Classroom Management Plan

Classroom Management Plan

EDCI 3382

Victoria Pecot

Louisiana State University

Classroom Management Plan

Classroom management is a term used by educators that refers to a variety of techniques

teachers use to keep their class, and students organized. These techniques also keep students on

task, and allows lessons to run smoothly without behavioral issues. Classroom management is

influenced, however, by the knowledge of child development and learning, knowledge of

appropriate content, and knowledge of effective teaching strategies, (Kostelnik, pg. 75).

Classroom management is important so that teachers have an easier grasp on controlling and

running his/her classroom smoothly. It is also important because the right classroom

management influences a child’s learning development in the class. When classroom

management is strong, teachers’ skills that are strengthened include, but are not limited to:

Healthy and positive relationships between teacher and student, strong structure and consistency

in the classroom, positive relationships between parent and teacher, and strong teaching methods.

This shows why classroom management is so important, which can also tie into self-regulation

of children. When classroom management is strong, playtime and curriculum influences a

positive development for self-regulation. According to Vygotsky, “Imaginative play is a leading

factor of development…through such playful substitutions, children are aided in relying on

thought rather than impulse to guide their actions…all activities affords young children the

greatest opportunity to become self-regulated and responsible,” (The Role of Make-Believe Play

in Development of Self-Regulation). This shows how significant play is in self-regulation, and

high-quality play in classrooms can be a context for this development. There are three different

types of play, which are all important to self-regulation. Independent play is a child playing

alone, and is important because it allows a child to think and imagine for themselves, instead of

copying others, (Peer Play) Peer-to-peer play is important because it develops social skills

within children, and allows them to be able to relate to others and their emotions. This now
Classroom Management Plan

develops friendships, and the longing to be accepted by others in their age group, (Peer Play)

Peer-to-adult interactions are important because of Vygotsky’s theory; which includes the fact

that scaffolding is important for the development and learning of skills. Play is overall very

important for self-regulation, which great classroom management can show.

Observed Classroom Management Plan

Description

In my placement classroom, I am in preschool. My mentor teacher uses various

classroom management techniques in her classroom. In her classroom, she has smartly laid out

her noisy centers away from her quiet centers, which is what I also want to do. She has rugs

underneath the noisy areas to muffle the noise. Also, something I plan to do which she does, is

she only allows three friends per center to reduce the noise. She also includes many transitions

between activities, and the students know the songs and what to do when they come on. As well

as the transitions, she also has included these ‘student helper jobs’ poster. It includes a photo of

the job and the word labeled underneath. Underneath that, is a piece of Velcro where a photo of

the student doing that job that week is posted. The jobs are read weekly, and the students love

this. I believe it also is developmentally appropriate because they are learning responsibility,

which is good for their development. For behavior management, she just makes sure they

manage their own conflicts and only steps in when needed. However, when bad behavior does

arise that does not quit, she does send home a note to the parents. This is developmentally

appropriate by developing positive relationships with the families. My mentor teacher is

extremely sweet with her children, always giving positive feedback and fostering her
Classroom Management Plan

relationships with them. The environment in this classroom, as well as throughout the entire

school, is extremely fostering to develop young relationships.

The management plan in place is working well, and children are responding positively to

it. For example, the students know the transition songs and what to do for them. When I had to

do my transition project, I had to play my own clean up song, and they were confused because

they are so used to the normal ones that my mentor teacher plays every day, which works with

them. Whenever students show behavior issues that are extreme, my teacher corrects them

immediately and ensures that the child knows what they did was wrong. Sometimes, if it is

extreme, a timeout is in order, or a note will go home. I think this is appropriate, because none of

these corrections are coercive behavior.

Personal Classroom Management Plan

Description

When I have my own classroom, I will have specific routines and strategic placements of

things throughout it. I will organize my room strategically so that noisy areas (like block area)

are separated from the quiet areas, with rugs under the noisy centers to muffle the noise. Also, to

ensure that each center does not get too loud, I will only allow a few students per center. I also

plan to use DAP, and label almost everything in my class, with laminated pictures of what it is

under the word. This is so that the children know where things belong and where to put them

back- also to familiarize themselves with words. I will have signs and posters in many areas,

including a feelings poster. I want to make a feelings poster so that throughout the day, the

children can grab an emotion of how they are feeling and Velcro it under their picture of

themselves. I want to do this because children are still trying to understand how to express their

feelings, and if they know they can easily just change a picture to a ‘mad’ face, for example,
Classroom Management Plan

teachers will easily be able to help them regulate this. This also develops positive self-regulation.

I plan to use bathroom routine posters, of pictures of kids washing their hands as a reference, a

schedule poster for ‘morning meeting, then centers, etc.’

Transitions, transitions, transitions. I plan to use many transitions throughout and in-

between every next activity on the schedule. My transitions will include songs for cleanup, or

lineup, or for morning meeting. This also allows the children to self-regulate themselves because

they will have to figure out what to do based on the song on their own, and follow directions.

Also, I saw a tip for classroom management that said to follow the kids from time to time. For

example, “One time I found that all my students had abandoned my circle and gotten interested

in playing under the table. So I got under the table with them. That’s where we continued class,”

(11 Proven Classroom Management Tips for Preschool Teachers). This is a smart tactic because

being flexible and matching their interests allow them to be more engaged in the curriculum. For

behavior management, I will use redirection, but also a reward system. For every very good

behavior, they will be able to get a small thing out a chest of small toy awards. For the children

that are not so good that day, they will not get anything, but this will motivate them to work on

their behavior. I believe that children do learn through play and scaffolding, so integrating a

conducive learning environment for their development is important. I will create a space meant

for a child’s visual, auditory, and emotional development. Children will need support in all of

these areas, and peaking their interest in creativity. This will be my classroom management plan.

Reflection

While doing this plan, I had to reflect on different developmentally appropriate practices

for classroom management, as well as principles of child. It is developmentally appropriate

Classroom Management Plan

according to the NAEYC, to include labels on tables and centers, with pictures of what it is. It is

also developmentally appropriate to post schedules or routines on the walls of the classroom, so

that every student can see it easily. As noted before, this is also good for self-regulation, because

posters such as bathroom routine posters help out children to know how to wash hands, for

example. This goes along with one of the principles of child, number three, which states “Play

promotes joyful learning that fosters self-regulation, language, cognitive and social competencies

as well as content knowledge across disciplines. Play is essential for all children, birth through

age 8,” (Principles of Child Development). With this in mind, I already am seeing that my

classroom management plan as well as my mentor teacher’s is DAP and follows the principles of

child.

Classroom management is very important. Educators need a strong management plan to

run their class smoothly throughout the year, and to foster the development of children’s

learning. As stated in number six of principles of child, “Children’s motivation to learn is

increased when their learning environment fosters their sense of belonging, purpose, and agency.

Curricula and teaching methods build on each child’s assets by connecting their experiences in

the school or learning environment to their home or community settings,” (Principles of Child

Development). This is why classroom management is so important. As mentioned in my

management plan, I plan to use number six through fostering a child’s interests in what they all

want to learn about, at time. I intend to build on their environment and ensure my relationship

with them is positive as well as with their family.

This plan was very interesting to take into account of what I wanted for my own

classroom management. I enjoyed feeling as though I was going through the motions of making

my own classroom management plan, with the hope and reasoning that it would be based on
Classroom Management Plan

different theories, DAP, and principles. I also enjoyed seeing my mentor teacher’s management

plan, and connecting how that is also developmentally appropriate and positive for students’

development.
Classroom Management Plan

References

Berk, L. E. (2018, February). Play-based learning: The Role of Make-Believe Play in

Development of Self-Regulation. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development.

http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/play-based-learning/according-experts/role-make-

believe-play-development-self-regulation.

Flavin, B. (2019, October 21). 11 Proven Classroom Management Tips for Preschool Teachers.

Rasmussen College. https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/classroom-

management-tips/.

Kostelnik, M. J., Soderman, A. K., Whiren, A., & Rupiper, M. (2019). Developmentally

appropriate curriculum: best practices in early childhood education (7th ed.). Pearson.

NAEYC. (2011). Principles of Child Development and Learning and Implications That Inform

Practice. NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/position-statements/dap/principles.

Scott, H. K., & Cogburn, M. (2020, July 10). Peer Play.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513223/.