Classroom Management

Field Report #1: Classroom Management

Berenisse Cruz

Tarrant County College

Classroom Management

The required field experience was conducted at Keller Independent School District. The

classroom observation was conducted in Mrs. Self 4th grade math and science at Caprock

Elementary School. Mrs. Self teaches with one other colleague, and they rotate classes mid-day.

Physical Space

Mrs. Self’s, classroom was located on the second floor of the building, room 233. Her

classroom had two pink walls as well as two blue walls, she had dangling star lights hanging

across the celling. When they start with the individual work, she has the room dark, with some

light brought by the dangling lights, when it’s time to learn the lights are turned on. The

classroom is arranged in groups of four with 6 seats. By the door there are cubes where they have

their supplies (books, notebooks, etc.) And their backpack’s along with their belongings were

hanging underneath. On top of the cubes, she has past class pictures. The students share desk

with the rotating class, they have their iPad, headphones and any close supplies they share. Mrs.

Self has a designated spot where she displays her students work. As well as posters of what’s

expected in the classroom. There is a teacher’s desk, and a group table, which next to it there is a

shelf with math modules. There is a projector that is controlled with the teachers iPad and a

smart board. By the teacher’s desk there is a sign that says Learners, with the picture of each

student.

Discipline System

Mrs. Self, behavior standards are displayed on top of the white board where she has

poster boards with the expectations of the classroom. They are student teacher collaboration, for

example, there is a poster that says, “first things first” and what they created as a class was “big

rocks before little rocks” “know what’s important”, and so on. To reward good behavior the

teacher hands out “gator bucks” where they can collect money and later buy their self-something
Classroom Management

in the class store. When it was time to move on to science and put away their belongings, there

was one table that followed directions, and waited patiently for doing so, Mrs. Self, handed them

out some gator bucks. Students are required to reach a goal on their math progress, depending

how many students completed their work they would receive a reward, this day the received 7

minutes of free time which they quickly lost for not following directions.

When Mrs. Self, had a student in her group table, she had him cut his flashcards, he

handed over the scissors to the student next to him, she thanks him and gave him a positive

attribution for doing so. After lunch, students transition to math, they were working on their

Dream Box program. There was a student that kept running around, was anxious and couldn’t

keep himself in his seat. Mrs. Self, called him over to talk to him about his behavior, she asked

“what can I do for you to behave better?” The student said that his mom would be mad and upset

for his behavior, so she told him she will give him until the end of the day for him to behave

himself or the consequence will be to sit by himself. When Mrs. Self needs to get the class

attention she calls out “badabim” and they respond back “badabom” that way the class knows

she is requiring their attention and they need to be silence.

Routines and Procedures

As soon as students walk in, they take attendance, and get their chairs, then proceed to do

freckle and flashcards on their iPads. When they were done with their multiplication speed test,

Mrs. Self, had them raise their paper as she walked around and picked up their paper. When they

had to put up their privacy folder, they were called by groups to put away their supplies. By the

teacher’s desk, Mrs. Self has a bulletin board where she has leaders, this is where she has jobs

assigned for her classroom, (line leader, chair stacker, bankers, etc.) along with the student

picture. When they are working on individual work, students could get up one at a time to go to
Classroom Management

the restroom, they had to write their name on the white board by the door and erase it when they

got back. During lecture time they are not allowed to leave, they must ask for permission, but

beforehand they had to give their work a try. Students finish work early during math class, they

hop back on Dream box to get caught up with their leadership portfolios. During individual work

if the student needs help, they can come up to the group table and ask their question.

Impressions

After completing my first four hours of observation in Mrs. Self, classroom I was able to

see how different her classes were. I was able to see how students are not all the same. I was able

to talk to Mrs. Self when we have the opportunity and gave me some advice about teaching. One

thing that Mrs. Self, mentioned to me was that their class were COVID- babies. When the

pandemic hit, they were in Kinder and now they are in the Fourth grade. There are expected to be

a certain standard and they are currently at a low standard. One thing she admitted to me was that

she is struggling with her class to follow directions and stay focus on their task. In her 15 years

of teaching, this has been one struggle class. I never actual thought that having class online

affected the learning of the new year. I was able to see the difference from her morning class and

her evening one. While the morning one is far more advance the afternoon one is still behind on

decimals. Before leaving one of her students came up to me “you will be a great teacher” and

brought some joy into me and had a smile for the rest of the day. She will be in thoughts when

things are getting stressful.