I understand that my role in leading a class begins even before the students set foot in my classroom. I will begin by arranging the classroom so that the students and I can easily move around. By placing the desks in groups, I will allow more walking space and eliminate the need to have students move every time I want them to work together. It is important for me to have a clear set of rules and procedures that can be discussed on the first day of school. My rules will be based on creating an atmosphere where everyone is treated fairly and students are taught to be responsible. I will use techniques such as eye contact and proximity in order to allow students time to correct their own behavior. Along with my class rules, I will have a set of consequences. While I will always attempt to teach responsible behavior with minimal consequences, I understand that I will need to use time out with reflection and occasionally call home to let parents know what is happening. Time out with reflection is where the child goes to a desk away from the distraction and fills out a form telling what he or she feels is causing the behavior. I will then talk to the student about the form and try to find ways to prevent future disturbances. I believe these forms help the students think about their behavior and create a proactive means to teaching responsibility. Teaching responsibility is a role that comes with teaching mathematics, reading, and writing. It is not a role to be taken lightly, and I will use every resource possible to help the student grow into a more mature learner.

While having a clear set of rules and a neatly arranged classroom, having daily procedures is essential in the productivity of the school day. There will be specific ways that my class will do things like collecting papers and sharpening pencils. I have seen many students get up to sharpen their pencils and every other student wants to follow. I will have a jar with sharp pencils and one with worn pencils. Students will drop their worn pencil in the jar and choose a sharp one. This will eliminate the desire for students to use the pencil sharpener repeatedly. I will also ask students to pass their papers to the corner of their desks. I will then walk around and collect from each group. This helps keep students from wandering around the classroom. I do not feel that students should be kept from using the bathroom. I believe that students can make that decision on their own. I also understand the children’s desire to get out of class, so I will allow time for bathroom breaks between specials and recess. I think that allowing students time to use the bathroom helps eliminate excessive bathroom breaks during class. If a real bathroom emergency occurs during class, I will have a hall pass that students may use. These procedures may seem tedious to some, but I feel that preplanning the smallest detail can help me be a more proficient teacher and allow me to have more time to teach.

My leadership in the classroom is only an addition to the parent’s role in their children’s lives. It is important for me to build a bridge of community with parents. Parents are an important influence in my student’s lives, and they will always be welcome in my classroom. I feel that frequent communication with parents is essential, and I intend to use as many opportunities as I can. I will have a monthly newsletter that will go home with the students. The newsletter will have highlights and a calendar of events for the upcoming month. Along with my newsletter, I will have parent-teacher conferences to discuss the child’s progress. In addition, I will be open to conferences outside of the normal conference times. Parents may call me and I will find opportunities to call them. I feel that calling the home of a child who is doing a great job is a wonderful way to encourage a child’s continued behavior and it keeps the lines of communication open. Parents want to know when their child is doing well or not so well and I will make calls under both circumstances. Another form of communication I will have is through e mail and a class website. I will use the website to post homework, spelling words, and announcements. This will be a place for parents and students to visit. One of my favorite ideas for parental involvement is to have them come to school on a sharing day. If we are studying Arizona History, I may have my students build Native American dwellings. This is a great opportunity for parents to come in and allow the students to teach them. I may also have the students create a production from a story we are reading and invite parents in to our classroom as the audience. There are many ways to communicate with parents and I feel that it is an essential part of maintaining my classroom. By making the environment welcoming for parents and students, I will create a safe place for children to learn.

What would have been different if that particularly redundant child would have taken the time to think about the follow the leader activities before we played? We may not have thought they were so boring. That child would not be remembered as the kid who did the same thing over and over. I am going to be the teacher who uses a variety of tools and techniques to maintain my classroom. I will begin by creating a neat and orderly classroom and will have a clear set rules and procedures. I understand that children need a stable environment and I will use consistent techniques to enforce consequences and expectations. Inviting parents to be a part of the learning environment creates a unique atmosphere where students feel proud of the work they are doing. I am committed to being a strong, creative leader who thinks about the environment of the classroom as a very important aspect of learning.