ED 4238 Question 4 Fundamental Beliefs, Classroom management

However a teacher teaches, at the end of the day their own fundamental beliefs about learning, discipline, the nature of children and how they value education take over. What are your fundamental ideas about the nature of education and classroom management?

Teacher's Role

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom...As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or dehumanized (Ginott, 1976).

When acting as the decisive element , allowing the pendulum to swing from students autonomy to Teacher control . The teacher needs to use this Power to stimulate , challenge, develop , encourage and enhance motivation and the learning experience.

"Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives."
Rudolf Steiner.

My fundamental ideas about education are strongly place in the Steiner Curriculum and philosophy which embraces the understanding of development and creating environments where our children can make responsible choices about their education and go on to be responsible decision makers of the future.
The definition of class room management is A broad set of teaching behaviors through which the teacher shapes and maintains learning conditions instruction resulting in a learning community. Effective classroom management is an ongoing, maintenance oriented process. It involves motivating students to learn, providing appropriate instruction and feedback, and managing student work. efforts of the effective classroom teacher are proactive, responsive and supportive. Its our roles as teachers to promote a good learning community, using various strategies
Rogers and Freiberg 2000 believed the learning which takes place from choices is processed faster and at a deeper level than in the traditional classroom. Students learn to evaluate their own learning through a reflective process that includes feedback from the teacher and peers as well as self reflection. the student can become a self disciplined learner.
Its our role to develop positive learning communities that consist of facilitative leadership which promote shared decisions, facilitative teachers who involve others, students, parents, colleagues and the greater school community in the learning process. we need to plant the seeds of relationships that allow our students to become lifelong learners and effective responsible people.










A Sense of Place
A place to belong
A community.









My personal set of Values and ideas about Classroom management are as follow
1 establish a strong set of personal values and beliefs .
Prayer to St Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I also find strength in the ideas of Compassion, as my dear departed friend often stated "Compassion to strangers is the hardest test of our Faith".
So as a caregiver, parent and Teacher I face each day armed with my tools of faith.
This role we have as teachers and parents is one of great responsibility.


2 To treat and demonstrate fairness to my students, act with dignity and respect. Be respectful of others personal space.

3 Establish routines and traditions , community Class events, house keeping , distributing of materials, announcing information, conferencing and discussions.

4 Design creative lesson plans and programs that embrace Gardner"s multiple intelligences theory.

• lesson plans that design Content and tasks that are clearly understood and assessment, rubric that is fair and clearly understood as well.students are involved in the evaluation.
  
• Design tasks that intrinsically engage our students , learning experiences ZPD and social, peer interaction included in activities.
• Pace and timing of the lesson to allow time to reflect, assess, create and evaluate.
• the lesson makes intrinsic connections and sense to the student connecting to other subjects and life experiences.
• lesson plans were the tasks are fun, stimulating, engaging, challenging and achievable where the students present findings , can self reflect and create.
• lessons where seating and group shapes enhance the inclusive atmosphere, create fairness and discussion.
• the lesson should encourage fun with activities in 2D, 3D and 4D use music, DVD and Surprises

5 develop relationships with my students " they know I care and will Support them are they in pain today whats there need" How is their task going? How was their weekend? Be interested in them.

6 Guide Classroom communication so all feel included and valued.

7 Promote active listening, Courteous verbal and non verbal communication to all members of the community.

8 Classroom discipline theory never forget the only persons behavior you can control is one's own. Classroom discipline it's an Educational opportunity.

9 Community. I found this from Sapon-Shevin (1999) organizes principles of classroom management around the communities of learning notion that is both inclusive and democratic. Principal themes are related to the familiar theme of civics which she translates into characteristics of a learning community. The letters in CIVICS represent "Courage , Inclusion, Values, Integrity, co-operation and safety." all essential elements of a healthy classroom community. The importance of each individual, the interdependence and interconnectedness of the community create a learning environment in which all students can reach their potential.

10 Be passionate about your subject area.

11 Don't forget to have some fun and love being a Teacher.