Lily Kanefield

April 25, 2016

SERP475

Dr. Gratz

Classroom Behavior Management and Communication

The classroom I have had the opportunity to be in this semester is

filled with amazing students and even more talented teachers, although

many of my students root problems are behavioral my teachers have very

good systems in play that help these solve these problems. There are very

easy things that my teachers do that get the class quiet and students

focused. At almost all times there is a timer on the Elmo, the timer is mostly

used for timing activities, however, when students are talking and my

teacher is trying to get through information she simply starts the timer and

the students know that this means represents time that they will have to

spend in the classroom during lunch and recess. This is a great method that

my teacher sues to quiet the class and it requires no redirection. In my

classroom there is myself, a student teacher, and both co-teachers. While

one teacher is lecturing there is always at least one adult circulating the

room, and usually another teacher in the back helping manage behaviors or

keep students on track.

The classroom rules are composed of school wide rules, classroom

rules, and rules that were determined in the beginning of the year with the

class. I think that one thing my teachers do best in the classroom is that they
establish such an amazing relationship with each students based around

mutual respect and honesty that the students want to work hard in the

classroom and want to get along with the teachers. The teachers are very

honest with the students and it makes the students want to do the same. In

most situations the first thing that would happen if student is not following

the rules would be a verbal warning. If that does not solve the behavior the

students are sometimes asked to step out of the classroom for a minute.

Then the students are told that a phone call home is in order. If the behavior

still persists then the student will usually receive a lunch detention

(sometimes this happens before or along side a phone call home). Finally if

none of these have stopped a behavior the student is sent to in school

suspension (ISS) or ordered for regular suspension. All of these steps can be

skipped if a behavior is more serious and requires immediate more direct

consequences.

I think that in my classroom you see a lot of natural reinforcement

taking place such as good grades for paying attention and doing work, as

well as attention for students who are on task and trying hard. I also love

that my teachers do not just use phone calls home as a punishment for

students but uses them as praise for a student who has been trying really

hard, had an improvement in behavior or academics, or just really stands out

one day. I think that my teachers really try to focus on positive

reinforcement, although obviously sometimes certain actions deserve

negative consequences as well.

 I have participated in meetings with the 6th grade teachers; however,

my teacher told me that it is very similar with the 7th grade teachers.

However, the teachers all keep each other very in the loop about how every

student is doing, what behavior issues have occurred, how the situations

were handled and how they can better handle information. This kind of

communication makes it so that every student is being watched and

monitored in every classroom; it really keeps consistency in the classroom. I

personally have never observed any super serious behavior incidents.

However, I did see a conflict with two students yelling at each other. I

absolutely loved how my teachers worked together to handle the situation.

Jackie, my practicum teacher was in the middle of a lesson, the fight broke

out, she removed the student from the class, Mr. Y immediately took charge

of the class and kept on with Ms. As lesson. The whole situation was

removed from the classroom in less than 45 seconds, and then Ms. A calmed

the student in the hall heard his side of the story, did the same thing with the

other student, and then mediated the situation. I was amazed.

My teachers are in constant conversation with parents. They said it is

sad how hard it is to talk to some parents who skip meetings, argue about

their child all the time, or call and yell at them, However, for the most part

they have very positive and open relationships with all the parents that are

equally distributed with concerned phones calls and happy phone calls.

My classroom is home to all the students that enter it. They are treated

well and taught well. Every student knows how to act and they feel so
comfortable with both my teachers. All behavior issues are handled

immediately and efficiently and are always in the loop about every situation.

I think that the behavior management is very skillful in this room and

because of this, they are so rare.