Beaty 1

Part I: Classroom Organization

A: Physical (Desk arrangements, learning centers, small group
work area(s), computers, audio-visual or instructional equipment,
and bulletin boards, etc.)
*Classroom drawing is attached on the last page
Welcome to my third grade classroom!
The moment my students walk into my classroom they will be
surrounded by a friendly and welcoming learning environment. The goal of
my classroom setup is for my students to have the best opportunities to
learn as possible. My classroom is organized, which will give my students
stability in their daily classroom routines, procedures, and ultimately their
learning.
Once a student walks into my classroom door, they will see the unit
bulletin board. I think this is important to have right when they walk in so
that every student knows what they will be learning about, as well as
sparking interest for the subject. I also have bathroom passes right by the
door so that students do not need to disturb instructional time when picking
up and dropping off their passes. My classroom has a large whiteboard in the
front of the classroom where each student can see it. This is where I would
teach all of my major lessons. This is also where the projector screen is
located so that when I incorporate media into my lessons, it will be an easy
transition. I have a rolling cart with a projector and an ELMO so that I can
easily roll it to the front of the projector screen for multimedia presentations.
There is a large rug for students right in front of the whiteboard for when I
have an especially interactive lesson where student will come up to the
board often. This will take less instructional time to have them seated close
to the board, instead of having them walk all the way from their desks to
write on the board. I have the windows against one side wall, and not in the
front of the classroom so that students dont stare outside when they should
be paying attention to a lesson.
My students desks are arranged in groups of four. Each student has a
view of the front the classroom, where the majority of the learning will take
place, as well as the back of the room, where there are maps and other
helpful tools which will be used during lessons. I have my students in small
groups to make cooperative learning and group work easier. This is also a
great way for students to get to know each other and form a sense of
camaraderie. I plan on putting a lot of thought into where I seat students
based on how they learn and I will switch them often enough so that they get
to work with all of their classmates.

Beaty 2
The teacher desk is set in a back corner so that
I
have my own space, but I can also see each and
every child as they sit in their desks. I will have a
view of the entire classroom and I will be able to
catch any troublesome behavior and keep students on task. My desktop has
a computer for my personal use, along with a bell to get students attention
and a turn-in basket for any student assignments. I also have a lot of space
behind my desk for storage, as well as a filing cabinet so I can keep track of
each students progress. I have a G/C/F (grade/copy/file) organizer so that I
can stay on top of all important documents. Next to my desk is a bulletin
board, which has the lunch count and the weekly job listings on it. Each day
when my students walk into my classroom before the morning bell, they will
find their name on the lunch count board and pin it under which lunch option
they want for that day (you can also do this with magnets) this is also a way
to do attendance without wasting any class time. Each week, students will
have a classroom job to do in order to teach them responsibility. These jobs
will be rotated each week and are posted on the bulletin board to combat
forgetfulness. Next to this bulletin board I have shelving for student supply
and craft/art supplies. This is where students can find any classroom items
such as scissors, colored pencils, mini whiteboards, and glue sticks.
The reading center is surrounded by bookcases, which will hold a wide
variety of books to make sure that each students reading level is
represented. Series of books or books by the same author will be in bins so
that students can easily access them. This section of the classroom is meant
to be a reading sanctuary, and students will be expected to keep their voices
to a whisper in this section of the classroom. There are also a couple comfy
chairs in this area so that students can relax and read their books during
sustained silent reading time. Next to this reading area, I have the read aloud
area. This has a rug for students to sit on while the teacher can sit and read
out loud. I also have an easel in order to be able to write out words or do
mini lessons that may be necessary. Above this reading space, there is a
bulletin board named, The Star of the Show. Each week one student will be
highlighted and they will get to bring in pictures, keepsakes, or other images
to decorate their board for their week. At the end of each week, the star of
the show will give a brief presentation of the board
and their classmates will be able to ask any questions
they have about this person. The teacher will model
this process the first week of school.
Next to this is the cooperative learning/ reading
table. This is where small groups can work with the
teacher to work on areas that they might need special
attention on. It also works great for the teacher to
differentiate instruction and work with groups who are at relatively the same
level or have the same need. This gives students a chance to really get that
extra attention that they often need from their teacher. Next to this are some
student activity and workstations. The first is an animal and plant center.
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During different units, I plan on having students grow their own plants, as
well as having small animals, fish, or even caterpillars turning into butterflies
in this space. Students will learn about different forms of life and how to care
for it. The next station is a world center. This is where there will be a globe,
along with maps of the world, the United States, and also the state that I will
be teaching in. It will give the students a perspective of the world and will
help them with geography lessons. The next station is a
computer/technology station. I think that incorporating technology into
learning and teaching is very important, so I want my students to have
access to media to use in projects, and presentations, as well as to do
research on. There are also tons of education game sites for students to go
on during free time to practice math or reading skills. Above this station I
have the school rules as well as the classroom rules posted so that each
student knows what is expected from their own behavior and so that they
can be held accountable for their actions.
On the next wall I have a wheeling cart with a DVD and a VHS player so
that I can incorporate media from previous years that I might not be able to
find on the Internet. This can be a great way for students to learn. Next,
there is a long counter with tissues, a pencil sharpener, a sink, as well as a
drinking fountain for student use. Underneath this counter there is a cubby
for every student. This is their take home cubby, so everything that goes
into that cubby during the day is either homework, or something to take
home to their parents. They can also store any books that they are reading
and borrowing from my classroom to take home to read. All other student
materials should be stored in their desk. Each student will have a locker
outside of the classroom to put any coats and backpacks.
Above the long counter there are many cabinets for my own
storage. This is where I can keep any supplies that I might need
during the school day. Next to the counter there is a trashcan
and a recycling bin. I want to teach my students the importance
of recycling so having a bin next to the trash can is a good
reminder to students to stop and think if what they were about
to throw away could be recycled. Next there is a telephone for
teacher and student use, and an intercom for any office announcements. I
plan to have an American flag hanging over this area, along with the pledge
of allegiance, so students dont feel embarrassed if they do not know the
words.
I will make sure to have a clock in the back of the room so that I can
see it while I am teaching to make sure that I am on time, but also so that
my students cannot see it while they are focusing on learning. I hope that my
classroom provides my students with a sense of security as well as providing
them with the best opportunities to learn. My classroom is set up for the
ultimate learning experience, now all it needs is a group of students who are
as excited about learning as their teacher is.

B. Operational
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1. Record Keeping
Technology is becoming more widely used in schools and classrooms.
Because of this trend, I plan on recording all of my students grades on a
computer system. All grades will be recorded by subject, date, student, and
specific assignment. By using this type of system, I can easily enter grades
as percentages, or as letter grades. At the end of each week I will print out
each students grades for that week and put them in their individual
portfolios so that I can easily access them. Printing them off at the end of the
week will also serve as a sort of back up system. Having these paper copies
will help me if the computer system ever crashes. Having the students
grades available at all times in these portfolios allows students to keep track
of their grades and take responsibility and ownership for their learning.
These portfolios will also be very useful during conference time. I can easily
pull out a students scores and grades to show their parents their weekly
progress. It will also be helpful for me, as the teacher, to look at a students
scores to determine what I need to do in my instruction to cater to each of
my students needs.
2. Attendance and Lunch Procedures
My attendance and lunch procedures will be intertwined. I will have a
magnetic whiteboard right next to my desk with magnets for each student in
my class. Each magnet will have a student name on it. On this whiteboard I
will have the lunch choices posted for that day. There will be the lunch
options that the school is offering, as well as a home lunch option. Each
morning, my students will get into the routine of coming up to this
whiteboard, finding their name, and moving their magnet under the lunch
option that they would like for that particular day. This will be a classroom
procedure that will be practiced. Each child will be expected to move their
magnet before the morning bell rings and class starts. I can
easily count up the number of lunches under each option to
send down to the office as the class starts their morning
routine. This doubles as an attendance procedure because I
will easily be able to see who is not in my class, by looking
at who did not move their magnet. Of course, I will double
check to see if the students are actually not in class or if
they just forgot to move their magnet, especially during the
first few weeks of school. This allows me to take lunch count
and attendance without taking any class time away from my students, and it
maximizes their learning time.
3. New Students
Being a new student can be a very scary experience, and it is the job
of the classroom teacher to help make their transition into a new classroom
as easy and seamless as possible. In the beginning of the school year, each
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student in my classroom will be a new student to my class on the first day. To
ease their transition into a new year and a new teacher, I will send a letter
home to the parents as well as to the students before the school year starts.
This letter will contain information on how to be successful in my class, along
with contact information, a list of needed school supplies, my classroom
management plan, a list of important dates to remember, and most
importantly, my letter will say how excited I am for the new school year to
begin and to have each student in my class.
On the first day of school, I will stand by the door and introduce myself
to each student who walks in with a smile. I will have nametags on their
assigned desks so that each student knows where to sit, and there will be a
fun assignment for the students on their desk for them to complete. I will
make sure that my classroom is a welcoming and safe environment so that
each and every student feels at ease on their first day in a new class.
For new students that enter my classroom throughout the year, I will
be sure to make this transition as easy as possible for them. Before they
arrive in my classroom, I will prep my class for having a new student. This
will be a great way to have a discussion about what it might feel like to be
the new kid or how they could help this new student feel at home in our
classroom. On the day that the new student arrives, I will already have a
desk set up in my room for them with a nametag on it. I will give them a
folder of handouts of classroom rules and procedures that the rest of the
class talked about in the first weeks of school. I will be sure to go over these
rules with the student and it might even be helpful to review this with the
whole class if some students need some reminders of what is expected of
them. I will be sure to make the new student feel at home in my class by
doing activities that will let them be involved in the class and meet their new
classmates. I will also make sure to remember that this is a new student, and
that they need time to acclimate to a new class. I will continue to help them
and to remind them of the rules and procedures when necessary until they
have had enough time to get the hang of my classroom. I will make each
new student feel special and safe in my classroom so that they can learn and
grow to their fullest potential.

A place for everything and everything in

its place.
-Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
4. Classroom Order
The best way to keep your classroom orderly is to make sure that there
is a place for everything in your classroom and that each student knows
where everything should go. I would do this by labeling. There would be
labels on drawers, bins, and storage containers that say exactly what is
contained in them. This way students can find what they need, as well as
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able to put everything back into the correct spot. Things that will be in
labeled containers can range from art supplies and game pieces, to books
and worksheets.
I will also be sure to give students enough time at the end of activities
or at the end of the day to make sure they put everything that they used
away. Each student will be expected to keep track of everything they
borrowed from a labeled bin, and to put each item back into the correct bin.
As the teacher, I will make sure that I am very orderly and organized in
my classroom. I will keep my records, lesson plans, and supplies where I can
access them easily and where they will not be lost. I will make sure that my
classroom is organized. By displaying my expectations for order and
organization with my own actions, my students will see the modeled
expectations and follow my lead. If the teacher is organized, then their
students are more likely to be organized as well.
Another way to keep order in my classroom is to keep a daily schedule
visible to all students. Having a daily routine is very important in an
organized classroom, but daily specials, such as gym class, or music/art,
schedules are often different from day to day. This is why I would have the
schedule for the day posted so that each student knows what to expect for
the day and knows what they should be doing. This schedule will be in the
same spot in the classroom everyday so the students know exactly where to
look. A spot on one of the whiteboards in my classroom will be reserved for
this schedule. This will minimize confusion and help facilitate easy and
smooth transitions between subjects and activities.
5. Student Desks
My students will be expected to keep their desks clean and organized. I
will teach them strategies on how to keep their desks as organized as
possible, such as having notebook and folders on one side, and books on the
other. I will also require each student to have a pencil case inside their desk
to keep all of their pencils and other loose items. This keeps the amount of
lost items at a minimum as well as makes it easier to keep their desks clean.
Each day my students will be expected to keep their desks clean. They
all have take home cubbies, so everything in their desks should be what
stays at school. Everyday, before lunch and recess, my students will need to
clean their desktops. Everything that they might have used in the beginning
of the day must be put away in its correct place. The only thing that should
be on the top of their desks will be their planners. When they are at recess, I
can check to see if their parents signed their planners. This is just one way
that I will use to communicate with parents. Students will also be required to
clean their desktops at the end of each day before they are able to leave my
classroom. I expect each student to be able to take care of his or her own
space. I will also set aside a few minutes of class time once a month (or
every time the students move seats) to do a big clean out of desks. This is
where students can go through everything and throw away stray papers or
scraps. This cleaning process should not take long because my students are
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expected to have their desks clean and organized everyday.
Being organized is very important and it will teach my students
to take care of their own belongings and be responsible for their
own space.
6. Displaying Student Work
Displaying the work of your students is a very important
aspect of a welcoming and supportive classroom community.
Every classroom should be a reflection of the students who learn in it, and
this can be done by displaying students work both inside the classroom,
either on bulletin boards or hanging from the ceiling, as well as out in the
hallway. Having their work put up for everyone to see allows students to
have pride in their effort. Seeing their work gives them a sense of
accomplishment and is a great motivation technique to use in the classroom.
Although I believe putting up students work is important, the decision will
ultimately be left up to my students. I will be sure to tell my students ahead
of time if I plan on displaying their work, and if a student does not want their
work displayed for some reason, then they can simply draw a small X by
their name. Displaying student work not only gives the classroom a sense of
community, but it also increases student enthusiasm and gives them
satisfaction in their work.

Part II: Disciplinary Policies and Professional

Ethics
A: Disciplinary Policies
1. Establishing Rules and Expectations
Classroom rules and expectations should be explained on the first day
of school. I will sit my students down and have a conversation with them
about what kind of behavior I expect out of my students and why these are
so important. I think that having them discuss the reasons behind my rules
will help them see why they are relevant. In my classroom I will have my own
set of rules and expectations that I will expect each of my students to follow.
I will keep this list short, and positive. In my classroom, I will call my rules,
expectations because these are things that I expect each student to do. My
classroom expectations are as follows:
1. Raise your hand when you want to speak
2. Listen to your teacher and to your classmates
3. Be respectful
4. Stay on task
5. Try your best
Each of these expectations are important, and I will go over each one with
the students so that they understand what each expectation entails. Many
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students might not understand what be respectful would mean, and
explaining this and having discussions with my students is very important for
them to be able to take responsibility for these expectations.
I will also have my students create their own class expectations. I will
guide their discussion and help them blend their answers, but I want my
students to be the thinkers and decide what their own expectations for
themselves and their classmates will be. This allows students to take
personal responsibility for their actions, and gives them a sense of power
over their classroom experience. These student expectations, as well as my
teacher expectations will be posted on my classroom wall, as a constant
reminder of what behavior should be like in my classroom.
I will also have the school rules posted in my room. I
think that this is important because a school is a
community, and it is important to obey the rules of the
school in addition to the rules of your individual
classroom. These school rules set the expectations for
every child no matter where they are in the school. These
rules are the same in the classroom, on the playground,
and in the lunchroom, and every staff member should
know these rules so that they are able to enforce them.
This will give the students a sense of consistency, and
they will always know what is expected of their behavior while they are in
school.
2. Consequences
With every rule or expectation, there are consequences. In my
classroom there will be positive and negative consequences. Negative
consequences will be dispersed because of classroom or school rule
infractions or misbehavior, and positive consequences or rewards will be
given out for following both classroom and school rules.
My classroom behavior will be monitored by a clip system. Each
students name will be on a clothespin and each childs clip will start on the
green section of the clipboard each day. The clipboard has a green section, a
yellow section, an orange section, and a red section. The students will need
to move their clip if they misbehave or break the rules of my classroom. The
yellow section is a warning. If the student moves their clip to yellow, they
know they have broken a rule and have gotten a warning to change their
behavior. The orange section means that the student will need to fill out a
think sheet. Student will have to sit at the back table until they have
finished filling out this sheet. A think sheet has three questions on it that
force the student to think about their behavior and how they could fix it. The
first question asks them what their behavior was. The second asks them to
explain why this behavior is not acceptable in the classroom. The third
question asks the child to describe what they can do next time. In this
section they can describe how they can change their behavior or how they
can handle a certain situation better next time. The red section of the
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clipboard, or red zone is reserved for more serious infractions. If a student
has to move their clip to this section, then they loose their recess time. This
is always based on severity of the misbehavior. If the student needs a break
from the classroom to cool down, then I can send them into a partner
teachers classroom for a few minutes until they are ready to rejoin my class.
Multiple red zones in a day result in contacting the parents. I will only
involve the office as a last resort. I believe it is the classroom teachers job to
handle his or her class and the principal and office staff are a last resort for
behavior issues, and should be reserved for crisis of extreme behaviors.
Schools often have set consequences for their rules, and I will abide by
those in my classroom. If it is a school rule that a student gets a detention or
a demerit if they are caught texting in class, then it is my obligation to follow
through on the determined consequences. My classroom will also work
together to earn class points. This creates a sense of community and
unifies the class towards a common goal. Once the class has reached 100
class points, then they will earn a reward of their choosing.
The class will be able to vote on the class reward that they
would like out of the options that I give them. Some options
will be a class party, pajama day, or extra free learning time.
If the class as a whole is misbehaving or breaking classroom
or school rules, then they will loose some of their class
points. This also works for positive consequences and
reinforcement. The entire class can earn points for good
behavior and following classroom or school rules. This way they are
reinforced for their good behavior and get rewarded with something that
they want.
Another way that I will give positive consequences to my students for
following my classroom expectations as well as the school rules is to give out
behavior bucks. I will give out these bills when I see a child following the
rules and exhibiting positive behavior. This will reinforce the behavior that I
want to see in all of my students. When a student gets a behavior bill, they
will write their name on it and then put it in the behavior bank. At the end
of each month, I will draw three names from the behavior bank and the
winners receive prizes. This will motivate the students to follow expectations,
as well as gives each student something to strive for individually. This system
is a great way to reinforce positive behaviors and reward students for being
start students.
3. Student Disrespect
Disrespect will not be tolerated in my classroom. Each student will
know this starting from the first day of school. One of my classroom rules is
be respectful and we will have a discussion about what exactly being
respectful entails. My students will know what is expected of them and that
disrespectful behavior will not be allowed in my class. Student disrespect to
other students, other teachers, or to myself will be handled swiftly and fairly.
I will start out by saying, that was very disrespectful, and it is NOT ok. I will
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then have the student fill out a think sheet, describing their disrespectful
actions or comments, why this behavior is unacceptable, and then how they
could have handled things differently or how they will change their actions
for next time. This allows the student to reflect on their behavior, and realize
that disrespect is not tolerated in my classroom. After the student has filled
out the think sheet, they will be expected to verbally apologize to whomever
they were disrespectful to. This could include other students (even the entire
class in certain instances), other teachers, or to myself. They will be
expected to make an apology for their actions and then say why they were
wrong. This strategy of handling disrespect will allow my students to realize
quickly that my classroom does not tolerate disrespectful behavior, and it will
decrease the amount of this disrespect in my classroom very quickly.
4. Student Conflict on the Playground
School rules and policies are very important for playground conflict.
Each child must be treated fairly regardless of what classroom or grade they
are in. Schools should have policies in place for what to do in the instance of
a playground conflict. If a fight breaks out on the playground, the first step is
to remove all of the other students from the scene. Often
there will be students who are watching the fight, and
removing them from this danger zone is important. Have
one of the students run and get the authorized personnel
who are designated to handle crisis and physical behavior.
Next try to calm the students down. Do not try to solve
the problem until both parties have had enough time to
cool off. Only after the students have calmed down can you try to problem
solve any further. If there is a conflict on the playground that does not
involve physical aggression, separate the students and give them time to
cool off, and then problem solve with them after they have had time to settle
down. Keeping each student safe on the playground needs to be a priority for
all teachers and staff. Students should know the playground rules that are
put in place to keep them safe. There should also be a school wide
consequences for rule breaking on the playground so that each teacher or
staff member can be fair to each student.
5. Motivation
Good motivation techniques in the classroom can help students reach
their full potential and learn to the best of their abilities. Motivation helps to
combat instances of students not getting their work done, or not trying to
get their work done. It also helps to combat students inattentiveness.
Motivation can successfully keep students on task throughout the school day.
One way that I will keep students motivated is by using a lot of verbal
inspiration. I will do this by using my words to encourage students and make
them feel good about their work. Kind words can do a lot to boost a students
self esteem. I will be sure to verbally tell a student if I like what I see. If they
are working really hard and staying on task, I will tell them that I am
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impressed. If I see them doing something positive in the classroom, I will
verbally tell them that I like their behavior. This will not only continue to
encourage the students who are doing well, but it will also promote positive
behavior in other students because they want the verbal recognition from
their teacher.
Another motivation technique that I will use in my classroom is putting
stickers on students nametags. Every student will have a nametag on their
desk, and every time that I see this student following directions really well, or
being a great helper, or if they get a 100% on a test, they will get a sticker.
Once the student surrounds their entire nametag with stickers, they get to
choose a prize. Prizes can be things like fun erasers, pencils, or notebooks.
This will increase the childs motivation to be on their best behavior, to follow
the classroom expectations, and to do their best academically.
I will require my students to get their planner signed by their parents
every night. I do this as a great way to get parents involved, and also to
make sure that each of my students takes out their planner each night to
make sure that they finished all of their homework. Every day, before my
students head out to lunch, they will leave their planners on their desks open
to the previous day. I will give each student a sticker if they have their parent
or guardians signature in their planner. If a child gets a sticker for every day
of the week, then they will get to choose a small prize, like a pencil or fun
eraser. Students will also have the option of putting off their rewards for
larger prizes. For example, saving up 25 stickers would reward the child with
a one-on-one lunch with their teacher. This will really motivate kids, and
helps to bridge the communication gap between teachers and parents.
Another motivation technique that I will use in my classroom is awards.
I have already touched on behavior bucks and these rewards can be very
motivating to students. Awarding class points is also a great motivation
technique for the entire class. This helps the whole class work together as a
community and work towards a common goal. This motivates students to
follow class expectations, be on their best behavior, and do their best
academically.
6. Classroom Disruptions
Classroom disruptions will be handled quickly and fairly. Learning time
is extremely valuable and disruptions take away from the rest of the class
learning opportunities. Each minute is a precious opportunity to learn. If a
student is being disruptive in my class, I will deal with the problem as quickly
as possible so as not to take away learning time from the rest of my
students. If a student is being disruptive, I will calmly give them limited
choices. One choice will be to stop the disruptive behavior and join the rest
of the class, and the other choice will be the consequence choice. The usual
consequence will be to sit for five minutes at the back table where they
wont disrupt the rest of the class. I will be sure to follow through on the
consequence choice if that is what the student chooses. If a student has a
certain behavior that is constantly disrupting the class, like blurting out
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answers instead of raising their hand, I will require the student to come in for
a recess academy. This is simply a 3-5 minute session where I will have the
student come in during the beginning of their recess time to practice the skill
that is disrupting the class. This will be a quick lesson and it will include a lot
of positive encouragement. This is meant to be a learning experience for the
child and to fix the disruptive behavior without using valuable class time.
7. Tardiness
Tardiness in my classroom will result in a tardy slip,
and students will be expected to make up any work that
they may have missed if they do not have a valid excuse
for being tardy. A parent note or a note from the office is
a
valid excuse, but they will still need to make up the work
that they missed. Class time is very valuable, and if a
student misses due to tardiness, then they will be
expected to come in and make it up either during their
free time, recess, or even after school. I understand that things come up, and
tardiness happens, and I am willing to work with students with what they
have missed. If the student does not have an excuse for tardiness three
times in one week, then a call home will be necessary. Parents should know if
their child is not getting into the classroom on time and missing precious
class time. I can also talk to the parents about how to fix the situation.
Maybe leaving earlier for school is necessary, or having rewards at home for
tardy free weeks. Making it to school on time is of the utmost importance
and I will be sure to help my students in any way that I can. My class will
start with the bell and any missed work will need to be made up.
8. Cheating
Cheating will not be tolerated in my classroom. In the beginning of the
year, each of my students will sign a no cheating agreement. This agreement
will be explained and discussed in detail so that each student knows what
the consequences for cheating are and why cheating is wrong. If I see a child
cheating I will give them a zero on the assignment or test. After the initial
cheating instance, I will call home to the parents to explain the situation and
explain why their child received a zero. The child will also have to write an
apology letter explaining why cheating is wrong, and what they can do better
in the future. For the first cheating offence, I will give the child the
opportunity to retake the test or the assignment for half credit.
My students are still young and make mistakes. This will be a
learning experience for them, and I dont want one zero to
weight down their entire grade. This is why the first offence has
the option to retake for half credit. If they are ever caught
cheating again, then there will be no option to retake to test,
quiz, or assignment, and they will have to call their parents
themselves to explain what they did. They will also have to write an apology
letter to the principal, explaining what they did and why it was wrong.
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Beaty 13

9. Parent/Guardian or Principal Involvement

I believe that parent or guardian involvement is very important when
dealing with student misbehavior. They might have insight into why their
child is acting out that I never would have known otherwise. I also think that
it is important for the classroom teacher to work together with the parents or
guardians to work towards a common goal for the student. Parents will be
notified if their child cheats, and also if they have multiple tardy slips in one
week. Other types of behavior problems that are persistent will also result in
a parent notification. When parent/teacher conferences roll around, the
parents should never be surprised by anything the teacher says, especially
with behavior issues. The teacher should always be in contact with the
parents or guardians and they should work together to help the child in any
way possible.
Principal involvement in student discipline issues should be reserved
for extreme circumstances. It is the classroom teachers job to control
behavioral issues in his or her own class, and principals should only be called
for major issues. Principals have a lot to worry about, and they should not be
called into every classroom every time there is a behavior problem. I would
involve my principal if there was ever a crisis in my classroom where my
students are in danger. I would also involve my principal if a particular
student has had repeated problems that are detrimental to other students
learning, but I would only involve the principal after I had tried many
interventions myself. Teacher should be in charge of their class. Students
respect their teachers much more when they see them handling classroom
problems on their own instead of constantly relying on their principal.

B: Professional Ethics
1. Professional Behavior
I will always maintain a professional behavior while I am in school.
Teachers are held to very high standards, and I will always uphold my
responsibilities as a role model, a caretaker, and a teacher. Parents need to
trust that their children are in good hands during the school day, and I will
always be professional and respectful to show them that I am
a very trustworthy teacher. I will always dress appropriately,
and everything that I say will be professional and suitable for
the situation. School is a place for learning, and that will be
my ultimate priority as a teacher. Everything I say or do
should be to improve my students learning and time in
school. I will attend all professional meetings, and I will
always strive to do my best. I believe that teachers are life
long learners, and I will continue to learn as much as I can
throughout my career.
2. Lounge Gossip
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Beaty 14
I will not participate in any lounge gossip, whether it is about other
teachers or students. Gossip is not professional behavior and I will not
participate in degrading or talking about others. I think that the only instance
where it is alright to talk about an individual student is if you need help or
ideas on how to make their learning experience more productive or
successful. Teachers have great ideas and it is wonderful to share these
plans with others. Talk among teachers should always be professional, and I
will personally not participate in any gossip if it occurs.
3. Colleague Disagreements
There will always be disagreements and differences in opinions in the
workplace. I understand this and I will always remain professional even if I do
not see eye to eye with a coworker. Compromise and understanding are
great strategies to satisfying disagreements, and I will always remember to
respect my colleagues even if we have differences of opinion. Even if I might
disagree with a coworker, I will only bring it to the attention of the principal if
I truly believe that my coworker is being detrimental to a students learning
and the situation is very serious. Every teacher has different ideas and
different preferences of teaching, and some methods may differ from mine,
but I will still respect my colleagues and I will never stop searching for new
and interesting techniques and strategies that will benefit my students.
4. Principal Disagreements
I understand that I may not agree with everything that my principal
says or believes, but I will always stand by him or her on their decisions. I will
support my principal in any way possible, and do whatever I can to help. If a
disagreement occurs, I will voice my opinion, when I feel it is necessary, in a
very professional and non-confrontational manner. I will always respect and
adhere to the final decisions made by my principal and I will always value
their opinions and knowledge.

Part III: Classroom Routines and Procedures

1. Student Sharing- Discussions and Presentations
Appropriate behavior during student sharing time will be discussed at
length in the beginning of the school year. This falls under the classroom
expectation of being respectful so each student will know what behaviors are
acceptable, and what is not allowed in my classroom. Students sharing can
be informal, like during classroom discussion, or formal, like during student
presentations. All students will be expected to listen to each of their
classmates opinions or presentations, and be respectful and kind towards
their classmates. Inappropriate or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
Each of my students will know what their behavior should be during student
sharing from day one, and I will expect them to follow this classroom
expectation. It is very important to me that my students feel like their

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classroom is a safe place where they can share their thoughts and ideas, and
in order for my class to feel safe, my students will have to follow my
expectations for respect. This way each of my students can feel comfortable
in my classroom, and everyone will be more willing to share their ideas.
2. Classroom Jobs
Having the responsibility of a classroom job will help teach my students
accountability. I have many jobs that will help teach my students
responsibility, as well as allow them to contribute to our classroom
community. I will have all of my jobs listed on a job chart. Each students
name will be on a clothespin. Each week, I will move each
clothespin over one space to the right. This way, there is no
confusion on who has what job, or whose turn it is to do a
certain job. It is a simple system that will be easy for me and
my students to use. Before school begins at the beginning of
the week, I will change everyones name on the job chart. Each
students name gets moved one place to the right. These job
assignments will be the same throughout the entire week. Each student will
have a job every other week. My student jobs that I will have in my
classroom are:
Lunch manager: This student is responsible for putting up the lunch
menu options for the next day. This job is done at the end of the day,
and the student is also responsible for putting all of the student
magnets back in place.
Line leader: This student will be responsible for leading the classroom
line to all specials, lunch, and recess. This student will be expected to
demonstrate correct hallway behavior.
Lunch carrier: This student is responsible for carrying the bin of cold
lunches or lunches brought from home, down to the lunch room each
day.
Date manager: This student is responsible for putting up the correct
day, month and year on the board at the end of each day. This way,
when students come in the next morning the date will already be
correct. This helps students because they will always know where to
look to find the correct date, which eliminates the need for them to
ask. This helps save valuable learning time.
Board eraser: This student is responsible for erasing all marks from the
whiteboards at the end of each day.
Pencil manager: This student is responsible for sharpening all
classroom pencils at the end of each day.
Point recorder: This student is responsible for recording all class points
that are earned and writing them on the board. This also helps with
this students math skills.

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Beaty 16
Garbage collector: This student is responsible for picking up any visible
trash that is on the ground at the end of the day and disposing of it in
the trash can.
Recycle inspector: This student is responsible for making sure that
there are no recyclable items in the trash, and no trash items in the
recycling bin.
Light manager: This student is responsible for turning off the light
every time the class leaves the classroom for lunch, recess, specials,
and at the end of the day.
Zookeeper: This student is responsible for feeding any animals that we
may have in the classroom and making sure that the animals have
water throughout the day. This job will also include watering plants that
we have in the classroom during any plant unit.
Messenger: This student is responsible for running messages to the
office, nurse, or other teachers.
Librarian: This student is responsible for making sure that the books in
the library area of the classroom are neat and on the shelf.
This is a representation of what my classroom job chart will look like and
how the jobs will be rotated. (Based on a 25 student classroom, but can
easily change to accommodate more or fewer students).
Lunch
Manage
r

Off

Line
Leader

Off

Lunch
Carrier

Off

Date
Manage
r

Board
Eraser

Off

Pencil
Manage
r

Off

Point
Record
er

Off

Garbag Off
e
Collecto
r

Recycle
Inspect
or

Off

Light
Manage
r

Off

Zoo
Keeper

Libraria
n

3. Free Time

16

Off

Messeng
er

Off

Off

Beaty 17
In my classroom, free time is a reward for staying on task and finishing
your work. Every student will have opportunities for free time throughout the
school day, but only if they finish all that needs to be done. This is a great
way of motivating students and keeping them on task. I will always have the
tasks that my students are expected to accomplish written on the
whiteboard. Once they have finished every task that is written on the board,
then they can have some free time. I use free time as a fun way to continue
the learning experience for my students. Students will have many options to
choose from during free time, but they will all be educational options that are
used to support their learning. Free time options will include independent
reading, word sorts, literacy centers, math centers and games, science
centers, social studies centers, and educational games that are specific to a
certain learning area. All of these activities will be fun for my students so
that free time will be an exciting reward, but at the same time their purpose
is for my students to continue learning. Sometimes I will control free time a
bit by limiting the subject that my students can work on. For instance, if we
are in our math portion of the school day and some of my students have
finished their math worksheet or homework, for their free time I might
require them to play a math game or go to the math center because that is
the subject that we are working on in class. If my students have free range of
what subject they want to use their free time for, I might tell certain students
to work in a specific subject area depending on what they need work on.
Typically, my students will get to decide what subject area they would like to
spend their free time doing. It is important to remember that each free time
activity is educational and will help my students to continue to develop their
learning.
4. Field Trips
I believe that field trips are wonderful learning opportunities for my
students and I hope to be able to take them on as many as possible. They
allow students to learn in fun and new ways and to connect what they know
to real life examples. My students will always know the rules on field trips.
The day before we go on a field trip, the class and I will have a discussion
about appropriate field trip behavior. My students will know that all school,
and classroom rules will still apply on the field trip. My students will be
representing the school on these trips and they need to act, dress, and speak
appropriately. This will be discussed with my students prior to the trip so that
each student knows what is expected of them.
Field trips also involve a lot of parent communication. One month
before the planned field trip, I will send home a letter to the parents
explaining the logistics of the planned trip. This letter will explain where we
will be going, what we will be doing there, and why it is be beneficial to their
students learning. I will also ask for parent volunteers at this time. If a
parent has a problem or questions about the field trip, they will have ample
time to talk to me about them. Three weeks before the scheduled field trip, I
will send home the permission slip that needs to be singed by the parent or
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guardian. This slip needs to be returned to me at least three days before the
trip so that I can accurately plan for the trip and also find a place for
students to go if they will not be coming on the field trip. These students will
most likely be joining another classroom for the period of the
day that the rest of the class will be gone. If the field trip
requires money from each student for bus fares or for
admission fees, I expect this money to be returned with the
signed permission slip on a minimum of three days before the
scheduled event. If a family is unable to pay for the trip
themselves, they only need to let me know and I will figure out
a plan with my principal. I believe that every student should
have the same opportunities regardless of monetary
limitations.
5. Homework
Homework is an important extension of classroom learning and is
practice for my students to work on their skills. For my third grade classroom,
students will have approximately 20 to 30 minutes of homework a night. This
will teach them responsibility and also will get them ready for the rigorous
homework in higher grades. My students will be required to spend 20
minutes independently reading a book of their choice a night. This will not
only help with their fluency and comprehension abilities, but reading for 20
minutes will also help their stamina as well. Reading is an important
foundation and should be practiced on a daily basis. Students will also have
spelling words to work on to make sure that they are ready for our Friday
spelling tests. Other homework will consist of what the student did not finish
in class. If students stay on task and finish their work during the time that I
give them, then they will not have additional homework on those days.
Occasionally, I will give students worksheets or other homework if I observe
that they need more practice with specific materials. Homework is an
opportunity for students to practice what they have learned in class. It also
teaches them responsibility and builds their work ethic.
Homework from the previous night will be due when the morning bell
rings. I will have a turn in basket on my desk and every child is expected to
put any worksheets or other assigned homework in this basket. This is a
great way for me to stay organized, and also helps give
my students a reminder to turn their work in. Homework
is expected to be turned in on time for full credit, unless
there is a valid reason why it is not completed. Each day
that an assignment is late will result in one point docked
from their assignments grade. I only take off one point
because my students are still young and are learning how
to handle the responsibility of homework. I want to teach
them the importance of turning in their homework on time and keeping track
of their own work.

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6. Handing In and Passing Out Papers
Each of my students will know exactly where to turn in any papers from
the first day of school. I will have a turn in basket on my desk and this is
where students are expected to turn in homework, in class work, permission
slips, projects, and any other assignments that need to be turned in. This
way, I can keep track of who has turned things in, and it is a great way for
me to stay organized. It will help me to keep all papers in one place and I will
not loose any students assignments. Each student will know exactly where
to turn in their papers and this stops any confusion about how to turn in
homework, tests, etc.
To keep myself organized, I will have a G/C/F (grade/copy/file) organizer
so that I can stay on top of all important documents. Once my students have
turned in their assignments, I will separate them and move them into my
grade drawer on my G/C/F organizer. Once I have graded all of these papers,
I will put each paper in my students take home cubbies. My students will
know to look there for any of their graded work, and they can take them
home to show their parents. If I am passing back a test, I will pass them out
during the allotted time of the day for that subject so that I can go over the
test with my students and answer any questions that they might have. Any
other papers, such as announcements or permission slips, will also go into
the take home cubbies. Each student will know to look in their cubbies and
make sure that they take these important papers home. I will always tell my
class when I have put a paper into their take home cubbies so that they
know to look for them.
7. Bathroom Procedures
My students will be advised to use the restroom before they come to
school in the morning, and also to use it at lunch or recess so as not to take
away from their learning time in class. I will never keep a child from using the
bathroom. If they have to go during class time, they need to check the
bathroom pass and see if it is available. This does not require any
interruptions because the passes will be very visible by the door to my
classroom. There will be a pass for the boys bathroom and for the girls
bathroom. Each pass is a labeled clothespin so that the students can clip the
passes onto their shirts in order to lessen the chance of forgetting the pass in
the bathroom. If the student needs to use the bathroom during quiet work
time or free time, then all they have to do is go and clip the pass onto their
shirts and come up to me. They do not need to ask verbally because this
could interrupt other student learning, especially if I am working with a small
group. They will stand next to me quietly holding the clip to their shirts, and
all they need is a simple nod of the head from me for permission. I want to
know where each of my students are in order to keep them safe so this is
why I require my students to ask for my permission.
If I am in the middle of a lesson, the bathroom procedure will start off
by the child visually checking to see if the bathroom pass is available. If it is
then they will silently give me the bathroom sign in sign language. This is a
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simple sign that all students can memorize easily. You
make a fist with your hand, and then put your thumb in
between your middle and pointer finger. Then you rotate
your first from left to right. If I see a student signaling this
sign to me I will know that they are asking my permission
to use the bathroom. This way they do not disrupt the
class or my teaching. If it is a good time for the child to
use the restroom, then I will give a silent nod towards
that student. If it is not a good time to use the bathroom, instead of a nod, I
will respond by holding up my fingers to signify how many minutes to wait. If
I am explaining an assignment, I might want the students to wait to use the
bathroom until after I have finished explaining. In this instance I would hold
up two fingers towards the student to signify that I would like them to wait
two minutes. After the two minutes and I give the student a nod, then they
can go get the bathroom pass and use the restroom.
8. Getting a Drink
Students should have plenty of breaks during the school day to get a
drink so they should not need to quench their thirst during class time. This
takes away from their learning. I will let my students know from the first day
of school that getting a drink should be done before school starts, during
lunch, or at recess. I will allow my students to bring water bottles into school
but these must be kept in their take home cubbies. Students can go and get
a drink from their water bottles during any free time or independent work
time throughout the day. I understand that there may be emergencies where
a child needs to go and use the drinking fountain, like if they are dehydrated
or if they are having coughing trouble. In these types of instances, getting a
short drink from the water fountain would be alright. I just dont want my
students to use getting a drink as an excuse to get out of the classroom or
get out of doing an activity. This is why I will prefer my students to get drinks
at designated times during the day.
9. Hallway Behavior
I think that appropriate hallway behavior is very
important, because I do not want my class to disrupt
student learning in other classrooms. I will have four
simple rules for my class to follow in the hallway. These
rules are:
Zero voices (mouth closed, and no noise)
Arms at your sides (If students have trouble with this, I will have them
clasp their hands behind their backs)
One straight line (to keep track of all students)
Eyes forward (less chance of a behavior problem)
If my students follow all of these rules, they will get class points as a reward.
If some of my students are struggling to follow the hallway rules, they may

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need to come in for a short recess academy to review the proper behavior. I
can also award stickers to certain students nametags if I see exceptional
hallway behavior.
10. Dismissals
Dismissals happen several times each day for lunch, recess, specials,
and at the end of the day. It is very important to have procedures put in
place so that these dismissals and transitions run smoothly. For each
dismissal for specials, I will have students get everything that they need (i.e.
sneakers for P.E. etc.) and stand at their desks quietly. Once each student is
ready and standing at their desk, I will have students start lining up at the
door by tables. The table who is entirely quiet first, gets to line up first so this
is an incentive to get ready and quiet as quickly as possible. Once my
students are ready and exhibiting appropriate hallway behavior, then I will
walk them to their specials. For recess and lunch, students will need to make
sure they have everything that they need, such as lunches, coats, hats,
gloves, boots, etc, and their desktops need to be clean. This is a great way to
keep my classroom clean and for students to keep track of their belongings.
Before they leave for lunch and recess, they will put their planners on top of
their desks so that I can check them for parent signatures. Then they will line
up by the door by tables, just like how they are dismissed for specials. Once
my students are showing the correct hallway behaviors, I will bring them to
lunch and recess. Dismissal at the end of the day is very similar to lunch and
recess dismissal. Students will get their books and homework that needs to
go home, and everything out of their take home cubbies. They will need to
clean their desktop, and make sure that their classroom job is done. Once
they are completely ready to leave, they will stand at their desks and wait to
be dismissed by tables. The table that is quiet and ready first will be released
first. These students will then line up by the door, hand me their exit slips,
and go to their lockers to pack up. I will dismiss tables until everyone has
turned in their exit slips and are out at their lockers. Dismissals and
transitions are crucial pieces of classroom management, and it helps
students to stay in a mindset of learning and respect.

Differentiation Policy
Differentiation is a very important aspect to any successful classroom.
Differentiated instruction means that the teacher provides students with
multiple ways to receive information, or content, as well as different ways to
process that information, as well as how they show that they understand the
information, or product. Each child is different and will need different ways of
learning so that they can perform to the best of their abilities. Differentiation
is so important because every child has different interests and backgrounds
that affect their learning. It is the teachers job to give each student a way to
learn that will help them to succeed. Advanced learners may become bored

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without differentiation. They need to be challenged and given support to
raise their self-efficacy. Struggling learners might need extra help or
accommodation. The might need different ways to process the information.
Teachers need to provide students with varied opportunities in content,
process, and product. The teacher also need to plan, organize, facilitate, and
manage differentiated instruction. Teachers need to provide the scaffolding
that each child will need to be successful. Understanding that each child is
different and will learn in different ways is key to being a successful teacher.
1. Struggling Learners
Some students may need some extra assistance or scaffolding to be
successful. I will be sure to provide that for any student who needs it. I will
always be willing to go the extra mile for my students and I will make sure
that each student is learning and being successful in my classroom. When
teaching struggling learners I will make sure to be very clear on what the
students must know. I will also help the students to set appropriate goals for
themselves and then provide the scaffolding needed to help them reach
these goals. I will also be sure to plan my teaching using many different
modes such as visuals, audio, and hands on
activities. I also think that it is important to tell your
students that you believe in them, and I will be sure
to do that in my classroom. If some students in my
classroom have IEPs then I will be sure to cater my
instruction to their needs. I know that being a
teacher means being flexible, and I will be sure to
make my instruction differentiated for these
students. My goal will always be for each of my students to reach their
highest potential.
2. Advanced Learners
Some of my students will need to be challenged more than usual to
reach their highest potential. For my advanced learners I will not simply give
them extra work, but I will give them different work that is going to challenge
them and make them better learners. I will raise the expectations so that
advanced learners are competing with their own potential instead of with the
norm. If the level of challenge is right, then I will need to provide help and
scaffolding for these students to succeed. I will be sure to balance difficult
and challenging work with fun and joy so that learning is still an enjoyable
experience. For every student in my classroom I will have folders in
alphabetical order so they are easy for the students to find. Inside these
folders, there are some differentiated activities and work for my students to
do. They might be extra work in a subject area that they need more work on,
or they might be an opportunity for them to dive deeper into a subject that
they are interested in. This will help my struggling learners, and advanced
learners, as well as my middle ground learners. These folders will always be

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stocked with differentiated materials for my students to work on in order to
continue growing in their learning.

Parents
Parent communication and involvement will be a very important aspect
in my classroom. I always want my students parents to know what is going
on in my classroom and how their child is doing. I believe that it is very
important to keep up this constant communication with parents so that my
students can grow and learn in the best way possible. Parents can always
contact me, and I will do my very best to answer any questions that they
may have. I will be a very accessible teacher and I am willing to work with
parents in order to give their children the best learning opportunities
possible.
1. Communication
Communication with parents is a key aspect of any successful
classroom. Parents need to know what their child is doing during the school
day. I will always be willing to communicate over the phone, through email,
or in person. I understand that many parents are very busy, so I will make
sure that I respond promptly to any questions or concerns they may have
regarding their childs schooling. I will start off communication with parents
before the school year starts. I will send home an introductory letter
explaining a bit about myself, and how I run my classroom. I will also give
them my contact information so that they will know that I am always willing
to correspond with them. During the first week of school, I will call each
household of my students to talk with each parent briefly about one great
thing that their child had done that week. Opening with a
positive phone call will show the parents that you are always
willing to communicate, and it starts off the year on good
terms. I will also be able to communicate with parents via
my blog. I will set up a blog to explain to parents what we
will be studying in class that week and what the planned
homework is. I will also update this site with important
information that parents need to know such as filed trip
information or permission slips. Having this blog, and updating it often,
allows parents to get a glimpse into what their child should be learning in
school, and it should help keep all parents informed about school wide news
as well.
2. Conferences
I will prepare for parent conferences throughout the year as part of my
daily routine. I will record student grade on my online system and print them
off at the end of each week to put in each students folder. These folders will
be used during parent/teacher conferences. In addition to these folders, I will

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keep a record of student projects and participation to show parents. I will
make sure to keep track of the benchmarks and standards that each student
has met and each that they need work on to show parents the progress that
their children are making. Parents will also be able to see what assignments
their children did not complete or did not turn in.
I will always start off parent conferences on a positive note. I will tell
them something good about their child and what I am proud of them for.
Each child is special, and their parents should know that. I will then go over
test scores, and grades with the parents and share with them notes that I
have taken on their students progress and abilities in each subject area. If a
student is struggling in a certain area, I will share with parents what solutions
we have tried and what has worked and what has not. I will then tell them
my plans for their child and what methods I will try to improve their
understanding. After explaining grades and standards, I will talk to parents
about things to work on. Every child has something to improve on, and this is
when I will discuss this with the parents. This could be something very small,
or it could be a problem that has been occurring in the classroom. I will finish
each conference by asking the parents if they have any questions for me and
I will answer them to the best of my ability. I will thank the parents for
coming and remind them that if they have any questions of concerns they
can always contact me. Conferences are an important aspect of being a
teacher and they should be taken seriously, and prepared for well.

Teachers who love teaching, teach

children to love learning.

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