Ch. 14 - Applying a Management Philosophy in Your Classroom

While chapter 13 discussed developing your classroom management philosophy, chapter 14 talks about putting that philosophy into action in your classroom.

Big Idea #1:  Management philosophies serve as the basis of the classroom management plan.  Without a coherent philosophy, you classroom management plan will end up being confusing and inconsistent, and the students will recognize this.  Those inconsistencies will result in unpredictable behavior and resentment from your students, as well as creating confusion for yourself.  Actions that are inconsistent with your philosophy or beliefs about education create a duality of character and mindset that are harmful to your well-being.  But, if you are consistent and act in accordance with your philosophy, your students will respect you, and you will respect yourself in return.

Big Idea #2:  Classroom management plan should include specifics such as relations with the students and parents, building the environment, and establishing rules.  The more specific your plan, the less guesswork you need to do when the moment comes to take action in the classroom.  If your plan is specific, you have a solid, tangible work to go back to and check yourself.  This keeps you as the teacher accountable to your plan.  For example, if you have written down a specific plan to call every child's parents once every month, you have a deeper seeded obligation to follow through with that plan.  Also, writing down the specifics of your plan contribute to maintaining consistency, as is explained above.

Big Idea #3:  Tailor your management plan to many different kinds of students, and address different kinds of misbehavior and special needs.  Have a plan for violent behavior.  While we hope you never have to deal with violence in your classroom, you should always be prepared to act quickly and decisively should the occasion arise.  Your plan should include responses to many different kinds of behaviors and needs to help keep you prepared to act and handle any kind of problem in your classroom.