The Evolution of Mr. Fiel’s Classroom Management : The Evolution of Mr. Fiel’s Classroom Management What Worked, What Didn’t, and New Ideas


Classroom Management: Classroom Management The creation and maintenance of a consistently respectful and effective learning environment for students and teachers (no change).


My Philosophy(no change): My Philosophy (no change) The teacher is responsible for organizing and enforcing a system that emphasizes progress and maximizes learning and healthy social relations between all members of the classroom. An effective system implements positive consequences when expectations are met and negative consequences when they are not. In a climate of mutual respect, all students will expect the best from themselves, their classmates, and their teachers, and they will be motivated to meet these expectations.


Expectations: Expectations Respect Responsibility Honesty These are the same expectations I started with, and they’re fine with my kids.


Positive Consequences: August 1, 2006: Positive Consequences: August 1, 2006 Individual Rewards: ticket system (3=candy, 5=homework pass or 5 quiz points) *This worked well when used. Class Gem Jars: Fill up the jar and win a party. *Abysmal failure, jars conveniently disappeared in October. Student of the Month in each class: gets a certificate and a candy bar of their choice. *Awesome


Negative Consequences: August 1, 2006: Negative Consequences: August 1, 2006 Warning – because I’m nice. Student Discipline Report to be signed by parent/guardian. TGIF Detention and a call home. Office Referral (ISS). *These consequences were taken off the wall after two weeks and thrown away. What a disaster.


Changes: Positive Consequences: Changes: Positive Consequences Tickets: use more often No more class reward system Student of the Month Wall of photos: give pictures away as rewards


Changes: Negative Consequences: Changes: Negative Consequences Warning (a general complaint about a student’s behavior qualifies) Writing Assignment Referral, Call home


More Negative Consequences: More Negative Consequences In order to meet the needs of all my students, alternative consequences may be used (I’m willing to experiment), including Coach Fant Get out of my class Corporal punishment Isolation


Writing Assignments: Writing Assignments Must be done in own handwriting. If the writing assignment is not turned in prior to the next class, another will be added. If it is still incomplete, you cannot come back to my class without it. I will not grade any more of your work until it’s complete. I will cancel any extra credit for students with unfinished writing assignments. I may add more general threats to this policy.


Tardy Policy: New and Improved, hopefully: Tardy Policy: New and Improved, hopefully If not in assigned seat at sound of bell, you have a tardy writing assignment. Tardies will accumulate throughout the week. 2nd tardy is 2 writing assignments, 3rd is 3, etc. After 4 tardies, a student will be referred to the office. Students 5 or more minutes late will be written up for skipping class.


New and Improved: Bathroom Policy: New and Improved: Bathroom Policy Each class will have it’s own pass. Students may go when I feel like it. The pass can be suspended due to food in class, improper dismissal, noise violations, etc. This is a good class punishment. If the pass is lost, so are bathroom privileges.


New and Improved:Noise Policy: New and Improved: Noise Policy I didn’t really have one last year, and I need one. NO YELLING!!!!!!!! Traffic Light System: Red Light: No noise, stay seated and on task. Yellow Light: No talking or moving while I’m talking. Raise hand to ask to get up, may whisper with neighbors to get help, if I’m not talking. Green Light: Free to move to get materials and talk quietly as long as you are on task and helping each other. Infractions = loss of bathroom pass, writing assignments, change seat, etc.


Same Old, Same Old: Same Old, Same Old I dismiss class, not the bell. Drinks w/ lids OK, food is not. No work that isn’t for my class without my permission. (Actually enforce this year.) Keep it clean


Very Important: Make-up Work Policy (modified): Very Important: Make-up Work Policy (modified) No make-up or late work without an excuse from the office. If a student must make up something without an excuse, a responsibility writing assignment must accompany the work. I keep a make-up work folder, and students get their work on their own. Excused absences: students have the amount of days missed to make up all work.


Copying/Cheating (new): Copying/Cheating (new) Require students to verbally explain answers that I suspect are copied. Copied assignments will receive a 0. I may choose to allow students to make up the assignment with the completion of an honesty writing assignment.


Parental Contact: Parental Contact Actually call them all this year. At least find out who the people are who are interested in each student’s performance, whether that would be parents, siblings, friends, coaches, teachers, or anyone else.


Food for Thought: Food for Thought Consistency is great, but flexibility is important too, and certain students may need alternative consequences, which I hope to figure out and use to my advantage. Keep an open mind and experiment to find what works.