Thao - Classroom Management Action Plan - 23 February 2010

Classroom Management Action Plan 1

Running Head: CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN

Classroom Management Action Plan: General Biology for Grade 9

Bee Thao

Kaplan University

ED 581-01

Candace Spurzem

February 23, 2010


Table of Contents

I. Introduction 4

II. Classroom Management Action Plan 5

1. Getting Ready 6Letter of Introduction to Students 7Letter of Introduction to Parents 13Classroom Expectations 21Academic Expectations 22My First Day of School Introduction 23First Day of School Schedule 25First Day Bellwork Assignment 26Students’ Names 27Getting Acquainted Activity 28Classroom Helpers 29Selecting Students 30All About Me Bulletin Board 31Class of Winners Bulletin Board 32Themes for Other Sharing Bulletin Boards 33Emergency Activities 34Procedure to Teach Procedures 35Visuals for Procedures 36Additional Procedures Needed for Start of School 37

2. Classroom Management Plan 38Daily Schedule 39Bellwork Assignments 40If Students Finish Early 41Morning Opening Procedures 42Roll Taking Procedure 43Heading for All Papers 44Paper Name Check 45Tardy Procedure 46Absence Procedure 47Homework Procedure 48Returning to Task 49Classroom Visitors 50Guest Teachers 51Teacher Away from the Room 52Getting the Class’ Attention 53Quieting the Class Procedure 54Listening to / Responding to Questions 55Getting the Teacher’s Attention 56Collecting Papers 57


Table of Contents (cont)

Distributing Papers 58Classroom Rules 59Classroom Consequences 60Classroom Rewards 61Recognizing Positive Discipline 62Behavior Intervention 63Posting Homework Assignments 64First Homework Assignment 65Grade-Wide / Department-Wide Procedures 66School-Wide Procedures 67Ending the School Year 68

3. Teacher Materials 69Organizing Me 70Materials for the Classroom 71

4. Student Materials 72Organizing Contents of Student Storage 73Organizing Contents of Desks 74

5. Seating 75Floor Plan for My Classroom 76Beginning Classroom Seating Arrangement 77Additional Classroom Seating Arrangements 78Seating Assignment Method 79Class Seating Chart 80Socio-Gram of Class 81Class Contact List 82Working Together in Groups 83

6. Student Movement 84Students Entering the Classroom Procedure 85Students Leaving the Classroom Procedure 86Walking in the Hall Procedure 87End of Day Dismissal Procedure 88Bathroom Use 89Disaster Drills 90Student’s Sudden Illness 91

III. Conclusion 92

IV. References 93


INTRODUCTION

One of the primary purposes for the development of a Classroom Management Action Plan is to develop a core competency of Kaplan University’s Master of Arts in Teaching. It forces teachers to “integrate understandings of individual and group motivation and behavior in order to establish and manage a positive learning environment that supports positive social interaction, self-motivation, inquiry, and active engagement in learning” (“Kaplan,” 2009, p. 222). Along these lines, teachers must differentiate between management and discipline.

Wong & Wong (2005) state, “Classroom management should not be equated with discipline” because of two major differences (p. 20). Discipline is concerned with the behavior of the students and involves punishment. Management is concerned with processes and procedures, which have no punishment and is used as a means to ensure good discipline and proper behavior through both procedures and rules.

It follows the principle that students respond more positively to classroom procedures than to classroom rules (Wong & Wong, 2005). Students will challenge the confines of rules to see if a teacher will be willing to enforce the rules, causing poor discipline. They will not do the same with procedures, because procedures have no disciplinary penalties if they are not followed. Students who want to be successful in class will gladly follow procedures because they are the accepted methods by which actions are completed in that classroom. This is one of the hallmarks of good classroom management.

A well-managed classroom has students productively involved in their studies, with set expectations, little wasted time, and a learner friendly environment. The well-managed classroom has an established set of easy-to-follow procedures which show students what the teacher expects from them to prevent any undue frustration (Clark, 2007; Wong & Wong, 2005). Instructional time is used effectively through class management and lesson plans, preventing unwanted behavior and assisting students in staying on task and learning (Clark, 2007; Gabler & Schroeder, 2003; Wong & Wong, 2005). Students are valued, resulting in teacher-student bonding, better discipline, and overall classroom success (Hall & Hall, 2003). A well-managed classroom has an environment that fosters student’s desires to learn. (Kohn, 1996).

Effective classroom management is essential to effective teaching because teaching procedures is teaching expectations (Wong & Wong, 2005). Procedures are key elements for a well-managed classroom because they provide the structure and routine which allow “the myriad of activities that take place there to function smoothly and stress-free” (Wong & Wong, 2005, p. 85). Procedures also provide students with behavioral boundaries that will ensure their success in class (Akin-Little, Little, & Laniti, 2007; Wong & Wong, 2005).


CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN


GETTING READY


Letter of Introduction to StudentsDate: _______________

SUBJ: General Biology 101

Encl: (1) Class Procedures (2) Classroom and Homework Activities

Dear Student,

I’d like to personally welcome you to Kaplan High School’s General Biology Class. My name is Bee Thao and I will have the pleasure of being your instructor. It will be a great year, but I will need your help to make it outstanding. I’d like to have you and your parents’ participation in your learning. I’d like to do this through Parent-Teacher meetings, monthly progress reports, classroom activities, and home activities, and I’ve attached several enclosures to this letter. This letter will just reiterate the items that we’ll be covering in the first day of class.

The first enclosure lists class policies and provides my basic expectations for you, and what you can expect from me in how I will be running this class.

The second enclosure describes the three major projects that your child will be completing in this class as well as some parent-child interactive homework assignments. I am requesting your assistance in your child’s work. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated, but if time does not allow, your acknowledgement that your child has requested your signature is acceptable for the passing homework grade. Please set time aside to critique your child’s work as well as to attend the class presentations at the end of the year.

The last enclosure lists some references that you should read to increase your understanding of why I greatly stress your involvement in your child’s education.

Once again, thank you for your assistance. I look forward to making this an outstanding year.

Sincerely,

Bee ThaoKaplan High School Room A101Address: 1801 E. Kimberly, Davenport, IA 52807Phone: 563-355-3500


Enclosure (1): Class Procedures

The following list is the procedures, rules, consequences and rewards that were discussed with on the first day of class. If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact me.

1. Seating: There is no assigned seating, but once you sit down, you may not change your seat until permission is given to do so. That means that seating is based upon the first come, first served mentality. If students are late for class, they won’t get the seat they wanted.

2. Headings: All assignments will have the following heading in the top right corner:NameB. Thao General Biology 101-001Date

An appropriate formatted heading will ensure that your assignments are graded and returned to you quickly.

3. Bell Work: Enter class and start the assignment on the board prior to the second bell. The assignment will either be a thought question leading into the day’s lesson, a review of yesterday’s lesson, or a short pop quiz. All students should “Enter quietly. Work quietly”

4. Homework: Homework will be assigned at the end of class and will be due the following school day. All homework assignments will be turned in with the bell work.

5. Turning in Assignments: Pass the assignments to the end of the rows and then to the front for collection.

6. Make-Up Work: All Make-Up Work will be provided upon request, but must be completed within 1 week from the date of the absence. For excused absences: All Make-Up Work will be graded for full credit. For unexcused absences: All Make-Up Work will be graded for 90% credit.

7. Tardiness: Students shall try not to disturb the class when they arrive late. I understand that students might feel some things are more important than class, but if they arrive late, the only person that they will be preventing from learning is themselves. If a student arrives late, please enter quietly and find a seat quickly.

8. Speaking: Students will raise their hands and wait to be acknowledged before they speak. This will ensure that nobody is interrupted, and that everybody will have the same opportunity to voice their opinion. Students are encouraged to ask questions. “There is no such thing as a stupid question,” but keep questions relevant to the topic at hand. Irrelevant questions can wait until the end of class. As with speaking, students shall wait to be acknowledged before asking questions.

9. Toilet Breaks: I understand that there are emergencies when students will be unable to use the restroom between class periods, but if students are constantly going to the restroom, this


policy will be reassessed. Students must be quiet when moving to and from the restroom; and only 1 person may be out of the classroom at a time.

10. Dismissal: I dismiss the class, not the bell. This ensures that lessons are wrapped up, homework is assigned, and lingering questions about assignments are answered. If students must leave earlier than the bell, they shall speak to me before hand. When students leave, they shall do so quietly. Do not disturb the class.

11. Grades: Students will be graded using a point system. The total number of points available for class will be 2000 points. Points will be divided among assignments as follows:

Homework: 700 pointsQuizzes: 500 pointsTests: 500 pointsMajor Projects: 300 points

The following end of year points will determine the following letter grades:A+ >1940 B+ 1740-1799 C+ 1560-1619 D+ 1380-1439A 1860-1939 B 1680-1739 C 1500-1559 D 1320-1379A- 1800-1859 B- 1620-1660 C- 1440-1499 D- 1200-1260Anything less than 1200 is Failing.

12. Rules: There are only 4 rules.

A. Respect each other. That includes property, personal space, and opinions. There is no place for thievery, burglary, bullying or ridicule.

B. Give credit where credit is due. This applies to every assignment and is explained in the Kaplan Highs School Plagiarism Policy.

C. No cheating.

D. No food or drink in class. This is a laboratory and it is unsafe to eat or drink in class.

13. Consequences: Except where Kaplan High School Policies apply, Consequences will be applied in the order listed:

A. Verbal WarningB. Written WarningC. 1-page Essay explaining the cause of the offense, and whether the offense was

justified or not. The essay must be typed or written using proper English and single-spaced. It will be graded and sent home to the parent or guardian.

D. DetentionE. In-School SuspensionF. Out-of-School Suspension


14. Kaplan High School Policy regarding Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism is defined as “Using another person’s words, ideas, or results without giving proper credit to that person; giving the impression that it is the student’s own work” (“Kaplan,” 2009, p. 30).Plagiarism or cheating will result in an immediate failure of the assignment.

Reference: Kaplan University catalog: Calendar year 2009-2010. (2009).

15. Rewards:

A. Bonus Points1. Every day, there will be a Homework Bonus Assignment that will provide

students with an extra 1 point to be applied to their final grade.2. Every day, the one student who contributes the most to the class in terms of

group understanding, discussion, or learning, will receive an extra 1 point to his/her final grade.3. If students decide that they need a challenging extracurricular assignment to

boost their grade by 10 points, I have topics that require research papers. Students may only complete one extracurricular assignment per month, and the points will not be included in the Earned Bonus Points that have earned, but will still be applied to their final grade.

B. Lucky Chair: Every Day, one chair will have a special coin taped under the desk.The special coin will make student immune to answering questions for the day, but if he/she does contribute the most to the class that day, the student will earn 2 Bonus Points instead of 1. Students may search for the Lucky Chair as long as they never sit down, but students must be seated and working on the Bell Work prior to the second bell.

C. Special Prizes: When Students earn Bonus Points, their name will be placed on the board, and a running tally will be kept throughout the year. At the end of the year, the student with the most bonus points will receive a special prize. The 1st and 2nd Runner-ups will also receive a special prize of lesser value.

16. Progress Reports: To ensure that students, parents and guardians are sure of how they or their children are doing in class, I will give out progress reports on the last day of each month. Progress reports will include the current grade (number of points earned out of points possible), disciplinary problems, thoughts about classroom participation, areas of particular student strengths, as well as areas that require more work. Progress reports will be well-thought out and personal. They will also require parent or guardian signature.

17. Open Door Policy: I have an open door policy. Students, parents, and guardians are free to contact me at any time to discuss class material as well as anything they deem is appropriate. If I don’t have an answer for your questions, I’ll help you find somebody who does. My contact information is as follows: Address: Kaplan High School Room A101

1801 E. KimberlyDavenport, IA 52807

Phone: 563-355-3500E-mail: [email protected]


Enclosure (2): Classroom and Homework Activities

There will be 3 major projects in this class: (1) a research paper, (2) a science experiment, and (3) a group presentation.

(1) Research Paper: Students will research one subject in detail and produce a 5 page paper with references. I ask that parents and guardians provide or approve the subject that the students will be researching. Students are ultimately responsible for the research and write up, but your assistance in critiquing their drafts will greatly improve their coherence and communication skills. Students will be requested to produce at least two rough drafts with editing and comments; one from a peer and the other from a parent or guardian. When editing, please check:

(a) grammar and spelling(b) coherence(c) formatting and style(d) check to make sure that students citing their sources

(2) Science Experiment: Based on their research paper, students will present a hypothesis and an experiment to test the hypothesis. Students will create a presentation board with the information from the Science Experiment. Students will then present their experiment to the class. I ask parents and guardians to do 2 things for this project:

(a) Have students conduct their presentations to the parents for a critique and practice. Be honest and truthful, but supportive, with your critiques.

(b) Please attend class on the days that your child will be conducting their presentation to the class. Be prepared to re-evaluate the presentation and discuss if improvements were made and what could have been communicated better. But most of all, be here to encourage your child.

(3) Group Presentation: Students will be placed in small groups of 4-5 people and given a topic to research and teach to the class. I ask parents and guardians to do the same 2 things for this project:

(a) Have students conduct their presentations to the parents for a critique and practice. Be honest and truthful, but supportive, with your critiques. And because this is a group project, groups may be required to conduct their practice presentations on multiple occasions to multiple parents/guardians. Don’t worry, because we all know that practice makes perfect.



Beyond the three major projects, parent-child homework activities will also be assigned. While I understand that parents may not be able to find time, parental assistance would be greatly appreciated. But if time does not allow, acknowledgement with a signature on the completed homework assignment is acceptable for a passing homework grade.

The first in a set of three homework activities is the creation of a family tree. Please work with your parents in producing a biological family tree, going back as many generations as possible, and including as many extended family members as possible. The format is fairly loose. Be as creative as possible with the design, but try to find names and pictures of all the family members. You will have the first 40 days of class to complete this assignment.

The second part of this activity is purely genetics. This is where pictures can be very helpful. Determine the eye and hair color of each of the members on the family tree. Using a Mendelian Genetics Handout (to be provided), determine the dominance of each trait (eye color and hair color). Discuss the results of the Mendelian Genetics homework with your parents. Come up with questions that you and your parents would like to have answered.

The third part of this activity is more interactive. The next day in class, we will discuss the Mendelian Genetics homework, each family tree, as well as your questions in class. You will then research the answers to those questions. I then ask that you discuss your findings with your parents, and write a short essay about the findings. Hopefully this leads to more questions that you can research and discuss with the class.


Letter of Introduction to ParentsDate: _______________

SUBJ: Parental Involvement Plan for General Biology 101

Encl: (1) Schedule Request (2) Class Procedures (3) Classroom and Homework Activities

(4) References

Dear Parent or Guardian,

I’d like to personally welcome you and your child to Kaplan High School’s General Biology Class. My name is Bee Thao and I will have the pleasure of being your child’s instructor. It will be a great year, but I will need your help to make it outstanding. I’d like to have your participation in your child’s learning. I’d like to do this through Parent-Teacher meetings, monthly progress reports, classroom activities, and home activities, and I’ve attached several enclosures to this letter.

The first enclosure is a schedule request for a Parent-Teacher conference. I’d like to get to know you and your child as quickly as possible, so that I can tailor the instruction as much as possible. And you can get to know me so you’ll know why your child is always complaining about his course load. ^_^

The second enclosure lists class policies and provides my expectations for your child and expectations for how I will be running the class. Please go over it with your child.

The third enclosure describes the three major projects that your child will be completing in this class as well as some parent-child interactive homework assignments. I am requesting your assistance in your child’s work. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated, but if time does not allow, your acknowledgement that your child has requested your signature is acceptable for the passing homework grade. Please set time aside to critique your child’s work as well as to attend the class presentations at the end of the year.

The last enclosure lists some references that you should read to increase your understanding of why I greatly stress your involvement in your child’s education.

Once again, thank you for your assistance. I look forward to making this an outstanding year.

Sincerely,

Bee ThaoKaplan High School Room A101Address: 1801 E. Kimberly, Davenport, IA 52807Phone: 563-355-3500


Enclosure (1): Schedule Request

I’d like to get to know you and your child as quickly as possible, so that I can tailor the instruction as much as possible.

Some questions I’ll ask at the First Parent-Teacher Meeting will be quite general, like:

What are your child’s likes/dislikes?What is your child interested in learning?What are you interested in learning?

I will also be going over the class schedule, policies and major assignments. It’s very important that I have the opportunity to discuss this with you.

Please write down the top six times you are available to meet with me during the first 3 weeks of school. I don’t care if it’s in the middle of the night. If I’m not teaching class at that time, I will meet with you to discuss your child’s well-being.

First 3 Weeks (January or August):

1. ___________________ 2. ____________________ 3. ______________________

4. ___________________ 5. ____________________ 6. ______________________

I’d also like to meet with you during the middle of the semester (March or November), as well as during finals (May or December). This is so we can discuss how your child is doing, what he/she can improve on, and how they did this semester; so please write down 12 more dates and times. ^_^

Mid-term (March or November):

1. ___________________ 2. ____________________ 3. ______________________

4. ___________________ 5. ____________________ 6. ______________________

Finals (May or December):

1. ___________________ 2. ____________________ 3. ______________________

4. ___________________ 5. ____________________ 6. ______________________

Parent / Guardian Name: _____________________

Student Name: ______________________________


Enclosure (2): Class Procedures

The following list is the procedures, rules, consequences and rewards that were discussed with your students on the first day of class. If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact me.

1. Seating: There is no assigned seating, but once you sit down, you may not change your seat until permission is given to do so. That means that seating is based upon the first come, first served mentality. If students are late for class, they won’t get the seat they wanted.

2. Headings: All assignments will have the following heading in the top right corner:NameB. Thao General Biology 101Date

An appropriate formatted heading will ensure that your assignments are graded and returned to you quickly.

3. Bell Work: Enter class and start the assignment on the board prior to the second bell. The assignment will either be a thought question leading into the day’s lesson, a review of yesterday’s lesson, or a short pop quiz. All students should “Enter quietly. Work quietly”

4. Homework: Homework will be assigned at the end of class and will be due the following school day. All homework assignments will be turned in with the bell work.

5. Turning in Assignments: Pass the assignments to the end of the rows and then to the front for collection.

6. Make-Up Work: All Make-Up Work will be provided upon request but must be completed within 1 week from the absence. For excused absences: All Make-Up Work will be graded for full credit. For unexcused absences: All Make-Up Work will be graded for 90% credit.

7. Tardiness: Students shall try not to disturb the class when they arrive late. I understand that students might feel some things are more important than class, but if they arrive late, the only person that they will be preventing from learning is themselves. If a student arrives late, please enter quietly and find a seat quickly.

8. Speaking: Students will raise their hands and wait to be acknowledged before they speak. This will ensure that nobody is interrupted, and that everybody will have the same opportunity to voice their opinion. Students are encouraged to ask questions. “There is no such thing as a stupid question,” but keep questions relevant to the topic at hand. Irrelevant questions can wait until the end of class. As with speaking, students shall wait to be acknowledged before asking questions.

9. Toilet Breaks: I understand that there are emergencies when students will be unable to use the restroom between class periods, but if students are constantly going to the restroom, this


policy will be reassessed. Students must be quiet when moving to and from the restroom; and only 1 person may be out of the classroom at a time.

10. Dismissal: I dismiss the class, not the bell. This ensures that lessons are wrapped up, homework is assigned, and lingering questions about assignments are answered. If students must leave earlier than the bell, they shall speak to me before hand. When students leave, they shall do so quietly. Do not disturb the class.

11. Grades: Students will be graded using a point system. The total number of points available for class will be 2000 points. Points will be divided among assignments as follows:

Homework: 700 pointsQuizzes: 500 pointsTests: 500 pointsMajor Projects: 300 points

The following end of year points will determine the following letter grades:A+ >1940 B+ 1740-1799 C+ 1560-1619 D+ 1380-1439A 1860-1939 B 1680-1739 C 1500-1559 D 1320-1379A- 1800-1859 B- 1620-1660 C- 1440-1499 D- 1200-1260Anything less than 1200 is Failing.

12. Rules: There are only 4 rules.

A. Respect each other. That includes property, personal space, and opinions. There is no place for thievery, burglary, bullying or ridicule.

B. Give credit where credit is due. This applies to every assignment and is explained in the Kaplan Highs School Plagiarism Policy.

C. No cheating.

D. No food or drink in class. This is a laboratory and it is unsafe to eat or drink in class.

13. Consequences: Except where Kaplan High School Policies apply, Consequences will be applied in the order listed:

A. Verbal WarningB. Written WarningC. 1-page Essay explaining the cause of the offense, and whether the offense was

justified or not. The essay must be typed or written using proper English and single-spaced. It will be graded and sent home to the parent or guardian.

D. DetentionE. In-School SuspensionF. Out-of-School Suspension


14. Kaplan High School Policy regarding Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism is defined as “Using another person’s words, ideas, or results without giving proper credit to that person; giving the impression that it is the student’s own work” (“Kaplan,” 2009, p. 30).Plagiarism or cheating will result in an immediate failure of the assignment.


15. Rewards:

A. Bonus Points1. Every day, there will be a Homework Bonus Assignment that will provide

students with an extra 1 point to be applied to their final grade.2. Every day, the one student who contributes the most to the class in terms of

group understanding, discussion, or learning, will receive an extra 1 point to his/her final grade.3. If students decide that they need a challenging extracurricular assignment to

boost their grade by 10 points, I have topics that require research papers. Students may only complete one extracurricular assignment per month, and the points will not be included in the Earned Bonus Points that have earned, but will still be applied to their final grade.

B. Lucky Chair: Every Day, one chair will have a special coin taped under the desk.The special coin will make student immune to answering questions for the day, but if he/she does contribute the most to the class that day, the student will earn 2 Bonus Points instead of 1. Students may search for the Lucky Chair as long as they never sit down, but students must be seated and working on the Bell Work prior to the second bell.

C. Special Prizes: When Students earn Bonus Points, their name will be placed on the board, and a running tally will be kept throughout the year. At the end of the year, the student with the most bonus points will receive a special prize. The 1st and 2nd Runner-ups will also receive a special prize of lesser value.


17. Open Door Policy: I have an open door policy. Students, parents, and guardians are free to contact me at any time to discuss class material as well as anything they deem is appropriate. If I don’t have an answer for your questions, I’ll help you find somebody who does. My contact information is as follows: Address: Kaplan High School Room A101

1801 E. KimberlyDavenport, IA 52807

Phone: 563-355-3500E-mail: [email protected]


Enclosure (3): Classroom and Homework Activities

There will be 3 major projects in this class: (1) a research paper, (2) a science experiment, and (3) a group presentation.

(1) Research Paper: Students will research one subject in detail and produce a 5 page paper with references. I ask that parents and guardians provide or approve the subject that the students will be researching. Students are ultimately responsible for the research and write up, but your assistance in critiquing their drafts will greatly improve their coherence and communication skills. Students will be requested to produce at least two rough drafts with editing and comments; one from a peer and the other from a parent or guardian. When editing, please check:

(a) grammar and spelling(b) coherence(c) formatting and style(d) check to make sure that students citing their sources

(2) Science Experiment: Based on their research paper, students will present a hypothesis and an experiment to test the hypothesis. Students will create a presentation board with the information from the Science Experiment. Students will then present their experiment to the class. I ask parents and guardians to do 2 things for this project:

(a) Have students conduct their presentations to the parents for a critique and practice. Be honest and truthful, but supportive, with your critiques.


(3) Group Presentation: Students will be placed in small groups of 4-5 people and given a topic to research and teach to the class. I ask parents and guardians to do the same 2 things for this project:

(a) Have students conduct their presentations to the parents for a critique and practice. Be honest and truthful, but supportive, with your critiques. And because this is a group project, groups may be required to conduct their practice presentations on multiple occasions to multiple parents/guardians. Don’t worry, because we all know that practice makes perfect.



Beyond the three major projects, parent-child homework activities will also be assigned. While I understand that you may not be able to find time, your assistance would be greatly appreciated. But if time does not allow, your acknowledgement with a signature on your child’s completed homework assignment is acceptable for a passing homework grade.

The first in a set of three homework activities is the creation of a family tree. Please assist your child in producing a biological family tree, going back as many generations as possible, and including as many extended family members as possible. The format is fairly loose. Allow your child to be as creative as possible with the design, all I ask is that you help in finding names and possibly pictures of all the family members. The student will have the first 40 days of class to complete this assignment.

The second part of this activity is purely genetics. This is where pictures can be very helpful. Help your child determine the eye and hair color of each of the members on the family tree. Using a Mendelian Genetics Handout (to be provided), determine the dominance of each trait (eye color and hair color). Discuss the results of the Mendelian Genetics homework with your child. Come up with questions that you and your child would like to have answered.

The third part of this activity is more interactive. The next day in class, we will discuss the Mendelian Genetics homework, each child’s family tree, and your questions in class. Your child will have time to research the answers to those questions. Hopefully you will find them time to research the subject as well. I then ask that your child discuss their findings with you, and write a short essay about their findings and discussion. If this leads to more questions, please continue to feed your child’s thirst for knowledge.


Enclosure (4): References. The following references provide additional insight towards the effectiveness of parent involvement and as well as methods that can help you help your child.

A new wave of evidence: The impact of school, family and community connections on student achievement. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www.ncpie.org/WhatsHappening/researchJanuary2006.html

Clark, R. (1993). Homework-focused parenting practices that positively affect student achievement. In N. F Chavkin (Ed.), Families and schools in a pluralistic society (pp. 85-105), Albany, NY: State University of New York.

Constantino, S. (n.d.). No child left behind. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www.familyfriendlyschools.com/explore/white_papers/nclb.pdf

Constantino, S. (n.d.). The role of technology in family engagement. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www.familyfriendlyschools.com/explore/white_papers/role_technology.pdf

Engaging parents in education: Lessons from five parental information and resource centers. (2007). Jessup, MD: Education Publications Center. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/parents/parentinvolve/engagingparents.pdf

Epstein, J. L., & Sanders, M. G. (2000). Connecting home, school and community: New directions for social research. In M. T. Hallinan (Ed.), Handbook of the sociology of education (pp. 285-306), New York, NY: Kluwer Academic.

Furguson, C. (2009). A toolkit for Title I parental involvement. Austin, TX: SEDL, National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www.sedl.org/connections/toolkit/toolkit-titleI-parent-inv.pdf

Helping your child learn science. (2005). Jessup, MD: Education Publications Center. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/science/science.pdf

Helping your child with homework. (2005). Jessup, MD: Education Publications Center. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/homework/homework.pdf

Kaplan University catalog: Calendar year 2009-2010. (2009).

Parent involvement vs. family engagement. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2010 from http://www.familyfriendlyschools.com/what_is/parent_involvement.htm

Supplemental educational services: Quick reference for parents. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2010 from http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/supplemental-services.html

http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/supplemental-services.html

http://www.familyfriendlyschools.com/what_is/parent_involvement.htm

http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/homework/homework.pdf

http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/science/science.pdf

http://www.sedl.org/connections/toolkit/toolkit-titleI-parent-inv.pdf

http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/parents/parentinvolve/engagingparents.pdf

http://www.familyfriendlyschools.com/explore/white_papers/role_technology.pdf

http://www.familyfriendlyschools.com/explore/white_papers/nclb.pdf

http://www.ncpie.org/WhatsHappening/researchJanuary2006.html


Classroom Expectations

- What kind of an atmosphere do you want to create? What do you want the students to do to create an atmosphere so you can teach?

I expect the classroom to be thinker-friendly, where students can ask questions. I also expect the class to listen and be quiet when somebody is talking. Along these lines:

1. Rules:

A. Respect. Students will respect themselves, their fellow students, their teacher, and property. They will listen when somebody else is talking, will provide constructive feedback, and observe appropriate noise levels. They will neither physically, verbally, or emotionally abuse themselves, their fellow students, or any sort of property, personal space, and opinions. There is no place for thievery, burglary, bullying or ridicule.

B. Give credit where credit is due. This applies to every assignment and is explained in the Kaplan Highs School Plagiarism Policy. Everybody should acknowledge the work and effort of others.

C. No cheating. Plagiarism is defined as “Using another person’s words, ideas, or results without giving proper credit to that person; giving the impression that it is the student’s own work” (Kaplan University catalog, 2009, p. 30). Plagiarism or cheating will result in an immediate failure of the assignment.


D. No food or drink in class. This is a laboratory and it is unsafe to eat or drink in class. It is also very difficult to contribute to a discussion, not to mention impolite, when talking with a full mouth.

2. Procedures: I should develop procedures with the class which will stress the above rules in their behaviors, including at least the following procedures.

A. Entering / Exiting ClassB. SeatingC. Speaking / Sharing in Class / During DiscussionsD. Tardiness / AbsencesE. Moving About the RoomF. Toilet Use


Academic Expectations

- Your academic expectations should be simple and straightforward. Expect students to work hard and be willing to learn. What will you promise your students in return?

I expect students to work hard and be willing to learn.

Students can expect me to work hard and be willing to learn as well. To do this, I will:

1. Always be on time.

2. Be prepared for each lesson.

3. Do my homework and have assignments graded in a reasonable time.

4. Be lenient and understanding of special situations.

5. Be strict in the application of the 4 Rules.

6. Have an open door policy, allowing students and their parents to discuss their questions, concerns and needs in a private manner.

7. Be willing to admit when I don’t know the answer.

8. Be willing to research and learn with the class.


My First Day of School Introduction

- The start of the school year bell has rung. The students are all in their seats. What will be your opening comments to your students? This is your verbal welcome to your class. Tell them about yourself, the class, and what they can expect for the school year.

1. Stand at the door. Greet Students as they come in. Ask them to take a seat anywhere. Ask them write on a piece of paper where they think the picture on the slide was taken.

2. Utilize the “First Day of School PowerPoint”:

A. Introduce the objectives of the First Day.

B. Introduce myself through my educational background, my work history, and my hobbies.

C. Let the class know how to contact me, and discuss my Open Door Policy.

D. Conduct “Getting Acquainted Activity”.

E. Discuss the following Procedures, but allow students to modify them:

i. Seatingii. Assignment Headingsiii. Bell Work iv. Homeworkv. Turning in Assignmentsvi. Make-Up Workvii. Tardinessviii. Speakingix. Toilet Breaksx. Dismissal

F. Grades using the Point System.

G. Discuss the following 4 Rules, but allow students to add more rules:

i. Respect each other.ii. Give credit where credit is due.iii. No cheating.iv. No food or drink in class

H. Discuss the following Consequences, but allow students to modify them where possible.

i. Verbal Warning


ii. Written Warningiii. 1-page Essayiv. Detentionv. In-School Suspensionvi. Out-of-School Suspension

I. Discuss the Kaplan High School Policy regarding Plagiarism and Cheating.

J. Discuss the Rewards System:

i. Bonus Pointsii. Lucky Chairiii. Special Prizes

K. Discuss the Major Projects.

i. Research paperii. Science experimentiii. Group presentation

L. Discuss Parental Involvement Plan. Hand out “Letter of Introduction to Parents”.

M. Discuss Field Trips.

i. Maui Ocean Centerii. San Diego Zoo

N. Ask directed questions.

i. Is everybody comfortable with the rules?ii. Are there any procedures you don’t understand?


First Day of School Schedule

- Visualize the entire time with your students. Structure how you will spend that time. How will you start the day? What procedures will you teach for a smooth start of school? How will you end the day?

The first day of school will be used to discuss procedures and expectations. I will utilize the “First Day of School Powerpoint.” As students enter, I will ask students to find a seat and think about the picture on the slide. When class is ready to start, I will discuss the procedures presented on the slide. This should take a majority of the class time:

1. Procedures:i. Seatingii. Assignment Headingsiii. Bell Work iv. Homeworkv. Turning in Assignmentsvi. Make-Up Workvii. Tardinessviii. Speakingix. Toilet Breaksx. Dismissal

2. 4 Rules:i. Respect each other.ii. Give credit where credit is due.iii. No cheating.iv. No food or drink in class

3. Consequences: i. Verbal Warningii. Written Warningiii. 1-page Essayiv. Detentionv. In-School Suspensionvi. Out-of-School Suspension

4. Kaplan High School Policy regarding Plagiarism and Cheating.5. Rewards System:


Any remaining time will be used to learn about each other. We will conduct introductions and discuss what students would like to learn in the class period. A homework assignment will be provided a few minutes prior to students being dismissed from the classroom.


First Day Bellwork Assignment

- At the start of each day or period, have an assignment for students to complete as they enter the classroom. What will this assignment be? What are they to do upon completion of the assignment?

On the first day, I will utilize the “First Day of School Powerpoint.” As I greet students at the door, I will ask the students to quietly find a seat, take out a piece of paper, and write down where they think the picture on the initial slide was taken and why. The initial slide is a picture of the 99 Islands from Sasebo, Kyushu, Japan. The students will probably finish quickly, and they will start talking to each other. This will maintain a friendly atmosphere with the students introducing themselves and getting to know each other. I anticipate starting class one or two minutes after the tardy bell, prior to the students becoming too loud.


Students’ Names

- How will you learn everyone’s names? Will you put a name on the desk, create a transparency with names, etc?

I will learn everybody’s names using name tags on the desks. Students will be handed a placard and will be asked to write their preferred given name on the placard. They will place these placards on their desks in a visible location.


Getting Acquainted Activity

- How will you help students get to know each other? Choose a short activity that lets students find out something about each other.

The students will be asked to stand up and state / answer the following:

1. Full Name2. Preferred Name3. If you were any animal or vegetable other than a human, what would you be and why?

I would start by saying:

“Okay class. I’ll start. My full name is Bee Thao, but I’d prefer to be called Mr. Thao. If I was any animal or vegetable, I would be a Sperm Whale because they are the top predator in their food web and can explore the ocean depths for giant squid; something that even with our technology, we still know very little about.

Well class, we’ll start from the back corner and work toward the front; so, next to introduce themselves is... (the person on the).”


Classroom Helpers

- What jobs can you assign to students to help them learn responsibility? Some ideas include attendance checker, calendar keeper, paper passer, errand runner, pencil sharpener, line leader, line caboose, teacher assistant, etc. Review the expectation of each job at the beginning of school and as needed.

I think that the use of classroom helpers, in the 9th grade will be appear a little absurd. I think that the students would have learned responsibility by the time they enter high school, but I think that if errands appear, I can utilize “free bodies”, or students that have finished their work and appear free to assist with tasks, whether they are messengers to the office or assistants to walk other students to the infirmary.


Selecting Students

- How will you determine who to call on during class discussion or when you need a special job done? Will you use popsicle sticks, a name wheel, a checklist, etc.?

As discussed with the use of classroom helpers, I will first attempt to utilize “free bodies”, or students that have finished their work and appear free to assist with tasks. In an environment where the students are preoccupied with work, I will utilize the class roster and proceed alphabetically. I will keep track of the students picked with this method with a special tally roster.


All About Me Bulletin Board

- Display items about yourself so that students can get to know you better. What items will you share with the class?

I would display the following:

1. College and High school Diplomas and Certifications

2. Pictures of myself and my family

3. Pictures of my cars

4. A picture of the book I’m currently reading

5. A picture of the last movie that I saw

6. A copy of the last paper or essay that I wrote


Class of Winners Bulletin Board

- Create a class of winners. What will you ask your students to bring in and put on display?

I will take a class picture and post it on the bulletin board. I will ask the students to bring in something that portrays their personality, for example the animal or vegetable that they introduced themselves as during the “Getting Acquainted Activity”.


Themes for Other Sharing Bulletin Boards

- Everyone longs to be recognized. What other thematic areas can you create to display student work?

I will create the following Bulletin Boards:

1. Outstanding Work Board: “A+” work will be displayed prominently so that students will understand my expectations and the work that is considered “A+”.

2. Interesting Exhibits Area: Student work that isn’t “A+” or which isn’t course work, but is relevant to General Biology can be displayed in this area. For example, extra credit work or interesting articles from Popular Science, peer-reviewed journals, etc.

3. Procedures / Rules / Consequences Bulletin Board. This will show all of the applicable procedures that the students should understand and follow, including the School Rules.

4. Events Board: This will showcase the daily schedule, provide a place to post homework assignments, and be the board that provides information for upcoming events and special items like field trips. Students will also check this board for the work that was previously assigned.


Emergency Activities

- Be over prepared. Expect the unexpected. What are some time-filler activities you can do if the situation presents itself?

1. Prepared worksheets. Probably not the best option, but will stress rote memorization and definitions from textbooks, etc.

2. Conduct a discussion and review of previous lessons using a reflective approach to allow students to relate past concepts to current topics, etc.

3. Read a current article from popular press, peer-review journals, etc. for discussion. Examples include:

A. Science and Technology in Current News (TV, newspaper, magazines, etc.)B. Ecology

i. Global Warmingii. Fisheries and Wildlife

C. Anatomy & Phsyiology (Cybernetics, Robotics, Cloning, Cures for Cancer, Flu shots)

4. Provide additional time for Research, Experiment, and Group Presentations. For example, allow students to interact and discuss their ideas, current status, practice presentations, etc. If the students cannot find time to research, I could get Media Center time for the students on short notice. If the students did not require the time to research their topics, they could brainstorm.


Procedure to Teach Procedures

- What is the process you’ll use to teach procedures? How will you Explain? How will you Rehearse? How will you Reinforce?

I will use a Reflective Discussion to teach the procedures on the first day of class. Procedures that are not completely necessary at the time, will be reserved until they are required, i.e. laboratory procedures will be discussed immediately prior to the first laboratory experiment.

Explanation: The explanation will be performed via lecture, word for word. Students will then be asked if they understand the purpose of the procedure. They would also be asked if they would like to modify the procedure to better suit the purpose.

Rehearsal: 3 random students will be asked to perform the procedure immediately after the explanation. Students will observe and offer suggestions about the correctness of the actions, or if procedures could be improved. The 3 random students will continue until they have successful performed the procedures, as deemed by the class.

Reinforcement: Reinforcement will occur during the Rehearsal procedure, as well as throughout the school year. Students will be asked to reinforce the procedure among themselves. I will also reinforce the procedure by correcting mistakes and praising actions properly performed.


Visuals for Procedures

- What charts or diagrams will be needed to remind students of classroom procedures?

The basic procedures will be spelled out on a bulletin board for easy viewing. It may look as follows:

1. Procedures:i. Seatingii. Assignment Headingsiii. Bell Work iv. Homeworkv. Turning in Assignmentsvi. Make-Up Workvii. Tardinessviii. Speakingix. Toilet Breaksx. Dismissal

2. 4 Rules:i. Respect each other.ii. Give credit where credit is due.iii. No cheating.iv. No food or drink in class

3. Consequences: i. Verbal Warningii. Written Warningiii. 1-page Essayiv. Detentionv. In-School Suspensionvi. Out-of-School Suspension

4. Kaplan High School Policy5. Rewards System:


A detailed handout on standard 8 inch x 11 inch paper will be stapled next to the board for reference in case a student forgets the exact procedure.


Additional Procedures Needed for Start of School

- Think of everything you plan to do for the school year. Create a procedure to cover that activity. Have students keep a copy of all procedures taught in the class. Tell students that these same procedures will be shared with parents during “Back to School” night. Let everyone know what your expectations are.


CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN


Daily Schedule

- Create a schedule that puts your main curriculum first and includes the state mandated instructional time. Keep to your daily schedule as consistently as possible. Post a copy of the schedule in the classroom.

The Daily Schedule will be posted on the “Events Board” and will usually consist of the following:

1. Bellwork / Attendance Check

2. Bellwork Discussion

3. Homework Discussion

4. Pass out any materials for the day

5. “Lecture” / Lab

6. Post Homework Assignment / Pass out any materials for tomorrow

7. Dismissal


Bellwork Assignments

- What is the procedure for the students to complete their bellwork assignments each day? How will you create your bellwork assignments? What are students to do when they complete the assignment? Is there a special notebook to use for bellwork assignments? How will it be checked or corrected?

The Bellwork Procedure will be discussed with students and hopefully it will be as follows:

1. The Bellwork Assignment will be posted on the chalkboard / projector prior to students entering class each day / period.

2. Students will enter the class, find a seat, and start working on the Bellwork Assignment.

3. Students have until 5 minutes after the tardy bell to complete the Bellwork Assignment.

4. Students who finish early will have the opportunity to review the previous night’s Homework Assignment or work on anything of their choosing, quietly.

5. Upon the “Time’s Up” signal, students are to pass in the Bellwork Assignments.

6. A discussion will be generated to review the assignment.

The Bellwork Assignments will be one or two thought questions derived from yesterday’s lesson, or as an introduction to today’s lesson. Sometimes, the Bellwork may be a short Pop Quiz of definitions from the current or past units.

Students should use loose leaf paper to complete the Bellwork Assignments. I will correct / grade Bellwork Assignments and return them the following class meeting.


If Students’ Finish Early

- Have a list ready for students to select from to keep them 100% engaged. Students should always know what to do next.

If students finish early, they have the option of the following, and in the following order:

1. Night Reading: Reading sections from the textbook will be posted daily as “Night Reading” on the Events Board as part of the Homework. Students may read from the textbook if they finish early.

2. Fun Class Reading Material: Popular Science Magazines, American Scientific, and some Peer Review Journals, as well as some popular press journals, will be available for reading. If students have finished their Night Reading, they may enjoy these magazines.

3. Homework: Students may start their homework assignments, or finish homework from other classes if they have finished either of the first two options.

4. In the event that students have finished all of the above options, students may rest. (Depending on how well the class agrees with this option, or whether this option is valid in the school, this option may or may not be provided.)


Morning Opening Procedures

- List the activities that will happen before actual instruction begins in the class. Break down the parts to this ritual and repeat the process each day. Does it include bellwork, attendance check, organizing materials for the day, putting away lunches, reciting a class motto, etc.?

I will normally follow this procedure:

1. Post Bellwork prior to the first student’s arrival.

2. Greet Students at the door and hand out their graded assignments if possible.

3. Check Attendance.

4. While students are conducting Bellwork, double-check my lesson plans and preparation as well as finish passing out graded work.

5. Collect Bellwork & Homework Assignments.

6. Discuss Bellwork & Homework Assignments.

7. Distribute Handout Materials for the day.

8. Start the day’s lesson.


Roll Taking Procedure

- Who will take the roll? How is it taken? What’s the quickest amount of time you can do it in?

I will take roll as I greet students, or during Bellwork as I handout the graded assignments. The intention is to have attendance checked by the “Time’s Up” signal for the Bellwork Assignment. Furthermore, the collection of the Bellwork can be used as an attendance roster for the day if I have not finished the attendance check.


Heading for All Papers

- What information do you want on all work – name, student number, date, period, subject, title of assignment, etc.? Make a poster of this information and display in the class.

The Heading for all assignments is as discussed during the “First Day of School Powerpoint”. Students will provide the following information:

1. Student’s Name

2. Teacher’s Name (B. Thao)

3. Subject & Period (General Biology 101-001)

4. Date

Students will understand that a missing portion of the heading results in 1 point deducted from the assignment grade. The failure to provide the Student’s Name results in a zero on the grade, or 90 % of full credit if the student claims the assignment late (after the assignment has been turned in).


Paper Name Check

- What auditory cue and action will you use to remind students to head their papers? Ask them to put a star by their names, a check mark by the date, underline their student number. Later shorten the cue to name check.

I will remind students to check their headings prior to turning in their assignments. For example:

“Okay class. Remember to check that the heading is formatted correctly. Now please pass in your assignments.”


Tardy Procedure

- What happens if students arrive late to class? Do they need to bring a slip from the office? Are they still responsible for bellwork? How will they join the flow of the class without causing interruptions?

The Tardy Procedure will be discussed with students as follows:

1. If you arrive late, enter quietly and find a seat quickly.

A. Sign in on the Clipboard next to the door, printing your name, time, and excuse. If you have a permission slip, please show me after class.

B. Check the Events Board for any Handouts.

C Find an open seat and listen in until you are caught up.

2. Come see me after class.

A. We will discuss your excuse, whether it is excused or unexcused; and you will show me any permission slips.

B. We will also discuss make-up work that you may have missed or turned in late, i.e. Bellwork and Homework.


Absence Procedure

- How will students know what is missed while they were away from class? Where will they find the work that they missed? Who is responsible for collecting materials for the absent student? How long will students have to complete any work missed?

Students will check in with me upon their return. I will go over the following procedures:

1. Check the Events Board for Previous Readings and Assignments.

2. Check the Class Notes Binder for any missed lesson and discussion information.

3. Provide the student with information regarding the Assignments and schedule a time when tutoring can be provided.

4. The students have 1 week from the date of the absence to finish the make-up work.


Homework Procedure

- Where will you post the homework assignments? Where are the students to keep their homework record? How and when will you check for completion of homework when given?

1. Homework assignments will be posted on the Events Board along with the Night Reading.

2. Homework assignments will be turned in every day along with the Bellwork Asssignments.

3. Homework assignments will be graded and returned the following day.


Returning to Task

- How will you get the students back to work after a classroom interruption? What type of cue will you use?

Students will know the following:

1. When I say, “Okay”, it will signal their attention.

2. When I clap twice, they should be quiet and ready to listen.

3. I will then ask the students to “Return to task.”


Classroom Visitors

- How do you want students to respond to visitors in the classroom?


1. Raise your hand and direct my attention to the visitor.

2. Do not allow yourselves to be distracted by visitors and continue on task.

3. I will introduce visitors and special guests.


Guest Teachers

- How do you want students to respond to substitute teachers? Is there an appointed student liaison?


1. Treat substitute teachers as if I were the teacher.

2. The student liaison is the first student to enter class and is responsible for the following:

A. If the teacher requires assistance, direct attention to Lesson Plans Binder and Events Notebook.

B. If problems arise that cannot be resolved, get the attention of a neighboring teacher or contact the Office.


Teacher Away from the Room

- What are students to do if you are not in the classroom to lead them? Is there another teacher they should contact for direction? Do the students know where to find your lesson plans so they can carry on with the work for the day?


1. If I am not in the classroom, the first student in class shall post the Bellwork Assignment from the Bellwork Assignments Folder.

2. Students will turn in their Bellwork and Homework Assignments.

3. Students will discuss the Bellwork and Homework Assignments.

4. Check the Events Board for any Handouts and the daily “Night Reading”.

5. Commence Reading and working on any Handouts.

6. Contact the neighboring Teachers or the Office if there are any problems.


Getting the Class’ Attention

- What method will you use to signal to the class that you want their attention? Use both a visual and auditory method.




3. I will then provide instructions to the students.


Quieting the Class Procedure

- How will you remind the class that their noise level is too high? Use both an auditory and visual cue.




3. I will then provide instructions to the students as follows: “Class. You are doing a great job with the discussion and participation. I can see everybody is enjoying themselves, but it’s getting a little too loud, so I need everybody to speak softly and keep the noise level down.”


Listening to / Responding to Questions

- How will students participate in class discussion? Will they raise their hands, wait until call upon, listen, etc.?


1. Students will raise their hands and wait to be acknowledged before they speak.

2. Ensure that nobody is interrupted, and that everybody will have the same opportunity to voice their opinion.

3. Students are encouraged to ask questions. “There is no such thing as a stupid question,” but keep questions relevant to the topic at hand. Irrelevant questions can wait until the end of class. As with speaking, students shall wait to be acknowledged before asking questions.

4. Everybody must practice Active Listening. Students will be asked to generate a class definition of “Active Listening”, but should come up with something similar to the following:

Conscious attention to what is being said and shown; thinking about what is being said.


Getting the Teacher’s Attention

- How will the students notify you that they need something? Will they always raise their hands and wait for acknowledgement from you; will you use a finger system to take care of repetitive questions?

Students understand that they have permission for simple tasks, i.e. toilet breaks, sharpening pencils, etc., as discussed in the “First Day of School Powerpoint”.

1. If students need to get my attention, they must raise their hand and wait for acknowledgement.

2. If there is an emergency, students must get my attention by saying my name in a loud and forceful manner, “Mr. Thao! There’s an emergency.”

3. When the students have been acknowledged, they will state their opinion or emergency.


Collecting Papers

- How will you gather work efficiently? The method you use to collect papers will depend on your seating arrangement.

Students will know to always Pass to the Right.

1. For Row Seating, students will turn in papers / assignments by placing the item on the desk to their right. I will collect the items from the right-most seat in each row.

2. For Circular Seating, students will turn in papers / assignments by placing the item on the desk to their right. I will collect the items from the right, front seat.

3. In Small Groups, students will place the papers at the Right-Most Desk. I will walk to each group and collect the assignments.


Distributing Papers

- Do papers get returned to folders, directly to students, distributed with helpers, etc.?

1. Graded Assignments will be distributed directly to the students when they enter class, and as part of the Morning Procedures.

2. Handouts will be placed in a folder near the Events Board.

A. I will normally Distribute Papers to the Rows during the appropriate time during Morning Procedures.

B. Papers will be handed to the Left-most Seat in each Row.

C. Students will pass extra sheets to the right by placing them on the desk.


Classroom Rules

- What behaviors do you want to encourage or stop? Write 3-5 rules that everyone needs to follow and you can enforce consistently. Post them for all to see.

As discussed in the “First Day of School Powerpoint”, there are 4 rules:

1. Respect each other. That includes property, personal space, and opinions. There is no place for thievery, burglary, bullying or ridicule.

2. Give credit where credit is due. This applies to every assignment and is explained in the Kaplan Highs School Plagiarism Policy.

3. No cheating.

4. No food or drink in class. This is a laboratory and it is unsafe to eat or drink in class.

These will be posted on the Procedures / Rules / Consequences Bulletin Board.


Classroom Consequences

- What happens if the students do not follow the rules? Create a hierarchy of consequences to care for the student who infrequently or frequently breaks the rules. Post consequences for all to see.

As discussed during the “First Day of School Powerpoint”, except where Kaplan High School Policies apply, Consequences will be applied in the order listed:

1. Verbal Warning

2. Written Warning

3. 1-page Essay explaining the cause of the offense, and whether the offense was justified or not. The essay must be typed or written using proper English and single-spaced. It will be graded and sent home to the parent or guardian.

4. Detention

5. In-School Suspension

6. Out-of-School Suspension

Kaplan High School Policy regarding Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism is defined as “Using another person’s words, ideas, or results without giving proper credit to that person; giving the impression that it is the student’s own work” (Kaplan University catalog, 2009, p. 30).Plagiarism or cheating will result in an immediate failure of the assignment.

To ensure that students, parents and guardians are sure of how they or their children are doing in class, I will give out progress reports on the last day of each month. Progress reports will include the current grade (number of points earned out of points possible), disciplinary problems, thoughts about classroom participation, areas of particular student strengths, as well as areas that require more work. Progress reports will be well-thought out and personal. They will also require parent or guardian signature.


Reference:



Classroom Rewards

- How will you recognize a class or student who follows the rules? Will you send a positive note home, deliver a high five, give a special privilege, etc.?

As discussed in the “First Day of School Powerpoint”, Rewards will be in the form of good grades, acknowledgement, and good progress reports to parents:

1. Bonus Points

A. Every day, there will be a Homework Bonus Assignment that will provide students with an extra 1 point to be applied to their final grade.

B. Every day, the one student who contributes the most to the class in terms of group understanding, discussion, or learning, will receive an extra 1 point to his/her final grade.

C. If students decide that they need a challenging extracurricular assignment to boost their grade by 10 points, I have topics that require research papers. Students may only complete one extracurricular assignment per month, and the points will not be included in the Earned Bonus Points that have earned, but will still be applied to their final grade.

2. Lucky Chair: Every Day, one chair will have a special coin taped under the desk.The special coin will make student immune to answering questions for the day, but if he/she does contribute the most to the class that day, the student will earn 2 Bonus Points instead of 1. Students may search for the Lucky Chair as long as they never sit down, but students must be seated and working on the Bell Work prior to the second bell.

3. Special Prizes: When Students earn Bonus Points, their name will be placed on the board, and a running tally will be kept throughout the year. At the end of the year, the student with the most bonus points will receive a special prize. The 1st and 2nd Runner-ups will also receive a special prize of lesser value.




Recognizing Positive Discipline

- Catch them being good. How can you show the students you know they are following the rules and procedures for the classroom? Will you write notes to parents, notes to students, add to the classroom chart, etc.?

To ensure that students, parents and guardians are sure of how they or their children are doing in class, I will give out progress reports on the last day of each month.

1. Progress reports will include:

A. current grade (number of points earned out of points possible),

B. disciplinary problems and excellence,

C. thoughts about classroom participation,

D. areas of particular student strengths,

E. areas that require more work.

2. Progress reports will be well-thought out and personal.

3. They will also require parent or guardian signature.


Behavior Intervention

- How will you correct deviant behavior? Create an Action Plan for the students to use to reflect and capture their plans to correct their behavior.

1. Students will understand the expectations, rules, and consequences.

2. Consequences will be posted.

3. At the Verbal Warning, students will be reminded of the expectations, rules, and consequences of their actions and will be asked to reflect on their behavior.

4. At the Written Warning, students will be counseled of the expectations, rules, and consequences of their actions and will be asked to reflect on their behavior. This counseling will be documented and a copy will be provided to the student.

5. If the behavior persists, students will be asked to further reflect on their behavior in a 1-page Essay explaining the cause of the offense, and whether the offense was justified or not. The essay must be typed or written using proper English and single-spaced. It will be graded and sent home to the parent or guardian.

6. Detention will be the next step. I will provide tutoring services, classwork, or counseling during the Detention sessions.

7. In-School Suspension. The student will be sent to the Office for repeated offenses. I will contact the parents and request assistance.

6. Out-of-School Suspension. The student will be sent home.


Posting Homework Assignments

- How will you communicate homework to students? Select a place in the classroom and consistently use it to post homework assignments.

Homework Assignments will be posted on the Events Board in accordance with the Daily Schedule.


First Homework Assignment

- Give students a homework assignment on the first day of school. With this assignment, check to see if they know where to look for the assignment, where to copy it in their binders, what to do with it upon return to the classroom, etc.

The students will be provided a Homework Assignment on the first day of school. If I have textbooks available to provide the class, they will also be provided with their first Night Reading Assignment: The Homework Assignment will be a review and student essay of the procedures and expectations of the class.

1. I will grade for effort and thoughtfulness.

2. I will also ensure the student has a fundamental understanding of the rules and procedures of the class:

A. via memorization of procedures and rules,

B. discussion of the student’s own feelings about the procedures and rules,

C. and following of procedures through the appropriate use of heading.

3. The student will be expected to complete the Homework Assignment on time.

4. The students will be expected to Pass in the Homework appropriately.


Grade-Wide / Department-Wide Procedures

- Brainstorm a list of procedures that would work on a grade-level of department level basis. How can you best encourage your colleagues to follow suit?

I think that we should use the best procedures from each class / teacher, thus it will feel like a collective effort from the start. Most importantly, I should incorporate the best procedures from the start, so I should be discussing my Classroom Management Action Plan and Procedures with the grade / department as soon as I have the opportunity.

I am particularly interested in useful and effective:

1. Bellwork Procedures

2. Attendance Procedures

3. Teacher Away from the Room Procedures

4. Guest Teacher Procedures


School Wide Procedures

- Brainstorm a list of 3-5 procedures that if the whole school were to follow them, it would change the culture of your school. Identify some key people who can help you implement the plan.

I think the procedures that can change the culture of the school would be:

1. Bellwork Procedures

2. Teacher Away from the Room Procedures

3. Guest Teacher Procedures

Students would know the need to be in class, and when teachers are not in their classes, students would know how to act.

The people that would be able to change the school culture would be:

1. The Principal

2. Department Heads

3. New Teachers


Ending the School Year

- What special activities will you do to bring the school year to a close? Will you ask the class to comment on the school year in the form of a survey? Will you ask them to write “survival” advice to next year’s students?

For end of year activities, I will do the following:

1. Provide a survey / critique form to discuss:

A. my teaching and classroom instruction,

B. the class subject material,

C. and the students’ attitudes.

2. I will ask the students to reflect on their year and write a “Reflective Journal” and provide me a copy.


TEACHER MATERIALS


Organizing Me

- Plan ahead and think of items you will need to organize. Will it be your art supplies, bulletin board ideas and supplies, seasonal activities, bellwork ideas, homework baskets, in and out boxes, absent folders, makeup work folders, holiday celebrations, writing samples, personal portfolio, etc.?

The following need to be organized:

1. All Bulletin Boards

2. Lesson Plan notebooks

3. Handout notebooks

4. Bellwork Assignments notebooks


Materials for the Classroom

- Brainstorm lists of all of the items you’ll need for your classroom. Divide the list into items you’ll supply and the school will supply. Include a category called Wildest Dreams and include on it items from your ultimate wish list. Make a list of items you’ll seek with a donation request.

I’ll supply:1. Organizational notebooks for Assignments, Handouts, Lesson Plans, etc.2. Bulletin Board supplies:

A. Poster BoardB. Construction PaperC. Markers

3. Instructional MaterialA. Colored Chalk / EXPO markersB. Special Transparency SlidesC. Powerpoint PresentationsD. Popular press magazines and “fun” reading

The school should supply:1. Instructional Material

A. White Chalk / EXPO markersB. Blank Transparency SlidesC. Textbooks

2. Classroom ItemsA. Desks / ChairsB. Laboratory items

i. Scapelsii. Knivesiii. Frogsiv. Microscopesv. Microscope slidesvi. Paper Towels

C. Trash Bins


STUDENT MATERIALS


Organizing Contents of Student Storage

- Once a week, have a supervised storage cleaning. Get rid of unnecessary items. Help students organize themselves to have at their fingertips all they’ll need for the different subjects.


Organizing Contents of Desks

- Is there a way you want the contents of the students’ desks organized so they can retrieve materials easily? Do textbooks go on the left and papers on the right? Do backpacks stay at their feet or get hung in the back of the classroom? Do they keep school property separate from personal property?

1. Students will keep backpacks and school / personal property at or under their desks. Students must keep aisles clear and free of trip hazards.

2. Students may organize their materials in any manner they would like, but must maintain quiet when searching for materials.


SEATING


Floor Plan for My Classroom

- Consider all the areas for all the activities you’ll be doing in the classroom. Orient you students to this floor plan well.


Beginning Classroom Seating Arrangement

- For the first days of school, seat students so everyone can see you and the instructional areas. How will you arrange the desks so all eyes are on you?

The classroom will be arranged in traditional row and column seating.


Additional Classroom Seating Arrangements

- Seating arrangements will change based upon the activities being done in the classroom. List some alternate ways of arranging the class for small group, large group, and individual instruction and interaction.

1. Circular / Semi-circular seating arrangement: Used for class discussions / presentations.

2. Small group arrangement: For small group seating, students will be grouped in small “circles” of desks / chairs.


Seating Assignment Method

- How will students find their seats on the first day of school? Do you show a chart in the class, distribute cards to match, give everyone a number to correspond with a desk number, etc.?

Students will find their seats the same way every day.

1. Students will find an open seat.

2. Once seated, students will not change seats unless asked to do so by a teacher.


Class Seating Chart

- Charts are helpful for guest teachers. Give the students a copy of the chart as well. Save old charts to remember arrangements that did or did not work well.


Socio-Gram of Class

- Results are often surprising when you learn who would like to sit next to whom. Give students first and second choice of seating. Find out who is apt to be left out and where any cliques might be. Use this information to adjust your seating assignments.


Class Contact List

- Create a roster of all the names and contact information for students. Keep the copy handy and ready to grab in an emergency.


Working Together in Groups

- Each person in a group must have a task. Assign your groups to the number of tasks in a lesson. Grouping may change with each new activity.


STUDENT MOVEMENT


Students Entering the Classroom Procedure

- When students enter the classroom for the first time, what do you want them to do? Put away certain items, get out materials, sharpen pencils, declare lunch status, logon to computers, etc.

When students enter the room, I want them to:

1. Find a seat.

2. Take out a pen / pencil and a notebook of paper.

3. Check the Bellwork Assignment and start working.


Students Leaving the Classroom Procedure

- How are students readied to leave the classroom for a short period of time, like going to recess, lunch, the library, P.E., etc.? Do you need to do something to their desk area? How are they alerted that it is time to line up?

1. Students will be instructed to grab necessary materials.

2. Students will be asked to proceed to the location quietly.

3. I will lock the classroom.

4. Students will gather in a line near the location quietly.

5. They will be allowed into the location by a staff member.


Walking in the Hall Procedure

- How will you move the class from your classroom to another area of the school without disturbing those classes in between?

Students will be asked to follow the following procedure:


2. Students will be asked to proceed to the location quietly.


4. Students will gather in a line near the location quietly.


If students do not comply with the procedure, pending the consequences previously listed, the following procedure will be discussed and instituted:


2. Students will line-up, single file outside the classroom.


4. Students will be follow me and proceed to the location quietly.



End of Day Dismissal Procedure

- How will you end the day or period? What do you want the students to do before they leave, copy homework, empty desks, chairs up, backpacks by their feet, etc.? How will you tell the class they are free to leave?

The signal for the end of class will always be the school bell. At the end of class, students will do the following:

1. Copy Homework and Reading Assignments.

2. I will say, “Thank you for your attention today. Have a good day.”

3. Empty desks of personal items and trash.

4. Push in chairs.

5. Quietly walk out to leave.


Bathroom Use

- How will you monitor students’ bathroom needs? When can they go? How often can they go? Do they need a special hall pass?

As discussed in the “First Day of Class Powerpoint Presentation”, students understand that they have permission to exit class and use the toilet when necessary. They are reminded to use discretion.

1. Students must pick up the “General Toilet / Hall Pass” at the door upon exit.

2. Students must return the “General Toilet / Hall Pass” upon return.


Disaster Drills

- Develop, share, practice, and rehearse all emergency procedures. Review these procedures often.

Drills will be conducted and reviewed in accordance with School Policy.All drills will be discussed with students to periodically.


Student’s Sudden Illness

- It’s unavoidable. What do you want students to do if they become ill in the classroom?

If students become ill, they will do the following:

1. Get my attention.

2. If required, I will assign an Escort.

3. The student will proceed to the Infirmary / Nurse’s Office.

4. I will check on their condition at the earliest opportunity.


CONCLUSION

The current Classroom Management Action Plan is a rough draft that follows a template provided by Wong & Wong (2005) and loosely incorporates procedures and ideas from the plans of other teachers. It is neither better nor worse because it is still flexible. Such flexibility will allow the plan to accommodate changes in my abilities as well as the many different learning needs and styles inherent in students. A flexible plan based upon a classroom discussion during the first days of class should allow the incorporation of students’ thoughts, opinions, and needs. Students’ needs can range from emotional to physical needs, requiring various seating charts for different proximities, to changes in procedures to accommodate special circumstances (Pastor, 2002; Scarpaci, 2007).

The Classroom Management Action Plan is just a tool; it will be refined with use, and it will change with time. To use it effectively, I must have and be able to use other management tools, including inter- and intrapersonal skills, decisiveness, and confidence. I must be able to communicate and understand expectations to and from the students. I must be able to adapt my own abilities to meet the needs of the students. I must be able to tell the students to behave in a certain manner and know that it is correct and appropriate. The plan and the tools are only as effective as the teacher. As the teacher, it is my duty to continually practice, revise, and improve the tools in use so that I may more effectively instruct students.


REFERENCES

Clark, D. (2007). Classroom management challenges in the dance class. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 78(2): 19-24.

Gabler, I. A., & Schroeder, M. (2003). Constructivist methods for the secondary classroom. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.


Kohn, A. (1996). What to look for in a classroom. Educational Leadership, 54(1), 54-55.

Marzano, R. J., & Marzano, J. S. (2003). The key to classroom management. Educational Leadership, 61 (1) 6-13.

Pastor, P. (2002). School discipline and the character of our schools. Phi Delta Kappan, 83(9), 658-661.

Scarpaci, R. T. (2007). IOSIE: A method of analyzing student behavioral problems. Clearing House, 80(3): 111-116.

Wong, H.K., & Wong, R.T. (2005). How to be an effective teacher: the first days of school. Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications.

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Thao - Classroom Management Action Plan - 23 February 2010

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