Click to See Further Information on my Classroom Instruction

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    Responding to Misbehavior - In my classroom I utilize a standard clip chart for individual behavior.  This has benefits over a pocket chart (one in which students get their card pulled for misbehavior) because it readily rewards good behavior and students start the day in a neutral position which is more closely based on reality (no false accomplishments.)  In addition, I find I'm less hesitant to move a clip than to remove a card.  This is because I know the student will have an opportunity through out the day to have his/her clip move back up.  It is also easy to create.  One can be purchased, but I easily constructed mine out of sheets of laminated construction paper.  And, enough clothes pins can be purchased to cover the whole class for a dollar.  Click to See How I Implement the Clip Chart in My Classroom.

  

 

    Communication with Parents - According to Kraft and Dougherty, communication with parents has an impact on homework 

completion rates as well as classroom behavior and participation (2013.)  There are a number of ways I plan to increase communication in my classroom (i.e. class dojo, monthly newsletters, daily take home folders, and positive phone calls.) Click to See Details about My Commitment to Parent Communication

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     Differentiating my Lessons - In my classroom, I plan to differentiate my lessons in four main ways (the four p's.)  This includes: The presentation of the content, the procedure the students follow to learn the lesson, the product the students create in order to demonstrate mastery, and the environment of the classroom (place.)  (Tomlinson, 2000)  Click for Details How I Use Differentiated Instruction.

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Evertson, C.M., & Emmer, E.T. (2017).  Classroom management for elementary teachers. Boston: Pearson.

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Kraft, Matthew A., & Dougherty, Shaun M. (2013). The Effect of Teacher-Family Communication on Student Engagement: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 6(3), 199-222.

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Tomlinson, C. (August 2000). Differentiation of Instruction in Elementary Grades. ERIC Digest. Retrieved from ERIC database. (EDO-PS-00-7)