Conor McLaughlin

TEL311
Philosophy of Education
During my experience as a public student I have seen incredible teachers that have truly
inspired myself. I attended a great public school; which helped me appreciate good teachers. In
fact, old teachers of mine have inspired me to pursue a career in teaching. I believe teaching is a
career that is like none others. Becoming a strong teacher is something that is under-appreciated
but an extreme contribution to the human experience. In my classroom I want to create and
culturally diverse social studies classroom. Students will be able to explore history with
sensitivity, creativity, and engagement. Throughout my class I want my students to explore their
creativity and responsibility. The students should feel safe to express their feelings and opinions
about the subject of history. I believe in a teaching students to understand that they are in charge
of their education just as much as the teacher. The students should be motivated by a teacher to
engages with subject matter and connect curriculum to their own lives. Students thrive in
relevance. And students thrive in organization. Discipline should be organized and consistent.
Alfie Kohn wrote, Progressive educators are concerned with helping children become not only
good learners but also good people. Schooling isnt seen as being about just academics, nor is
intellectual growth limited to verbal and mathematical proficiencies, (Kohn). Creating good
humans will be my number one goal.

Conor McLaughlin
TEL311
Procedures and Consequences
Procedures and Routines
The class will begin with students lining up at the door waiting for permission to walk-in.
Students will enter the classroom and begin the daily work: writing objective in their planner.
Students will be able to get into a routine with writing the objective in order to gain focus and
motivation for the task at hand. Students will wait for teachers permission to leave the classroom
as well; not the bell. To manage student work they will have a History Notebook. The
notebook with be for my class only and will contain notes, graphic organizers, reflections,
drawings; most of the graded work will be in the notebook. If students have an assignment
outside of the notebook they will turn it in to the teacher. Notebooks are check at the end of the
week. Late work will be accepted but will lose points everyday its late until points are gone.
Routines will be flexible in that not all students can make it to class on time or are absent. If
absent they will have to make up work. Communication with parents will involve a passport
that the students are responsible to get signed every weekend by their parents. Which leads to
consequences and rules.
Rules and Consequences
For discipline I will use the example from the Pastor Elementary in the Roosevelt School
District. The Passport is a paper that students carry at all times and must give to an staff
member at anytime. The passport last one week and contains a hierarchy of consequences that
include: tardy, profanity, follow directions, classroom disruption, hall/bathroom behavior, dress

code, gum, disrespect, push/shove. The consequences are based on marks/week: No marks/
week= incentives!, 1-2 marks/week= warning!, 3 marks/week= students call parents/conference
with teacher, 4 marks/week= lunch detention, 5 marks/week= parent conference, 6 marks/week
parents conference, 6 marks/week= office referral. Making students responsible for showing
their parents their passport will keep them responsible for their behavior, and make the
consequences consistent. Although for students with an IEP (Individual Education Plan), under
the law they may be except from certain punishments based on their IEP. Transparency with
parents, teachers, and students is very important for a healthy transition from school to home and
home to school. Consistency in consequences and procedures is pertinent for a healthy
classroom. My philosophy of teaching students to be good humans begins with respect for their
parents, teachers, and students around them. The rules and consequences can never be broken if
students are respecting themselves, their parents, teachers, and their classmates.

Conor McLaughlin
TEL311
Classroom Layout
The students are purposely put in groups. Group tables consist of four seats and should
fill most of the space. Students will often be working in groups, and putting them into groups
will make the flow of activity easier. Part of the respect in my philosophy is about respect for
fellow classmates. Students will have an easier time working with each other when the idea of
finding a group is eliminated. The library holds textbooks and supplemental readings. The front
of the class is where the smart-board, white board, and map(s) are located. The whiteboard in the
back of the class is the daily board; the daily board is where the objective of the day is written.
Students are more motivated and engaged when they have an routine objective everyday. The
turn-in desk is by the door. This is a place where students turn in group projects and anything
else that is made outside of their notebook. For students who sometimes do need to sit alone, the
turn-in desk is also a sanctuary for alone time. The teachers desk is located parallel to the door,
that way I can see outside of the door window. Also, students can see the teacher desk in order to
see the teacher give permission to enter. The supply cabinet will contain cleaning supplies, poster
paper, unit projects, and a lost and found.