1. I will arrange my desk so the students are seated where their attention is directed toward the teacher. I will also make a clear distinction between students and high trafficked areas.
2. I will modify classroom climate by adjusting lighting, air flow, and temperature.
3. Students will be able to clearly see chalk board, screens, and teacher.
4. Students will be seated facing the front of the room and away from the windows.
5. I will provide areas of personal space and decease or change placement of stimulating visuals.
6. I will ensure an easy row of traffic throughout the room and keep high-traffic areas, such as those near the teacher’s desk, pencil sharpener and wastebasket, free from congestions.
7. I will consider how I want my classroom to function and how I want the students to behave. I will think through my procedures students need to know in order to perform specific activities, and let them establish classroom rules that clearly articulate their expectations for behavior. A procedure tells students how to perform routine instructional and housekeeping tasks. In order to make the classroom run smoothly, I prepared a list of routines: getting the teacher’s attention, using the pencil sharpener, bathroom or drinking fountain, moving within and outside the classroom, lining up, storing personal belongings, taking down and turing in assignments. I will introduce the procedures with the students over a period of time, as needed, and sometimes modify the procedures during the school year to adapt to changes in instruction or the needs of a particular class.
8. The class and I will establish rules that set a visual on how they are expected to behave. Rules will apply to classroom interactions, respect for others and their property, and participation in class. Effective teachers establish only three to six “umbrella” rules that remain consistent throughout the year. Most of the rules are stated positively and are posted in the classroom. The rules should be introduced on the first day of school. Examples of the rules I will use are:
Be Prompt
Be Prepared
Be Polite and Respectful
Be an Active Positive Learner
Be Honest
9. Last but not least I will set expectations for my students. A positive classroom climate supports student learning. Teachers create an environment by communicating high expectations and standards to gain confidence in student’s abilities and praise good performance (American Federation of Teachers 2010). A teacher should provide incentives, rewards and recognition to highlight appropriate behavior, like free homework passes. But we should also keep in mind how we will respond when students misbehave. We must create a system of fair and appropriate consequences to use with student do not cooperate.