DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

The Research

 

According to Harry K. and Rosemary T. Wong, classroom management “refers to all of the things a teacher does to organize students, space, time, and materials so student learning can take place” (Wong and Wong, 83). The organization of the classroom is so important because it can have a huge effect on the learning of the students. The classroom should not feel stifling or boring; rather it should give off a positive feeling right when the students walk into the classroom. Students should feel like they want to be in the classroom from the moment they arrive.

 

A clean room helps to create a positive room. “Research proves that a school’s and classrooms cleanliness, orderliness and character influences the students’ behavior and the ability of a teacher to teach” (Wong and Wong, 92). If the classroom is clean, the students will be able to focus on the teacher. They will also give more respect to the teacher. If the room is dirty and messy, what reason would the students have to listen to the teacher? If the teacher keeps their classroom clean, neat, and orderly, this shows that the teacher takes the time to create a positive atmosphere for the students. It shows that the teacher respects the things in the classroom and the students should too.

 

The posters and images that the teacher chooses to put on the bulletin boards and walls should have meaning and a purpose for being there. Wong and Wong said, “Teach your students to consult the bulletin boards for assignments and information on what to do and how to do it” (Wong and Wong, 96). As students learn the rules and daily life of the classroom, they can refer to these bulletin boards that visually display the rules and what they are supposed to be doing. An effective teacher would place these things in areas that are easily visible to the students and can refer to them often when the students need a reminder.  

 

  • Wong, Harry K., and Rosemary T. Wong. The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher. 4th ed. Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc., 2009. Print.
DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

 My pre-practicum placement is in a primary classroom in an elementary school and attached is my focused observation journal entry 

 

 organizing the classroom journal.docx

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

My Classroom

 

 

 

This is a blueprint for how I would ideally design my classroom. This layout is similar to the layout in my pre-practicum classroom. I believe it is a highly functional classroom because there is a lot of room for the students to move around. There is also ample space in the high-traffic areas so students can comfortable get to where they need to go. There are cubbies along the left-hand wall for students to store all of their personal belongings and a place to keep their crayon boxes, pencils, papers, etc. There is also an area for a small fridge and a table to keep napkins, utensils, etc.

 

 In the center of the room, there are two large tables for the students to do their work at. To the right of that, there is an area with computers that the students are allowed to use during certain times and an area for lessons, circle time, and morning meeting. There is a bookcase below a word wall with books that go along with the letter of the week. There is also a spot on the wall for a white board. There is the teacher's chair next to the white board and an easel for reading big books and working on counting the days. Behind the circle time rug, is a sink for students to wash their hands or utensils.

 

Going around the rest of the room, there are a lot of areas for different centers. The centers would not always be the same, but there are a number of different centers for the students to choose from: kitchen center, math center, reading and writing center, blocks center, etc. Near the teacher's desk in front of the cubbies, there is a small table that would have the supplies that students would need throughout the day: sharpened pencils, extra crayons, extra erasers, etc.

 

I believe that this is a very versatile room. Students, especially at a younger age, need the space to be able to move around in because they are still working to develop their gross and fine motor skills. There is also plenty of opportunity for the students to be able to sit together and socialize with each other. They are able to sit close to other students and develop their social and language skills with each other during lessons, circle time, and centers.

 

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.