nd

Mr. Graves 2 Grade

Classroom

Classroom Management Plan

Andy Graves
Curriculum and Pedagogy
Dr. Beisser

Table of Contents (Add page numbers)

Classroom Organization.... 1
Physical Setup
Record Keeping
Welcoming New Students
Classroom Helpers
Desk Cleanliness
Displaying Work
Seating Arrangements
Disciplinary Policies and Professional Ethics.. 7
Establishing Group Rules/Expectations
Rule Infractions
Student-to-Student Conflict
Consequences
Distractions
Parent/Guardian Involvement
Academic Performance
Being a Professional
Classroom Routines and Procedures. 13
Teacher Operations
Classroom Operations
Differentiation Policy... 16
Students in Need of Extra Assistance
Students searching for a Challenge
Preparing the Brain for Work
References. 18
Appendix A... 19

Classroom Organization
Physical Setup Welcome to the Space Station
As one can see from my
classroom layout (see Appendix
A) there is a lot going on, all the
while the focus is on the
students and their learning.
Although, in order to meet the
needs of the individual students,
as well as the class as a whole,
there are certain tools at a
teachers disposal that I have implemented in the design of the classroom:
space, visibility and organization. Each of these tools plays a role in the
design and are elaborated on in the paragraphs below.
The first design element, and subsequent teacher tool, is space. My classroom has plenty
of space for a lot of things. In order to facilitate an active learning environment it is important to
have dedicated spaces that can be utilized for learning. That is why I have a reading corner, a
science corner, a small group zone, and a student work zone. All of these areas are multi-purpose
spaces that can be utilized for both large and small group activities. Additionally, a lot of the
furniture is modular so that it can be rearranged to meet the needs of the class: desks can be
separated, put into rows, and regrouped; shelves can be moved and reconfigured to expand or
contract the various learning areas; and the tables and chairs can be moved about the room in
order to accommodate the learning needs of the students. However, this is only part of the space.
The other part of space is in the empty spaces that surround the learning zones. There is plenty of
room to move about, to transition from space to space. I feel that it is important to have room to
flow from activity to activity, as well as space to get the wiggles out. Especially with 2nd graders,
their attention span is fairly short, so having transitional space and different areas to work in
allows them to focus on the tasks at hand.
In addition to having space for the students to function in, it is important that things
remain within a line of sight. From the teachers desk you can see everywhere in the room, which
is helpful when you have students doing work independently or in small groups. If they know
that they can be seen by the teacher, they are less likely to mess around when they are supposed
to be working. In addition to the classroom being open in terms of line of sight, the walls also
provide ample space for things to be visible. With bulletin boards all around the room, there is
space to have many important pieces of information on display: childrens work; fun facts about
reading; fun facts about science or the class pet(s); daily schedules, objectives, birthdays, and
any other information that might need to be displayed. All of this is important so that objectives
and information are always available for the students to be reminded ofthe teacher too.
Sometimes when class gets busy or schedules get hectic, it is often the small things that get lost,
so we put them on bulletin boards so we can always remember.

The last tool that I have used was organization. The physical space is organized, like
stated above, to facilitate an active learning environment, but there is also hidden organizational
items. The cupboards, the filing cabinet, the teachers desk, the book shelves and even the trash
cans and pencil sharpeners are organized in such a way to accommodate the students as well.
Things need to be located in places that are easily accessible in discrete fashion. So, the things
most likely to be used are located around the room, and there is plenty of storage zones for both
the teacher and students to utilize in order to make academic life as uncluttered as possible. It is
important that everybody be able to find things when they need them, which makes organization
very important. In the end, it is the space, the visibility and the organization that make my ideal
classroom a place of active engagement and deep learning.

Record Keeping Hybrid Grade Book

Once I have arranged the physical space
of the classroom, the next step in preparing the
class is devising a record keeping system. This
is really important since so much of the school
system is based on reporting grades and
illustrating the ways the students are making
progress throughout the school year. With this in
mind, I would use a couple of different
measurement tools to track progress and keep
track of grades: an electronic grade book, a
manual grade book. Both of these tools will
allow for easy access to records but also make
information available for anybody who is
interested in how my class is doing at any given
point in time.
For personal record keeping, I choose to use both a manual and electronic system for
several reasons. First, it is good practice to have back-up copies of anything saved on a
computer, so by having a manual system in addition to the electronic version I have a readymade backup. Additionally, an electronic copy provides an easy way of reporting data to the
principal or anybody who might be interested in the data collected; it can be as simple as going
File Print and the records are available. On the converse, if I happen to be grading work and
I do not have access to my electronic grade book, I can enter data into the manual version and
update the electronic copy at a later time. With all of this said, it is important that both systems
be kept current so that there are no gaps in the grading or progress reports, which is also a part of
my organizational plan for the classroom.
Unfortunately at this particular time in my planning process, there is no specific
information pertaining to what the grading or record keeping will consist of: is it standards based
grading, is it raw scores, what types of assignments will be graded, or what types of assignments
will be given? Until these questions can be accurately answered, I can only speculate that the
information recorded in the books will be either scores or standard indicators. However, it is
important, like stated above, to keep accurate records in order to share that information with
whomever is interested; be it visitors, parents or principals.
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Displaying Work Out of this World Work

I also feel as if it is important to display student work
around the classroom. By doing so we can accomplish a couple of
different meaningful tasks: celebrate the successes and progress
of our team; and make readily available a visual progress report
for any visitors to our classroom. We want everybody to know
that we are working hard and progressing toward the goals we
have for our team. That is why at the center of our classroom
display is the Out of This World Work bulletin board.
This display would be updated on a regular basis to highlight the work that each student
has done in the classroom. Likewise, this is not to be used punitively, in that every student will
be able to have his or her work displayed, because it is about progress not perfection. Therefore,
as the year progresses so will each student: they will do better at spelling, math, reading, writing,
social studies, etc. When this occurs it should be celebrated and recognized. In doing this we will
keep the focus on making progress and working as a team. In the classroom, everybody is on the
same team, so when one member succeeds we all succeed. Additionally, it is important to keep
the board up-to-date, because everybody has successes in the classroom, so being able to share
them on a regular basis means updating the board.
In addition to the Out of This World Work bulletin board, there will be plenty of wall
and ceiling space for proudly displaying the work that the students have done. I feel it is
important to have the students be a part of the decorating committee, so that they have a sense of
ownership over the space. By creating themed displays for their work, and hanging their work
from the ceiling we will work to create that space. Additionally, this is the space that can be used
to display team projects and other major assignments. Depending on what is being studied, the
walls and ceiling could be adorned with self-portraits, mural art, mobiles, maps, or even creature
creations. No matter what the task was, there will always be room for their work to be displayed
they will have worked hard and everybody who comes into our class should know it.
Lastly, I see no reason why our displays could not be taken intergalactic, if you will.
Often times hallways have wall space above lockers that goes unused. As such, we might as well
make the most of the space we have and display our hard work for the entire school to see on a
regular basis. A lot of the schools that I have visited for practicum experiences have taken up this
practice as a rule, rather than an exception, and this is how I want to operate my class as well. In
addition to expanding the displays into more public domains, I feel as if stepping into the 22nd
century and publishing classroom written or video blogs would work to both display the work
but also allow the students to channel their creative energies in producing something that extends
well beyond the classroom. Videos, written stories and other publication methods can be valuable
tools in getting student buy it, but also allows parents, guardians and principals to share
accomplishments in a much broader, more concrete way.
In the end, the main goal is to create a space where the students will feel welcome and
empowered to contribute to the success of the team. It is my goal that by displaying their work
on the Out of This World Work board, hanging it from the ceilings, and blasting it off onto
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cyber space will provide them with a reason buy into the mission of our classto make sure
everybody succeedsand develop a willingness to actively contribute their gifts and talents to
the successful completion of this mission.

Welcoming New Students Space Walk Board

Like any good team, it is important to
know your members and be able to work
together, however like all teams in the real
world, sometimes you get new members. How
you go about welcoming these new members
can go a long way in determining the future
success of the individual and the team as a
whole. This is why I have developed a specific,
targeted, training program for all members of my
team, which consists of three stages: Welcoming
Ceremony, Flight Simulation and Space Walk.
All three of these stages incudes everybody in
the classroom; this is because the emphasis is
always on teamwork, and so it takes the entire class working together in order to ensure that the
new members of our team are welcomed and properly acclimated to their new environment.
The first stage in welcoming a new member to the team is aptly called The Welcoming
Ceremony. During this stage the new member of the team is introduced to the team. They are not
required to share a great deal of information, but they can feel free to share any information that
they would like. Following this the class will also introduce themselves, specifically their names.
The expectation is not that the new teammate will remember all of their names, but will be
introduced to them as individuals, not merely as my second grade classroom. In order to be a
team, you have to pull on the strengths of the individual, which starts with a name. Additionally,
the new member of the team will have a silhouette posted on the Space Walk board, which is the
class picture board. Since they are new to the classroom, we would not be able to complete their
astronaut, and so we must get them welcomed before officially making them a part of the team.
However, once the introductions have been made and everybody has had an opportunity to share,
we transition to stage two.
The second stage of the welcoming process is The Flight Simulation. Just like any
training program in the adult world, they do not merely throw you into a new position without
providing some sort of training. For my classroom, the Flight Simulation is specifically that. It is
a training period for the new member of the team to get fully acclimated to the new environment
of the class. During this stage the new member would be provided a training partner, who would
be responsible for walking alongside them and provide guidance and answer questions that might
come up. As the teacher, it is my job to explain the expectations, rules and consequences from
the very beginning, but being provided peer support in understanding how to carry out these
expectations goes a long way as well. In picking a training partner, it is important to pick a
student who has shown a level of maturity that would allow them to provide appropriate supports
and serving as an ambassador to the classroom: providing a tour of the classroom, indicating
where everything is located; providing insight into how the class operates from a students
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perspective; and providing assistance with any questions that pertain to the life of a student in the
classroom.
As they proceed through their training period, we make sure to take them on a space walk
with the rest of the class. By this, it is meant that we create an astronaut version of them and
place them on the spacewalk board, which is the official team bulletin board. By placing their
picture and representation on the board as a class, I feel as if it signifies the importance of the
team as a whole. Everybody in the class is a vital part of the new, regardless of how new they
are. It is important to welcome everybody the same way, so that they know that they are cared for
and welcomed into the community of the classroom. This plays a part both in terms of
welcoming new students, but also as a daily routine. Being present and welcoming is a vital part
of starting the day, or year off on the right foot. Plus, it is fun to be able to see yourself as an
astronaut floating in space, which is the main reason for having a class roster of astronauts
displayed in the classroom. It should also be mentioned that, this three step process would be
facilitated at the very beginning of the school year as well. The first day of school is the first time
the classroom will be assembled as that particular team, so as the teacher it is important to train
the team properly from the beginning.

Seating Arrangements Capitans Chair

Just like welcoming a
new member to the team takes
time, so does figuring out
where the students should sit
within the classroom. This
process takes a lot of
observations, experiments, as
well as trial and error.
However, each of these pieces
has to be strategic and
meaningful to the overall
atmosphere of the classroom;
meaning the seating
arrangement has to work for the purposes of learning and working cohesively as a unit.
With cohesive, collaborative work being the end goal it is important to facilitate a gradual
release of responsibility with the team, especially when it comes to seating arrangements. By this
I mean, at the beginning of the school year they will have assigned seats, probably in some sort
of alphabetical order so that I can quickly learn their names and begin to determine the social
dynamics that are already in place, so that I know what I am going to be working with for the
rest of the year. In addition to starting in an alphabetical order, the desks will likely be in a row
formation, so that there can be some training and diagnosing.
As the year progresses, however, I would like to be able to maneuver the desks into a
variety of formations to facilitate different types of learning: small group, larger group, partners,
individual, etc. This would provide the students with the opportunity to work with, not only,
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everybody in the class, but in a different way. Using a variety of formations can also allow the
classroom to be used in a variety of ways: the desks could form a circle around a performance
space; could create a divided classroom for team activities like debates; and could be formed into
pods for group discussions and projects. Throughout all of the rearranging of desks and the
facilitation of different learning opportunities, close attention will be paid to the dynamics of the
relationships formed as well. Not all students can handle groups; nor can all students handle
sitting next to all other students. Therefore, if an arrangement would be detrimental to the
learning environment, then it will be modified to best enhance the experience for the students.
Like stated above, the arrangement is a tool for building a team of cooperative learners, and if
they cannot learn, the mission has failed.

Classroom Helpers Calling All Hands

Like mentioned above, the classroom is a place to
learn and grow as a group. As such it is important that
the students have a sense of ownership over the
classroom, as well as a sense of responsibility for the
care of the class. This is why we will have rotating
job assignments.
Each week, the jobs will be reassigned and as
such the students will be responsible for completing
their job throughout the week. Some of the jobs
would include such things as the following: line leader, door holder, turning off the lights, paper
passer, messenger, and even a clean-up facilitator. The list can be modified as needed, depending
on the interest and needs of the students. Since the goal is to build a team environment, it is
important to get student ideas involved as much as possible. This would include coming up with
classroom jobs as well, so if they feel we need a pencil sharpener, then we might as well have
onewho likes using a dull pencil?
The tricky part of this process is determining how to go about selecting the person for the
jobs each week. I feel that random assignment is the best way to go about it, since there is no
room for favoritism. Deciding on the system before class even starts and explaining it to the
students from the beginning is going to be the best way to ease their minds about how they are
getting their jobs. It is also vital, along with taking attendance and tracking grades to keep track
of who has been given which job. It is unfair for one student to get to do a job twice before
everybody else has had the opportunity to do that job. In building a team, it is important to be as
far as possible and spread the responsibility out so that you get equal buy-in and respect for the
system at hand. The same belief becomes incorporated in how they manage their own learning
spaces, and interact with the rest of the classroom as a whole. It is important to build this
experience and expectation into the classroom environment from the very beginning of the
school year, so that way everybody is on the same page.

Desk Cleanliness
Figuring out how to arrange the desks
is the first battle to be faced with desks for
the year. The second battle is keeping them
organized so that the students are not
constantly losing things. Even though in the
2nd grade, organizational skills are still being
developed, I feel that there can be some
explicit instruction around the concept, but
also some tools provided beforehand in order
to make the learning curve slightly less steep.
For instance, providing the students with a
seat bag, which is a canvas bag that is
draped over the back of their seat, is one of
these tools. This is a pouch that the students can place items that are used frequently, important
or are too cumbersome to be placed inside of their desk. This will allow them to reduce the
amount of clutter in their desk, as well as have a place to put important papers or items.
In terms of storage, I feel that it is important to have places where the students can keep
things that may not be necessary all of the time. Thus having student storage bins will help
reduce the amount of clutter in their desks as well. Markers, crayons, rules, scissors, tape, and
any other supply items that are not frequently used can be stored in the bins to be accessed when
they are required. Items such as these could also be pooled into a community bin, where
everybody has equal access to the supplies as they need themdepending on the needs of the
class, either system would be effective. With providing external storage areas, the students
ability to maintain a clear work space should be easy; especially with the explicit instruction on
organizational skills and techniques. Stepping them through a strategy for keeping organized, as
well as showing them ways to maintain the organization will go a long way towards a clutter free
environment.

Disciplinary Policies and

Professional Ethics
Group Rules/Expectations The Three Space Bees
From the very beginning of the school year, expectations and rules must
be made clear and provided time for practice. In general, the first two weeks of
the school year are dedicated to this process: informing the students of the
expectations, providing opportunities for them to practice the expectations, and
allowing the expectations to become a part of the daily routine. Once the
expectations have become routine, then the majority of the classroom time can
be geared toward instruction and meaningful learning. However, keeping in
mind that this is a second grade classroom, the expectations and rules need to be
made simple enough that they can be easily remembered and carried out.
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Therefore, my expectations can be summed up in three Bee statements: be safe, be respectful

& be a friend. Now, merely having these as umbrella statements is not going to produce a wellmanaged classroom, which takes us back to the first two weeks, or so, of the school year. The
initial presentation of expectations will be the Bee Statements, however, as a team we have to
come up with what that looks like in our classroom.
If need be there can be some explicit instruction as to what safe and respectful mean, but
it is important to allow the students to help create the expectations for their learning
environment. In the end, this will help them hold each other accountable and provide a sense of
buy in, when it comes to the rules and expectations for the classroom. Naturally, they may not
come up with every expectation that the teacher may want to instill in them as they grow into
responsible young people, so the teacher then will fill in the gaps and offer up suggestions that
help round out the expectation this. Once the list has been complied and there is a general
consensus of what should be expected in the classroom, it will be turned into a Mission Flight
Plan for the year, and everybody will have an opportunity to sign their name signifying
compliance with the rules and regulations.
In addition to building a classroom set of expectations, there are also the school rules and
regulations that the students will be held accountable for as well. Therefore, in their training
period, the school rules will also be instructed and practiced: hallway protocols, lunchroom
protocols, office protocols, and playground protocols are all vital areas to cover and practice
since these are the areas where there is the most scrutiny and expectation. Outside the classroom,
it is important to have a well-managed classroom, so that the rest of the school takes our unit
seriously as a classroomit would saddening to have one of the bad classes, so making sure
the team knows the expectations is key in setting the standards for operation.

Rule Infractions Disobeying Orders

Like mentioned above, a great deal of time will be
spent on classroom and school expectations, rules and
regulations. However, students will inevitably find a way
to push the boundaries and, ultimately, get in varying
degrees of trouble. As such it is important for a teacher
to have varying levels of discipline in place that
accurately matches the infraction. This can differ
depending on the location and nature of the infraction,
but not from student to student. All students are held
accountable to the same expectations and should be
handled as suchno favorites or free passes when it
comes to expectations.
If the infraction happens in the classroom, the protocol requires immediate action by the
teacher to address the issue in a firm, but fair way: no passing judgement; reminding the
individual, as well as the entire class of the expectation; and following through with any predetermined consequence for the infraction. As a part of the discipline plan, as well as the
development of the expectations should be a plan for what happens when they are not met.
Things such as blurting or not sharing, would result in a time-out from the activity; whereas
bullying or inappropriate disruptive behavior can follow a tiered approach: reminder of the
expectations; time-out from activity, while still participating in the work; parent or office
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involvement. The goal would be to handle the infraction in the first two steps, but there has to be
a willingness to get parents and other involved if the infraction has not been adequately
redirected.
The same can be said for infractions of school wide-rules. There are protocols in place by
the school that dictates how certain things are handled. As such it is the teachers responsibility
to make sure the students understand the expectations as well as the consequences for not
following these expectations. Without knowing what such expectations are at this given point, it
is within my power to say that I would follow the protocols put in place for the expectations that
the school has for all of their students.

Student-to-Student Conflict Fighting On Deck

Much like their ability to always follow through with expectations, students will
inevitably find themselves in conflict with another student at some point during the school year.
In most cases it is a verbal altercation, however sometimes things can escalate to a physical
altercation as well. In being prepared for these situations it is important to have a series of steps
prepared to deal with the situation: separate, diffuse and communicate.
The first step when there is a conflict always to separate the participants. This can be
simply providing safe spaces within the classroom for the students to go, moving them into the
hallway or another classroom, or some combination. There can be no resolution of a conflict if
there is no space between the participants. Secondly, once the participants have been separated,
there needs to be some sort of redirection or diffusion so that there can be active communication
and settlement of the situation. Depending on the student and the situation they have been
involved in, this can, also, take many different forms: walking around, sitting quietly for a time,
taking a time out alone, or anything else. However, the process cannot stop when they have
calmed down, there needs to be resolution, which requires communication. Getting the student to
talk about what happened is key, however it is important to get both sides of the story so that the
evaluation of the situation can be as neutral as possible.
Finally, it is important to bring the parties back together and find out what can be done
differently next time, or have them come up with a resolution themselves. The goal is
empowerment and ownership of the classroom, which cannot happen if there is not the power to
resolve issues as they come up. Naturally, depending on the nature of the conflict this process
can look very differentespecially if there is physical contact involved. Like stated above, the
school will have protocols in place for what ultimately happens in these situations, but following
the same basic structure will allow the students space to calm down and explain themselves.
Another note, it is important for the teacher to believe the stories being told, regardless of how
outlandish it might seem. They need to present a belief in the student, otherwise the likelihood of
them telling of other issues is greatly diminished.

Consequences Preferred Activity Time

In every classroom there has to be a sense of motivation
to get things done, merely knowing and practicing the
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expectations is not going to get the students through the year in an efficient or effective way. So,
it is helpful to use a motivational tool to help spur and keep their interest in the job at hand. For
this classroom, the Preferred Activity Time (PAT) system would serve as both the rewards and
consequence system. This is because, outside of major infractions, the emphasis is on teamwork,
which is emphasized in this system. Likewise, it can be detrimental to draw attention to the
actions of a single student using a large, visible, consequence chart, like the stop light system
seen in so many classrooms. Using the Preferred Activity Time takes it to a broader scope, while
still holding each individual accountable for their actions. Everybody still has to do their duty in
the classroom, otherwise there is no reward; likewise if one person is goofing off or not
following directions, they can be talked to individually while still contributing to the reduction of
activity timeit does not have to be a public display of ridicule or discipline.
According to Mackenzie and Stanzione (2010), this is an incentive system for rewarding
students for cooperation, on-task behavior, good effort, respect, and responsibility. Its a tool for
teaching and rewarding smooth transitions, returning homework and permission slips, and
getting dawdlers and procrastinators to hurry up (p. 68) Together with the high expectations, and
the work put in at the beginning of the school year, this system will assist in capturing the
essence of what it means to be a team and work together for a common goalpreferred activity
time. However, it should be pointed out that this is not time for free reign in the classroom, it is
an opportunity for the students to engage in activities that they prefer to do while maintaining a
level of educational merit. This is the key to successful PAT, the educational merit of the
activitiesnot free time.

Distractions Intrusions
Throughout the school day there are any number of
things that can distract a classroom: intercom
announcements, teacher visits, parent visits, messengers,
phone calls, conflicts, and even emergency response drills.
Each of thesse serves as a disruption to the normal flow of
the class, and as such needs to be handled accordingly. In
my classroom, the use of classroom phrases serve to
recapture the attention of the students. These are to be
implemented when something is occurring and the
students need to refocus on the teacher instead of what has
just happened, or is currently happening in the classroom.
Any number of phrase would work, so it is up to the teacher which ones are going to be
taught during the introduction of expectationsthey will not naturally pick up what they are
supposed to do when a teacher says something along the lines of 1,2,3 eyes on me. Using this
basic phrase with the expectation of the students responding with 1, 2 eyes on you, is a quick
way to get their attention in order to redirect them. However, if the distraction or interruption is
known about a head of time, this may not be necessary. Merely explaining what is going to
happen and how the class should react to it will go a long way to ensure they conduct themselves
appropriately.

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Parent/Guardian Involvement Reporting Home

As important as having student buy-in is to the success of a
classroom, having their parents involved in the process of building
the community is just as important. Without the parents support
there are limitations as to what can be done to support the individual
student throughout the year. This is why opening lines of
communication with parents, and using them is one thing that needs
to be set-up before the school year starts: introductions, class
expectations, supplies, and other important first day of school
information is always a good way to start off the school year.
By actively involving the parents in the classroom there is little room for surprises; the
parents will know what to expect, what is happening in the classroom, and how to prepare and
assist their student to find success in the classroom. Granted, this is often easier planned for than
executed. Due to the varied lives that families have in the modern age, there is no telling how
easy it is going to be to be in consistent contact with parents. If this becomes the case there is not
a lot that can be done, however persistence is the key to winning this game. Therefore, finding
out how to best keep in contact with a parent is going to be key. Some families have e-mail
access, or cell phones, while others may have to be contacted via notes pinned to a backpack.
Therefore, regardless of the means it is important to keep parents informed, which also helps
with conferences as well.
Walking into a conference with no indication as to what is going to be said is a very
nerve-racking situation to be in for anybody. Therefore, by keeping parents informed some of the
stress of conferences can be alleviated. Instead of a time for unloading the goods, the bad and the
ugly of the previous portion of the semester, it becomes a time to communicate face-to-face.
There should be no surprises since information is readily available for their parents, and as such
conferences can be a time to plan ahead, be proactive in supporting the learning of the student
rather than rehashing the previous quarter. This will, hopefully, assist in gaining support from the
parents in terms of building a stronger community for the student to learn, grow and thrive in.

Academic Performance Mission Command

At the heart of the school experience is learning. Students attend
school to become educated citizens of the world, and as their teacher it is
our job to ensure that they have all of the tools required to make the most
out of the training we are leading them through. However, despite the
most well laid plans, there are going to be times where the students are
not performing as well as we would like, or they are capable of.
Regardless of the reason why: inattentiveness, lack of motivation, cheating, or refusing to make
an attempt, the teacher has to intervene at some level.
Naturally, this should be done on an individual basis, and as privately as possible.
However, like every situation, there will be times where the situation calls for more immediate
action or a public call to action. Thus, the most basic interventions would be a silent call to
attention of the work they are supposed to be doing: a tap of their paper, a look across the room,
or merely standing by the student. If the situation is a bit more obtuse, having a private
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conversation with the student to figure out what is going on will go a long way in providing
appropriate support rather than reprimanding needlessknowing your students is the first step in
combating most disruptive behavior. If the private conference does not change the action, then
parents and support teachers can be brought in to further the investigation and implementation of
support. Like mentioned above, there are several reasons why a student may not perform well in
the classroom, but being patient enough to figure out what is going on and what can be done to
support them is going to create a better environment in the long run. It is impossible know, for
certain, why a student is not doing their homework unless you ask.

Being a Professional Captain of the Ship

One of the key components of being a
teacher is presenting oneself as a professional.
Teachers have long sought to recognition of being a
part of a profession, but have thus far only made
minimal gains in that direction. Thus, dressing the
part and acting the part are two of the upmost
important pieces that can be brought to the table.
When it comes professional dress, coming to
the second grade classroom with a suit and tie, may
feel right in terms of being a professional, however
at such a young age the students would probably rather have a casually dressed teacher than an
overly formally attired leader. So, for the sake of argument, finding a comfortable attire that
presents itself as profession is going to be key. For me personally, it is most likely going to have
to be long sleeved and pants, however there is still a lot of room to be comfortable and covered
up at the same time.
Additionally, like mentioned above, it is one thing to look the part and another to act the
part. In order to act in a professional manner, while in the teacher role, there are a couple things
to keep in mind: 1) what happens in a students life is their business and the business of those
who are helping the student cope; 2) what happens in the lives of co-workers is there business,
and the business of those who are helping them cope; and 3) it is unbecoming to be caught up in
a gossip right. It comes as no surprise that a teachers lounge is the hot bed for juicy gossip
about the bad students, or the teacher who did who knows what. This is all detrimental to the
livelihood of the profession and should be avoided at all costs. First because its unethical, and
second because it is not professional. It is the teachers job to set a good example for the students
under their watch, and being a part of such activities is not what we want for our students.
Lastly, in order to be act like a professional, we have to be able to cooperate with our
teams and our leaders. This, by no means, indicates that we must like them. There is a difference
between cooperating and being best friends. Again, it really boils down to, what is best for the
students we are teaching? In a PLC, there will be ideas that are better than others, and there
should be allowances for discussion and changesthis is where the cooperation is, not in
becoming friends. The goal is to teach the students well enough that they advance and succeed in
their future endeavors, and this is a team effort. Everybody should be involved and have equal

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say and buy-in to the process of teaching the students. This is what it means to be a professional,
and a part of a professional team.

Classroom Routines and

Procedures
Teacher Routines Meet and Greet
Outside of the normal teacher duties: grading
papers, arranging desks, readying supplies, etc., it is
also the responsibility of the teacher to welcome the
students and make sure they are greeted on a daily
basis. However, introductions to the school year and the
teacher need to happen before the first day of school.
That is why it is important to reach out to future
students and families before the first day of school. A
welcome to the classroom letter with some expectations
for the first day, fun facts about the teacher, and other
general information will go a long way in ensuring that
the first day of school is just a little less stressful for everybody involvedespecially with
younger students. Having a friendly welcome to the school year is a good way to start it off,
however this should also be a regular occurrence throughout the school year as well.
Considering the ultimate goal of this classroom is to provide a safe, welcoming
environment for every student to achieve awesome things, it has to start with the teacher. Every
morning when the students arrive at school, they have to know that they are welcomed, expected,
and somebody is happy to see them. That is why it is important for the teacher to greet them at
the door with a, good morning, glad youre here! Additionally it is important to notice things:
haircuts, new shoes, new outfits, if they missed a day, all of the little things that are easy to
overlook have the potential to make the day of a student who is having a hard time at things. So,
being aware and present in the daily lives of the students will go a long way to harboring the type
of environment that were going for: safe, welcoming and productive.

Classroom Operations The Daily Grind

Mourning Routine/Bell Work
Once the students have been greeted it is important that they have a steady routine to
follow once they enter the classroom. This routine will be, approximately, the same every day
since building expectations is easier when they are consistent, therefore the routine would
include the following items: drop your lunch counter in the appropriate bit (name on a clip into
the hot/cold/other bucket); check the whiteboard for the bell work (an activity or question that
will help ready them for the first lesson of the day); sit down at desk and work on the bell work.
Once the day has officially started, then we will begin the rest of our daily procedures.
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The rest of the morning routine is fairly straight forward, and does not take a large
amount of time. Before going over their bell work as a large group, the teacher reviews the
schedule for the day, which is posted on the board. It is important to highlight any changes in the
schedule at the beginning of the day, and throughout the day, so the students know what to
expect. Following the daily review, we would proceed to work through the bell work and begin
the days instructional period.
Roll Call
During their bell work time is when roll will be taken. There are a couple of tools that
allow for the expediting of this process: the lunch count bins, as well as greeting the students at
the door. In greeting the students at the door, the teacher can make a mental note of who has
arrived and who is yet to show up. This, then, is confirmed using the lunch count bins, as well as
looking around the room while the students work. There is no reason that roll call needs to be a
great undertaking, considering the teacher should know the students who are missing by glancing
around the room. Granted, the first couple of weeks, during the introductory phase, doing a
formal roll call process would be beneficialjust calling out names and checking them off the
list when they are present. Additionally, the school probably has reporting procedures to follow,
which can also be done during the bell work time; quickly entering attendance data should not be
a difficult process that takes away instructional time.
Handing in Papers/Homework Time
When it comes to completing work, or doing homework, there will be a simple process to
follow for the students. There will be a turn it in basket, which is where all of their completed
paperwork can be turned in, unless otherwise instructed. It is their responsibility to make sure
that all of the work is completed and turned in on time, however being a second grade classroom,
there should not be a lot of homework. Therefore, there will be plenty of class time to work on
their assignments. Having the basket reduces the likelihood of the teacher losing papers in stacks
on their desk, as well as gives the students a central location for turning in their work. Like
mentioned above, there should not be a lot of homework in the second grade, but if there is the
need for extra time, then the procedure remains the same: turn in your work to the basket when it
is completed. Depending on the type of work done, the deadlines may or may not be enforced, as
much of the work should be completion rather than scoresstandards based grading or some
similar system.
Passing Out Papers/Take Home Folder
Unlike turning in homework, passing back papers will be done by the teacher. When the
work is graded and ready to return the teacher will pass back the papers at the beginning of the
instructional period. This will provide time during the lesson to go over the work and get
questions answered before moving on to the next part of the lesson. This is also important so that
the students are not readily aware of the grades that their fellow students are getting. However, it
is also important to review the Out of this World Work, board to see if there can be any
additions to the celebration. This will also be a part of the passing back papers process, however
it is up to the student to decide if their work goes up on the board or notthe teacher will
suggest it, but it is the student who gets the power to choose.

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Additionally, there are often times when papers need to get to the parents: reports, notes,
flyers, homework, etc. This is why there will be a special folder that is specifically for
transporting important papers home. The folders will be closable, so nothing gets lost in transit,
as well as have a piece of paper on the front for the parents to sign. The signing of the folder is
an additional measure to ensure that the information actually made it to a parent. Granted, just
because the information got home does not mean it was read, however this is outside the realm of
control. If they sign the folder, they are at least indicating that they saw the papers inside of it,
which is better than nothing. It is important to remember to not send a lot of notes home, because
they are often not read anyway. This can be avoided by maintaining contact with the parents in
the first place: updates, feedback, questions, and the like will eliminate the need of sending all
sorts of notes and letters home.
Dismissal Procedures
Transitioning of the classroom is an important piece of action that needs to be practiced:
setting the expectations, teaching the expectations and practicing carrying out the expectations.
For this classroom, every time the students are leaving the room as a whole group the process
will be the same: clean up your work area (finish work, clear off desk, pick-up around your desk,
etc.); push in your chair; and line-up at the door (face forward, ready to go). The major piece of
the expectations is the face forward, ready to go, this is the students time to show that they are
prepared to leave the room in a respectful way and conduct themselves appropriately in the
hallway. This can look slightly differently depending on where they are transitioning to, but the
basics are the following: facing forward/looking towards the door, hands at their side, and voices
at a whisper or off.
Even though it may seem odd to make them line-up at the end of the day as well,
however it is important to keep routines throughout the day. Merely because it is the end of the
day, does not mean that they have permission to run out of the room and screaming. They need to
be respectful of the space and those who are using the same space. Granted, once they leave the
classroom at the end of the day they are allowed to talk to their friends and handle their business
accordingly. However, up until that point they are still under the direction of the teacher and their
expectations. It should also be noted that the teacher maintains the power to decide when they
can line-up; especially if there is a bell system in the school. Class is dismissed by the teacher,
not the bell, which is also another piece of the expectations that needs to be taught, practiced and
enforced.
Bathroom Procedures
It is important to keep bathroom procedures as simple as possible, so that the process
from realizing one needs to go to the bathroom and getting there takes as few steps as possible.
Therefore, the most straight forward system will be implemented: if there is a pass available,
take it, place it on your desk, and exit to the restroom. There is no need to ask permission, merely
locate the pass and handle your business. However, this system may need to be modified slightly
if the school requires students to have passes while in the hallway, or other regulations that
would need to be enforced. Additionally, if issues arose using this system, for instance students
were abusing the freedom to use the bathroom, a sign-out sheet could be added to the process in
order to track the departure and arrival of the individual using the restroom. This system also

15

requires the teacher to be aware of who is using the restroom and how frequently, just in case
there may be inappropriate behavior going on in the restroom, or elsewhere in the hallway.

Share/Tell Time
Everybody enjoys bringing their favorite toy to school and sharing it with their
classmates, which also serves as a means to engage students in the various content areas: finding
connections between their personal lives and the material being covered in class. That is why
once a unit, the students will be encouraged to share/tell something that relates to the material
being covered. Depending on the content of the unit, there will be a discussion of what would be
appropriate to bring as a show/tell, this will also allow the students who are not equipped to bring
things from home other ideas as to how to participate. The goal of this is to engage the students
with content in a different way. Additionally, since this is a second grade classroom, there will be
random share & tell days as well. Spread throughout the school year there are plenty of times
that could be ideal for share and tell experiences: holidays, spring, fall, summer trips, vacation
ideas, and even family pets. Engaging the classroom as a team, and allowing them to bring a part
of themselves into the classroom is an important way of building that team. This can also be
incorporated into an Astronaut of the Week bulletin board, which would allow one of the
students to showcase their interests, families and likes for the rest of the class to explore and
experience.
Preferred Activity Time
Mentioned above is the implementation plan for Preferred Activity Time, however the
students are not allowed to cash in on their time whenever they see fit. The dedicated time for the
PAT will be Fridays, since most Fridays often present more relaxed instructional periods. As such
it is also a means to hold students accountable for the expectations throughout the week before
being able to enjoy their PAT as well. By holding it at the end of the week, they are working on
earning more time throughout the week, which then can enhance the fun they are allowed to
experience as a result of their previous work.

Differentiation Policy
Students in Need of Extra Assistance A Helping Hand
It is unwise to assume that all students will be able
to comprehend all of the material presented in the
classroom at any given time. There will be students
who need some extra help in making sense of some
of the content, and it is the teachers responsibility to
be prepared with supports. Depending on the type of
assistance needed, there are a several different
strategies for providing support to these students:
providing additional scaffolding (work that builds up
to the concept); one-on-one sessions with the teacher
(individualized instruction); peer helpers (not always the best option); or seeking outside
16

resources and assistance are some of these examples. It is difficult to say exactly what would be
done in the classroom without real students to work with, however understanding what it could
take to assist students is a step in the right direction. Additionally, being in contact with parents
and seeking their insight and feedback on the students abilities will be helpful in the long run as
well: gaining insight into previous struggles, work habits at work, and providing insight as to
how the parents can assist at home are all parts of the ongoing support system as well.

Students in Search of a Challenge - Gifted

Students
On the opposite end of the achievement
continuum are those students who excel in certain
content areas. Those students who are considered
gifted are in need of extra support as welljust like
those who struggle. In order to appropriately
differentiate on the top end of the spectrum, the
teacher needs to be prepared ahead of time. Like
stated above, there are several different ways to
differentiate for the advanced students as well: providing independent study opportunities (have
them work on content related projects that are at their level); providing them with more advanced
work (pushing them into higher classes or having them pulled out into study groups); or even
allowing them to work with other advanced students during group work. It is important to
remember that providing them with more of the same work is not properly differentiating the
work. It must be more challenging or different work in order to keep their interest, and
engagement at a level that is conducive to learning. Additionally, being in contact with parents
and seeking their insight and feedback on the students abilities will be helpful in the long run as
well: gaining insight into previous struggles, work habits at work, and providing insight as to
how the parents can assist at home are all parts of the ongoing support system as well.

Preparing the Brain for Work - Brain Breaks & Energizers

In order to maintain a high level of academic achievement,
it is important to allow students to take a break from the
strenuous duty of learning important information. That is why
brain breaks and energizers will be sporadically
implemented throughout the day. These will be high yield
learning activities that are designed to engage their minds in
other ways: physical exercise, non-sense puzzles, art projects,
and any other variety of activity that can be completed quickly
and in a fun way. The point is to provide some different avenues
of learning, but providing a time for the students to get up, move around, and be silly. Second
graders were not meant to be stationary for eight hours a day, so in order to break up the
monotony of the school day we will re-energize and take breaks throughout the dayto learn by
being silly, rather than doing school.

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References
Photos
Title Page
o http://stuckonemojis.com/assets/images/objects/Space-Rocket-Emoji.png
Out of This World Work
o http://followpics.co/space-theme-classroom-ideas-showcasestudent-work-with-a-space-themedbulletin-board/
2nd Graders are Out of This World
o http://cdn.tristro.net/uploads/ideas/full/2nd-graders-are-out-of-this-world.jpg
Space Walk Board
o https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/cc/df/1e/ccdf1e3367d6c06cae0aefc68e3c7ab2.jpg
Desk Organization
o http://3.bp.blogspot.com/3WMNfZw9n7s/U_ENRY4ETcI/AAAAAAAAC98/Yo58Iw4HMKE/s1600/photo%2B
%2840%29.JPG
Seating Arrangement
o http://www.nzdl.org/gsdl/collect/cdl/archives/HASH0111/34b2acbb.dir/p126.gif
Grade Book
o https://mcdn1.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Grade-Book-Sheet/original-312078-1.jpg
Space Bee
o http://www.cheapmascotca.com/bmz_cache/5/518358bb4e82082cfeb8966314ed8f75.image.191x3
30.jpg
Calling All Hands
o http://ateachersupply.com/cart/images/hands%20on%20job%20management.jpg
Consequence Cards
o http://4.bp.blogspot.com/fBMzF4RgheU/TxdKrK60x_I/AAAAAAAAADc/zchaAI_wbkI/s1600/1252985029classroom+be
haviour+cards.jpg
Preferred Activity Time
o http://3.bp.blogspot.com/O5lFY5SxhyY/Uu_0tGCUeDI/AAAAAAAAAPc/hF74Q7afikw/s1600/Prefered+Activity+Time.j
pg
1,2,3 Eyes on Me
o http://datax.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/1-2-3-Eyes-On-Me-15691421416494221/original-1569142-1.jpg
A+
o http://cdn2b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/4f/70/4f70fff27710e33b0fac5
4f729c5359f.JPG?itok=ui8GSFdm
Proper Attire
o http://izae.biz/pict/men/1/337.jpg
Greeting Students
o http://www.teachthought.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/27-ways-to-greet-students-fi.jpg
Helping Hand
o http://catholiclane.com/wp-content/uploads/helping-hand1.jpg
Fish Bowl
o http://www.yourinnerskinny.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/challenge.jpg
Brain Break
o http://www.genhkids.org/images/images/programstripbrainbreaks_03.jpg
Books
Mackenzie, R., Stanzione, L (2010). Setting Limits in the Classroom. US: Three Rivers Press.

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Wong, Harry K., and Rosemary T. Wong (2009). The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher.
US: Harry K. Wong Publications.

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Appendix A

20