Karla Martinez Galarza

Classroom Management Plan

 When I first began designing my classroom, I wanted the students to sit in a U shape,

because I saw this arrangement in one of my observations. The teacher that was using this

arrangement seemed to make it work for her class. As I researched and thought of the

complications that this arrangement could cause in my class, I decided it was not the best fit for

the math classroom I want.

For my final arrangement, I decided to have a cabinet at the entrance of the room, in this

cabinet, students will be able to turn in their homework, they will also be able to pick up the

worksheet we will be using for the day, they will be able to pick up a textbook, if we have any, in

the cabinet there is also space for supplies that we might need for the day. Since I decided to

have a flexible sitting, I have assigned the corner next to the cabinet, as space where students

will pick up their desired chair. In my classroom, I have a "help desk." The help desk will be

used during independent work, the times I am not walking around the classroom, I will be at the

desk assisting any student that might need extra help. The carpet will be used during independent

work, and students will have the option to sit on the carpet while they do their work. My students

will be sitting in groups of three, and they will be able to have classmates answer small questions

if needed. The clusters of three are not next to each other, and there is not another group right in

front of one another, so I hope there will not be any issues with students covering the board from

other students. My desk is in front of the room so I can have a better visual of my students. I

have also added a few of the posters I would like to have in my classroom.

In front of the classroom I will have the classroom rules. The rules will be in the front, so

students and I have a reminder of how to behave in the classroom. In the front of the classroom, I
will also have an encouragement or inspirational poster. Next, to my desk, I want to place the "I

am part of" poster where students will be able to share with me their involvement in any class

activity. Lastly, I will also have a poster about math, and this poster will change according to the

unit we are learning. I hope that this classroom arrangement fits my class and creates productive

learners.

As I learned from this class, I will allow students to participate in making the classroom

behavior rules. I want to teach middle school math, meaning I will have different classes and one

set of behavior rules might not apply to all of them. The first day of classes I will provide

students with a list of rules that I think they must be part of the classroom, and then I will allow

them to add any other rules they believe that we might need. Behavior rules that will not be

negotiable will be, 1. Respect others 2. Raise your hand to speak if the teacher is instructing. 3.

Cell Phones will not be used while the teacher is teaching. Might be able to use it during

independent work but it will be a, not a right that can be taken away at any time. Students and I

will also create the consequences if these rules are not followed. Once we have a list finalized, I

will make copies of these rules and the students, and at least one parent will have to sign these

behavior rules. Then students will have to glue them on the first page of the math journals.

I will also have rules that are not negotiable that include tardiness, not turning in homework and

missing tests. I have decided to have flexible seats, meaning my chairs will vary from exercise

balls to regular chairs. At first, I will only have verbal warnings. If a student is continuously late

he/she will not be allowed to choose a flexible chair and will have to sit in a regular chair. If the

tardiness continues, they will be sent to after-school detention. Homework will be allowed to be

turned in two class periods after the day that it was issued. After that there will be a deduction of

five points per day, they cannot turn it in after a week. When students miss a test, I will be
available during lunch, after or before school with an appointment and any of my regular tutorial

days without an appointment. Cheating on a test will not be acceptable, and students will get an

automatic zero. They will also have a week to take their test. I will make sure to have a poster

with these rules, they will also be in my class website and will be sent home on the first day of

classes so the students and parents can sign it.

One of my all-time favorite teachers always stood outside her classroom and greeted us

as we walked in. Not only did she welcome her students but she also greeted students from

neighborhood classrooms. That is an example I want to follow. I understand the importance of

building relationships with students and from personal experience I know we all appreciated

when Mrs. Smith did that for us.

Once the bell rings, I will have the warm-up on the board, sometimes students will be

able to do it with their groups, and other times it will be independent work, but it will be stated

on the board. I will have a timer for the warm-up. When the timer goes off, I will ask one person

from each group to share their answer with the class, and I will explain the right answer. We will

then move on to any class activity or lesson that I have planned for the day.

If I am being interrupted during instructional time, students will get three verbal

warnings. If the misbehavior continues after the three warnings, I will ask the student to please

move their desk either a bit forward or backward depending where his/her desk is located. I will

not be completely isolating the students, but I will be letting the students know that they are

being acknowledged. If none of these procedures work, I will then privately ask the students to

stay after class and will see why the issues with behavior.

I hope to end class by providing students with an exit ticket. I want to use the last five minutes of

class for the exit ticket and us to maybe have a small conversation. The conversation can be
about an event going on at school or around the community. We could also have some students

share their weekend plans or something interesting that happened to them that day. I believe that

if we end classes like this, we are giving students a positive closure. This will be a great way to

release stress and helps us as a class start with a clean slate next class period.

Growing up I was an ESL student, and I think that my teachers could have done a bit

more to make my transition easier. Knowing how difficult it was for me, I want to try my best to

accommodate all different types of students.

There will be many different types of students in my classroom. I do not have a plan for

all of them at this moment, but I have thought of arrangements for some that might be the most

common. If I have students that have ADHD, I will have exercise balls that they can use as

chairs, one of the teachers I observed mentioned to be how great these balls were for students

with ADHD. For my students that are ESL students, I will have online and classroom word

walls. I know these are very common, but as an ESL student, I know that they were helpful. I

speak, and if my ESL students are Spanish speaking, I will know what words they will confuse

the most and try to emphasize their definition. I know that not all my ESL students will speak

Spanish, and will have to have other ways to help my students. Another thing I will do will be

that during a test I will be able to explain the definition to any word that they want that is not

math related. The teachers used to allow us to use a dictionary but I was too scared I would run

out of time that I hardly used it. For students who are gifted or talented, I will make sure that

every test has an additional bonus question that it is a level ahead of what we are leaving. I will

also recommend them for pre-ap classes.

One way I will make sure my students are involved it is by allowing them to make the

classroom rules. In their groups of three, I will also have a member who is in charge of getting
the supplies for their groups, and this role will rotate every three months. I will also have two

students help me during fire drills, and these students will be in charge of getting the class roster.

Two students in case one is absent.

Classroom management might look different for each class, and plans might not work the

way I expect them so I will have to be ready to improvise and make the best of the moment.