• A proper learning environment has to be organized to be efficient. The students need to know everything has its own place so when something is needed less time is wasted searching for what they (or I) need.

• Walls would have student work and motivating and/or encouraging quotes.

• It is important to create a strong, supportive community in the classroom; a classroom culture. Our class can accomplish more with efficient team-based learning. Team based learning cultivates constructivism, positive social skills, and students are more likely to be in their zone of proximal development and feel less intimidated to ask questions.

• Going outside to expose urban youth to nature is an essential part of my philosophy. I am a member of the Sierra Club: Inner City Outings ICO organization and throughout the year our class would go out on different nature activities, including hiking and camping. Our rationale for taking youth on ICO trips is that they:»Grow more confident with each new exploration »Become more aware of the importance of conserving our environment »Learn valuable outdoor skills »Strengthen their ability to face challenges, both inside and outside of their urban environments »Develop interpersonal skills and self-esteem as a natural result of teamwork and cooperation »Give students a chance to construct scientific inquiries first hand and at their own pace!

Link to ICO Web Site

Time management is imperative in order to teach all of the required curriculum in the short amount of time alloted to teachers each week.

Schedules will be conducted as follows:

»A yearly plan will be conducted in accordance to California Content Standards and the academic goals of the school I will be a part of. For example, if it is a reading improvement school, I will schedule more units of reading throughout the school year.

»Using the yearly plan information, monthly goals will be made up with major units (i.e. reading fairy tales) arranged into weekly blocks (i.e fairy tales will take up two weeks).

»Weekly plans will be laid out on a day to day basis with blocks of time pre-aranged.

»Daily schedule should be organized to reflect what will happen throughout the day and it should be written on the daily schedule in a highly visible place, i.e. the board (as seen above).

Mr. Vilchis’ Rules:

1. Everyone must respect each other and each other’s belongings.

2. There is no “I was just playing” excuses when: • Fighting • Teasing • Yelling • Grabbing • Slapping • Spiting • Pushing • Or any other type of misbehavior

3. Do not touch or go anywhere near the teacher’s desk

4. Do not touch the teacher’s supplies, materials, or any other stuff without the consent of Mr. Vilchis.

5. Do not go into other students’ desk.

6. Only one person at a time may use the nearest rest room or drink water and only with Mr. Vilchis’ permission.

7. You may not sharpen your pencil. You must ask Mr. Vilchis to do it for you.

8. You may only use the computer with Mr. Vilchis’ permission.

9. Students must remain in their seat quietly during instruction and raise their hand for help or questions.

10. When the timer chimes, you must put your materials away and get prepared for the next lesson.

11. Do not use cups for drinking in this classroom. You can, however, bring water bottles.

12. You may not walk up to Mr. Vilchis if you have a question. Raise your hand instead.

13. Do not interrupt Mr. Vilchis while he is talking, unless it is a classroom discussion and it is an appropriate.

It is understandable that children (especially in the fourth grade) would rather have fun that be lectured to, however, students must begin to understand that there are times when we all must control our behavior according to the situation. Various examples would be presented to the students throughout the year in order to gain this understanding. In our classroom it would be their duty to practice controlling their behaviors. I will frequently describe what type of behaviors I expect and why I expect them.

Included as attachments is the formatted page that I would use to log reward "V-Points" for those who would be doing what they were supposed to be doing at various times throughout the day. A special activity was rewarded to those who have accumulated more than five points throughout the week on Friday after school.

From V-points poster:

Five Vpoints will get you: one turn at a video game or you can choose a genre of music and invite one friend

The classroom management expectations have to be implemented consistently throughout the year. As Fong states, the first days of school are some of the most important days of the whole year as they set up the structure for the whole year. He also describes how the teacher should set the primary example of how one should behave. It is imperative that the instructror always act professionaly while in the presence of students. How the teacher carries himself leaves an impression on the students that the teacher is a higher authority and should be recognized as such. Dressing appropriatly is also necessary to present as a proper academic professional that students can be confident with teaching the material.