Reflections

REFLECTIONS: **My thoughts and observations throughout my semester of work at Okemos High School**


 * I have opted to develop questions surrounding the theme of 'Classroom Management'. I personally feel that Classroom Management is something that could potentially cause me problems, and I would like to be as prepared as possible for my "real life" experience come next school year when it must be put into practice.**


 * How is classroom management termed at my school? Is it a loose translation of management, or are there specific rules and/or regulations that must be followed when approaching management.
 * How do I discipline students within the classroom? What is and isn't acceptable within the classroom?
 * What is the most effective way to approach a problematic student within the classroom? Do I take them aside or do I approach them in front of the entire of class?
 * When creating classroom 'rules' what is and isn't acceptable to expect out of students?
 * How much should I let slide within the classroom and how much should I pay attention to and address?
 * How should I structure a classroom? Is there a certain amount of time that I should allot for certain activities, or should I just let things flow as they may?
 * Do I have to incorporate everything that is expected of me by the school board and the public (i.e. parents)?
 * How do I know when to go on to another section in class? If there is a lot to cover within a class period, but there is really good discussion going on, should I stop the discussion, or continue on and forgo the other parts of the lesson?
 * Does the surrounding community have an influence on how I may or may not run my class?
 * Do those students within extracurricular programs and those who are 'well known' for their abilities given extra leeway within a classroom?

I have chosen to ask these questions for a number of reasons. First of all, I feel that if not prepared, my classroom management could suffer in years to come. It is important to me to have a grasp on how to handle a classroom situation before being placed within one and expected to run everything smoothly. Also, there are numerous interpretations of management within the entire district and surrounding area. What makes these opinions and views different? Is it the influence of the community, or is it just that some students need more guidance than others? Also, I felt it necessary to know what is accepted in terms of discipline. Every school is different. Some schools do not have detention, so I need to know how teachers are instructed to deal with problematic students. Along these same lines, what should I use in reference when creating my own classroom expectations? Am I to use only what is provided to me by administration, or may I add in expectations of my own? Also, in terms of teaching, what should I and shouldn't I do? These questions seem somewhat straightforward to me, but I have a feeling that over time, I will find the results to be surprising and not everything I expected them to be.
 * Rationale for questions:**


 * Classroom Resources:**
 * Critical Encounters In High School English:** This could possibly be helpful, although I see this more as how to teach English in general. There may be a few good sections on how to structure the lesson and classroom, but I don't know exactly how much it will help in my journey to learn more about classroom management.


 * Narrative Writing:** I can foresee this book coming in handy. I feel that it instructs us on how to structure the classroom and how to teach certain aspects of writing to our students. I feel that this could come in handy in terms of keeping students actively involved in their own learning instead of being disruptive in class.


 * Reflective Teaching, Reflective Learning:** I think that this book will have a lot of great insight. It looks like quite a few of the article sections are formatted around information that I could use in the classroom. Since it deals with teaching experiences, I know that there will be something that I can pull from the text no matter what.

Crisis Prevention Institute-Provides information on how to effectively handle a classroom setting. What should and shouldn't a teacher do? http://www.crisisprevention.com/direct/classroommanagement.asp?gclid=CN2d6ti9npgCFQFvGgodC3PunQ
 * Teaching English By Design:** I also think that this will be a useful resource. It is showing teachers how to design classes that will be successful, and I feel that this will come in handy. I will be able to design classroom activities and lessons that will engage students and will hopefully lessen the negative side of classroom management and increase the positive.
 * Additional Resources:**

The Teacher's Guide- Numerous links to discussions and/or other resources that are helpful in terms of addressing management.http://www.theteachersguide.com/ClassManagement.htm

The Really Big List of Classroom Management Resources- AMAZING! Great page. Tons of links to other helpful webpages that address classroom management.http://drwilliampmartin.tripod.com/classm.html

4 Faculty- Another great webpage that gives the reader some ideas on how to handle situations. It gives the reader instances in which rules may or may not need to be enforced. Could be very helpful.http://www.4faculty.org/includes/108r2.jsp

Naturally, all of my TE teachers and teacher mentors. I know that they are always willing to give me advice when needed.


 * Discussion:**

Classroom dynamics-What is the best way to discipline/handle situations within the classroom. Students not participating- how do I get them to participate and make it meaningful? (index cards and requirement for talking).

Start research with teacher and then branch out to other resources.

Generate questions to talk with mentor teacher. Can pick from own personal questions and ask what is and isn't important. (refer to questions above). Perhaps interview Principal after talking with teacher. Could ask other teachers within the school for their own ideas. Overall, the same questions that I've already generated. Everyone seemed to have the same questions that I've already posed within the first part of my inquiry.
 * Questions (PT 2) //Plan of Action://**

Overall, we agreed that the best way to approach our topics was to start within the classroom. We need to find out what is important to the teacher and the teaching community within the school. How do we approach such a broad and yet simplistic topic? We've had no experience with Classroom Management, so we want to know what to expect and want to have some idea as to how to approach the situation without completely bombing next year.
 * Reflection:**