Ch. 9 - Community Approaches to Classroom Management

This chapter focused more on educational philosophy than specific management strategies, and I actually found that very attractive.  I don't think the classroom should be as strict as it is, and I think the more opportunities for involvement on everyone's part, the better and more useful the community as a whole will become.

Big Idea #1:  Community approaches encourage caring and concern for students and helps them develop cooperative skills and attitudes.  The reason I hi-lighted this as a big idea for these approaches is that behaviorist approaches do not do this.  Obviously, which management style would we prefer?  One that develops cooperative skills in the students, or a style that doesn't?  With less focus on bad behavior, and more focus on directing behavior towards the common good of the group, student involvement increases, less problems arise, and less violent tendencies.

Big Idea #2:  These approaches offer opportunities for improved behavior and increased academic achievement.  By having students take leadership roles in the classroom, they develop a stronger sense of ownership and citizenship in their classroom and their school.  This ownership results in a sense of responsibility for the well-being of the group and the self.

Big Idea #3:  Students become an integral part of the classroom, school, and the outside community.  Everyone enjoys feelings useful.  A student who learns this feeling in the classroom will become involved outside of the classroom.