Classroom Management
Section outline
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Classroom Management is by FAR the key to all successful classrooms, be them one to one or not. After all, how can one teach or learn in an environment that is not condusive to such? As the educational leader of our classrooms, it is the teacher's responsibility to create the environment optimal for teaching and learning to occur.
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In college, we learned that most problems in class can be addressed before they ever begin. Throughout our careers, our experiences reinforce the idea (sometimes painfullly) that, with proper planning, a teacher can create a classroom culture where reactive classroom management is rarely necessary.
Your first priority when the class starts is to get the students to work. You can easily get students to work if three criteria have been met:
1. The students have an assignment.
2. They know where to find the assignment.
3. They know why they are to do the assignment.
Common sense and research on the effective classroom tell us that this is most easily achieved when the work is in the same place everyday.
Fortunately, the use of digital tools such as the Learning Management System (LMS) and the class projector make this process easier than ever!
You should establish a proceedure which involves students accessing your bellwork via their laptops as early as possible. This will not only insure consistency with students, but it will also greatly improve your daily management as the expecations will remain the same on occasions where you are away from class.
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Video
Interviews from a 1:1 district
The following videos are uploaded from the Irving Independent School District who is also in a one to one program. Please feel free to view these and discuss how you might see similarities or differences in your one to one classroom environment!
In addition to these videos, we have included a link that will take you right to the Irving Independent School District website for more ideas and information. Please keep in mind that this district operates with some differences in their use policies; however, a majority of the technology integration can be done in similar ways here in Sunnyside. Click Here or on their district name to go directly to the IISD Class Management page.
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Almost a dozen Florida school districts have joined together to help support schools who are expanding to 1:1. They have posted more than 100 classroom videos which demonstrate technology use in action. Click here to explore by subject and grade level.
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Creating a Student Behavior Management System
When setting up your classroom expectations, it is important to focus not only on negative reinforcement (i.e. things you CAN'T do), but also positive reinforcement (incentives for good behavior). These not only work to keep ALL students on task but also help to promote a cooperative classroom environment.
Although Student Behavior Management Systems don't have to be online, one of the best tools that we've seen for this task is Class Dojo. With this free, online system you can create a class monitoring and reward program that's easy to use and fun for your students.