Plan for Prevention

When designing my plan for prevention, I wanted to consider Charolette Danielson's Framework for Teaching. Here is how I plan to implement Domains 2A, 2C, & 2E.

Domain 2A

Students play an important role in ensuring positive interactions among students. Relationships between teacher and individual students are highly respectful, reflecting sensitivity to students' cultures and levels of development.

Relationship Driven Teaching

When thinking about my first weeks of school, I want to put building relationships with my students as a top priority. Relationships between myself and the students as well as students with their peers is critical for creating an environment that is safe, genuine, and empowering. Students who feel safe to share ideas, take risks, and be themselves allow for trust and a strong community within our classroom. I believe you cannot successfully make impacts an impact on students without developing a relationship. Creating these bonds allows students to become invested in their learning as well as their peers. By making this a priority, I hope to create a family atmosphere with my class.

Parent Involvement

Home Visits & Parent Involvement

Having parent involvement in my classroom, I believe enhances the message that the teacher, parents, and students are here to work as a team. It is important to remember that we are helping shape parents' most prized possessions. Having them involved in our classroom allows them to become more invested in their child's learning and keeps everyone on the same page.

One way that I plan to start off the year with building connections between the home and the classroom is through home visits. Especially in younger grades, students become more comfortable with the transition between staying at home and going back to school.

Instagram's @the_active_educator discusses the impact of her starting her year with home visits as a great way to see what is important to them, what their interests are, and what their culture is like.

Conscious Discipline

I would like to implement conscious discipline within my classroom. I believe that this addition to the classroom provides students with the tools to self-regulate, self-awareness, and self-motivation. One thing that stood out to me about conscious discipline is that it moves students away from doing something because they want to please the teacher to doing it to better themselves. Using the language that they promote allows us to move away from trying to control students and gives them the opportunity to make choices for themselves.

Brain Language

Using language like "flipping your lid" allows students to gain a self-awareness as it relates to their mental health. Understanding that a "flipped lid" might cause them to not think as clearly, it allows for students to be more in tune with their emotions and decision making skills. I also think that understanding that each student comes to class with different amounts of their "tea pot" filled helps them gauge if they "boil over." I think it provides teachers a greater grasp as to why students react the way the do.

Social Interactions Among Students

In younger grades I find teaching listening and speaking skills very important to creating a positive classroom environment. Many students often have lots that they want to share, and often times it is hard to teach impulse control to students. Instagram's @the_active_educator discusses a technique that she uses in her classroom. When students turn to small group of 3-4 students in a lesson, she will give students talking chips. After a students has shared an idea, they will contribute a talking chip to the middle. Then, it is their turn to listen. The students are often given 3-4 chips giving them opportunities to talk and to listen. Through techniques like this, it teaches them how to effectively listen while taking turn to talk. This creates an atmosphere where every voice is heard and validated.

Domain 2C

Students contribute to the seamless operation of classroom routines and procedures, for transitions, handling of supplies, and performance of non-instructional duties.

Classroom Layout

Elementary & Middle School Layouts

When designing my classroom layout, I wanted to incorporate students to have different areas that they could go throughout the room with clear pathways that would not disrupt the flow of learning. Each space within the room is grouped by noice levels and supplies close needed within each of their areas. Within the space, there are many ways for students to feel that it is their classroom instead of their teacher's classroom.

Routines & Procedures

I believe it is important for students to have routines throughout the day. While planning for my classroom, I want to create a balance of routines and independence for my students. For many students, routines provide a sense of security; they begin to know what to expect and when to expect it. This can relieve anxiety and allow students to know the expectations of the teacher.

Morning Meeting

Having a consistent morning meeting is one routine I want to have in my future classroom. Morning meetings is not only a way to make announcements, but it also is a time where students can share what is on their mind. Giving students time to be heard each morning can allow students to be more attentive throughout the day and feel open to share. Through the morning meetings, my goal is that we can cultivate a family environment that is welcoming for all students.

Technology in the Classroom

As our world becomes more and more technologically advanced, I believe it is crucial to have technology within the classroom. Whether the students have an iPad or Chromebook, students can further learning and become technologically literate through these opportunities. As a teacher, I know there will be many times where I do not know how to use new technology; however, I see these as great learning opportunities where students and I can learn together. Providing students with these moments where the teacher becomes the learner enriches our classroom culture. Through these resources, I hope to enhance their connections to interests, other content areas, and the real world.

Classroom Jobs

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Supplies

Within my classroom, I believe it is an important way for students to learn responsibility. While many supplies are available if necessary, having each student have their own supplies teaches them to care for their materials and creates a sense of ownership within the classroom. I plan to have spaces for each of my students to put their supplies, as well as, routines for how they can be taken out and put away. As the school year goes on, I plan to gradually release control to where students can become more independent in these routines.

Domain 2E

The classroom is safe, and the physical environment ensures the learning of all students, including those with special needs. Students contribute to the use or adaptation of the physical environment to advance learning. Technology is used skillfully, as appropriate to the lesson.

Cool Down Space

I believe having a cool down space within the classroom is critical for students to take mental and emotional breaks throughout the school day. Many students come to the classroom bearing weight from things that go on outside our classrooms. Within the state of Arkansas, 65.55% of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch (Arkansas Department of Education, 2021). To be an effective teacher, we need to be mindful of what all of our students bring with them to the classroom. Instead of reacting to a problem a student is facing defensively, we need to give the student tools to cope effectively. Through the cool down space, students can learn to remove themselves from situations as needed and learn their boundaries.

Student Driven Learning

In my classroom, I want to teach students independence. By allowing them to have time and space to explore, I believe I can give students the opportunity to take the lead in the learning. I am planning on creating a classroom Makers Space where students will be able to use different materials to dive further into their learning and maker deeper connections. Through opportunities like these, I believe that I can move from the role of a teacher to a role of a facilitator.