Classroom Management Plan

Classroom Norms
1. Math for ALL!
Often times, many students enter the classroom with the thought that they are automatically going
to fail math. This assumption usually stems from having an unsuccessful math experience in the
past. From that experience, students will lose confidence within themselves that learning math is
a reachable goal. However, I believe that everyone is good at math, they just need to find their
niche where it makes sense to them. My classroom will always have a ​math for all​ attitude,
connecting the concepts and procedures of mathematics to real-world situations.
● I plan to make the mathematics in my classes, apply to my students’ real world
experiences. I want the material to be relevant to their everyday lives.
● I plan to encourage my students by making math fun and exciting. I would like to do as
little direct instruction as possible allowing my students every opportunity to engage in
productive struggle.
2. Failure is not a dead end street, it’s a chance to start again at the beginning!
Failure has always been a word that has had a negative connotation. But, I would like​ for my
students, through this classroom norm, to see that mistakes and failures provide us with a second, third, or
maybe infinite amount of chances to improve upon struggles and challenges that affect our success. ​I want
my students to understand that it is okay to make mistakes and that those lead to the perfect
opportunity to LEARN! ​Although, it is up to my students whether or not they want to do so. I can't
make that decision for them, they must be willing to accept the mistake(s)/failure(s) and continue to
learn from them.
● I plan to encourage students if they come upon a wrong answer to a problem. I will have
them provide an explanation to their current answer and then probe them with questions
that will eventually lead them on the right path to a new correct answer.
● I plan to allow my students 1 makeup on each teacher made test (debatable if I would
provide more opportunities), which will be completed within one week of the original
returned test date. The test will be different from the first, but the same concepts will still
be tested. This way students are not just memorizing the answers, but really showing they
have learned something from the previous test.
3. This classroom has an open-door policy.
Open-door policy is a term that is used in multiple contexts, however I like to think of it as an
opportunity to open myself up as a teacher who students can come and speak to without fear or
judgement towards any situation math related or not. I want my classroom to be a safe zone for
students, where they know they will be supported and valued. Our classroom will be a
community filled with a family of fellow mathematicians.
● I plan to do my best setting up times during my planning period and after class a couple
days during the school week to be available for anyone that might need to talk.
● If there is a student that is struggling with a mathematics issue, another class issue, or
even a personal issue I would encourage them to come and talk with me. I want to be one
of my students biggest advocates and help anyway I can. I will inform students though,
 that some information, causing endangerment, will need to be shared with the guidance
counselor of the school.
4. Grades aren't everything, as long as you do your best and persevere.
May main goal for this class is that students learn and try their best in the mathematics material
we cover. I don't want my students, no matter what level they are, to have a constant fear or
worry about the grade or score they will receive in my class. The feeling they should be
concerned with is whether or not they have done their best and persevered through the difficulties
they may face within the class. If they receive a low grade, that just shows me that their is plenty
of room for improvement. I want them to realize that challenges are okay and a great way to help
boost confidence and especially learn new things.
● I will pay close attention to the effort my students make on homework, quizzes, tests, and
participation. If I notice that a student is frustrated with themselves or unmotivated to do
their best, I will speak with and encourage them in their assignments.
● I might consider using a different grading method. However, because I will have high
school students, I may decide to keep it traditional since that is what they will experience
in college.
● I will make it clear among my students that a grade does not define who you are, nor your
abilities. However your work ethic and perseverance speaks wonders and is what most
will consider highly favorable.
5. It's okay to have a bad day.
Who doesn't have a bad day every now and then? Maybe it is because we just don't understand
the math topic, we aren't feeling well, or some situation that has occurred outside of school.
Sometimes as teachers we may quickly assume that a student is having behavior issues just
because, however there is often times more to the story. I want to be there for my students no
matter what kind of day they are having. Math is not easy to learn when you are frustrated, angry,
or just don't feel good.
● I want to provide my students with "chill pill time". This will be a time out that I will
provide students when they just aren't having the best of days. This might be allowing
them to put their head down for a while or take a break to just calm down and regain their
composure. Sometimes the best thing you can do when you are having a bad day is to
stop and regroup.
● After class, I plan to speak with the students and ensure that they are okay and remind
them that I am not only there as their math teacher but also as their supporter.

Rewards
The rewards would start out as intangible and increase to tangible.

Intangible
● Happy Facial Expressions
● Pat on the Back
● Verbal Praise
○ Reinforcement when a student has a good behavior in the classroom. (May extend to the
class as a whole)
○ Acknowledge when a student is accomplishing a goal they have set for themselves.
 ○ Acknowledge when a student is being respectful, responsible, positive, and safe.
● Classroom Student of the Week (based on resilience, exceptional effort, and improvement of class
material and behavior)

Tangible
● Candy Box for Individual or Overall Classroom Behavior
● Positive Behavior Note to Student(S)
● Positive Behavior Remind Text or Email to Classroom Parents
● 5 Minute Class Timeout
● Classroom Exemption from Night of Homework
● Change in Classroom Setting (Overall Classroom Behavior)

Consequences
1. Following the Support for All Pyramid, given by PBIS, there first will be a universal
reprimand concerning the overall classroom behavior. During this time, students will be
reminded of the expectations I have for them as citizens in my mathematics classroom.
This overall classroom reprimand will occur one time before I move on the the second
consequence. 1​
2. The next step is to narrow down the target group that is causing the majority of the
classroom behavioral issue. The group that is found guilty of being the sole proprietors of
the disruption will again be reminded of my expectations for our classroom family as
well as a synopsis of why their current behavior is uncalled for. Again this step will only
occur once before I approach the third consequence. 1​
3. If the second step brings no solution, I will continue my consequences by asking the
targeted group to move to a different location (the location will not be by student choice).
I will also be stern in doing so. This will only occur once before I move to the forth
consequence. 1​
4. By now I will have a better understanding of which one to two students in the classroom
is the leader of the disruption. At this time I will pull those one to two students away
from the class to immediately address the situation one-on-one. Not only will I address
the situation with them personally, but their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be alarmed by
phone and/or email to inform them of the situation. This will only happen one time before
the fifth consequence is established. 1​
5. If the one to two students continue to disrupt my classroom after they have been pulled
out personally for one-on-one discussion, then they will face either lunch or after school
detention. Lunch detention will be given on the first account and then after school
detention will be given on the second account. Therefore, this consequence will occur
twice before moving to the sixth and final step. 1​
 6. Finally if all of the above fail, in the order presented, I will be forced to resort to an office
referral and alert administration of the continuous classroom behavioral issues. I will
send the student or students immediately to the school student management center until
the class period is over and I can leave the classroom. 1​

1​
: Classroom Positive Behavior Support, Newcomer, 2007
http://www.pbis.org/common/cms/files/pbisresources/B8_Newcomer.pdf

​Classroom Procedures
1. Entering the Classroom
- When entering the classroom each day, students will be expected to compose themselves in a
respectful manner. Talking will be expected when coming through the door, however my hopes
are that the talking is not excessively loud and/or obnoxious. Once they have entered, they will be
expected to move to their seat and prepare their materials for the class period.
- This procedure is important to our class, in that it will provide a sense of calmness and order at
the beginning of a period. It will also help students to take responsibility in the way they conduct
themselves in our classroom environment. Because students will already be prepared after they
enter the classroom, it will make for a smoother transition into the class warm-up.
2. Working Cooperatively
- Seeing that my classroom will have a ​math for all​ attitude, I expect my students to work together,
helping one another achieve all that they can mathematically. While students work within their
groups, they will be expected to equally participate within the activity and the work it entails.
They also will be expected to respect their fellow classmates and their opinions/views of the
material.Thus, students will be active listeners while also being positive when responding to what
their classmates have said.
- Once students graduate and begin working a job, it will be crucial that they know how to
successfully work with their fellow employees. Therefore, practicing now will benefit them in the
future. It will also allow my students to get different perspectives on problems they encounter
within an activity or problem. We do not all think the same way and by working in groups they
will experience at least one other opinion on the matter.
3. Needing a Pencil or Paper
- Students are expected to have all necessary materials they need for class, such as a pencil and
their notebook. However, if a student forgets to bring a pencil or their notebook, these items will
be provided on the following stipulations. Students may loan a pencil. This meaning that in order
to use one of my available pencils the student must provide me with their electronic device or
some other valuable item to them, until they return their pencil at the end of the class. Paper, I
will be more lenient. Unless we have a class activity taking place, students will only be given up
to two sheets of paper per class period. Most notes in our class will be given as a paper copy,
therefore two sheets should be plenty.
- Running out of pencils and paper constantly can begin to be a financial issue for a teacher,
especially if the school does not have an abundance of resources. Thus, to help keep students
 responsible and purchases of pencils and paper down, the above would be enforced as a
procedure. When high school students move out into the “real” world, they will have to learn that
in order to be successful you must also be responsible. Therefore, I would like for my students to
realize the importance of being responsible and that consequences will follow if they are not.
4. Taking Tests/Quizzes
- When taking tests and quizzes, students will be expected to come to class prepared. Before they
are seated they will be required to spread out as much as possible from their fellow peers and also
abide by academic integrity during the duration of the test/quiz. Electronic devices should be off
and placed within their bookbags, unless otherwise instructed by the teacher. Students will also be
expected to remain silent during their test or quiz and not communicate with their classmates until
the test/quiz has concluded or until they are informed by the teacher. Once students have
completed their test/quiz and turned it into their teacher, they are then expected to sit quietly,
working on an assignment within the current class.
- This procedure will assist in the prevention of academic dishonesty, not by just eliminating the
closeness of students to their other peers but also through putting away electronic devices. By
requiring students to remain silent during the duration of the test, then they will be respecting
their fellow peers. All-in-all, it will be providing all students with hopefully a distraction free
environment.
5. Ending the Class Period/Dismissal
- I, the teacher, will make the decision as to when class will be concluding for the day. Therefore,
students will be expected to remain seated and materials remaining out on their desks, until I have
given the announcement that students can begin to pack up for the day. Once I have provided this
instruction, students will then be allowed to gather up their belongings and stand beside or behind
their desks. As long as the students are behaving in a calm and collective manner, I will then
release the students into the hall by the sound of the school bell.
- By requiring the students to remain seated and paying attention until I have allowed them to pack
up their materials I will be able to continue out my lesson as long as possible. I would also like to
place my clock, if at all possible, at the back of my classroom where students are unable to look at
it without turning their head. If they turn their heads to look, I will then be able to determine who
is off focus and may need to have their attention redirected. I also hope that by holding my
students at their desks until the bell rings, they will not be a disruption to other classes down the
hallway that are still in session.