Part B: Critical Reflection (Individual work: 60%)

During the students time in school, the students will be an observer of classroom practices and
interactions in the Malaysian primary school context.

The students assignment will be based on the following topic:

 Conducive Classroom Environment

The students are required to write a critical reflection in about 1,500 words on the following:

 Physical layout of the classroom

 Teacher's classroom routine
 Teacher -learner roles
 Classroom organisation and management.
 Communication Skills (teachers instructional language)
 Monitoring and maintaining productive student behaviour
 Classroom techniques

*(provide suggestions/recommendations at can be made to ‘improve’ the classroom

environment).
35%CONTENT

An excellent understanding of the situation.

A wide variety of references are used.

Excellent analysis of references used.

Excellent interpretation of chosen resources indicating good understanding of classroom management

theories/models.

An excellent understanding of how the situation relates to classroom management practice in the
Malaysian teaching context.

All references used are credible and cited correctly.

5% EXPRESSION

Excellent communication of ideas. Very fluent writing in the report.

Discussion of theory /model of your choice and application of the theory /model to resolve the
problem described in the situation given below

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Mr Ganesan’s year one students never seem to settle down for very long. Regardless
of whether the children have been assigned independent work or are supposed to be
paying attention to a presentation, some degree of commotion or noise is always
present. During the first few days of school, the class seemed well behaved and was
seldom out of order, and almost all the children were cooperative and did their work.
Gradually, however, more and more inappropriate socializing, loud talk, call-outs and
other interruptions occurred, even from previously quiet students (adapted from
Evertson, Emmer, Worsham, 2000, p145-146).

In your report, you are required to:

 Analyse the situation above

 Select any relevant classroom management theories/models explored in Weeks 2 and 3
to respond to the above situation
 Support your argument with references sourced from internet websites, reference books
and journal articles. Accurate APA referencing must be included.
You are encouraged to devise a time-line for completion of the various assignments in this unit.
You are also advised to contact the lecturers for feedback/comments on your draft assignments.

The fact that the class seemed well behaved and was seldom out of order during the first few days of
school did indicate that there isn't anything wrong with the children, at least from a general psychiatric
and psychological point of view.

No problem with hyperactivity or behavioural problems that need professional attention. In other words,
the kids are normal, but being a young first timers in school, they lack guidance on the proper way to
behave.

In my opinion, what Mr Tan could do is provide the kids with this much needed guidance. Come up with
a set of rules that the children need to comply with whenever they are in the classroom. Announce and
explain each rule clearly and explicitly, use psychological approaches to encourage the students to obey
the rules and discourage them to break any of them.

How? One way is by awarding rewards (stars, certificates, small gifts) to pupils who have been excellent
in abiding by the rules and impose punishments (no play time, more homework, 'threaten' the kids with
'a letter to your parents') on those who break the rules. 

In anything and everything, however, Mr Tan needs to remember to always be positive in his
approaches. Be firm, but try to avoid deliberately harsh reprimanding or physical punishments, because
at such young age, these type of approaches may work only because of the manifestation of the feelings
of fear, not respect, and usually would not bring about a lasting effect. 

Be firm but positive, show the kids who is in control. Lay down the rules, abide by it and most
importantly, deliver whatever promises that have been made.
Students Will Obey the Class Rules if They Understand Their Importance

Many teachers will attempt to explain the rationale behind a rule when the student is breaking it. Students who have
chosen to break a rule or be otherwise disruptive often do not care that they are being childish and no amount of
convincing will get them to understand why following the rule was important in the first place.

Teachers need to reinforce rule following with consistent consequences. Explaining the importance of a rule is as
useless as asking why a student broke a rule. It does not matter why a student broke the rule and the student does
not care how important the rule is. The bottom line is a consequence is a must.