Caitlyn Grimaldi

February 2, 2014
Classroom Management Plan

Part 1: Philosophy of Education

What Kind of Teacher Am I?

As an aspiring teacher, I have begun to ask myself what beliefs and values I should hold as a
future educator. In beginning to formulate these dispositions, I look for inspiration from the
teachers I remember most, those who have been major influences in my life. I want to make a
difference in my community, whether small or large and I believe that I can best help others by
becoming a teacher, and a mentor to students. My main belief as an aspiring teacher is to create a
classroom that puts the teacher in a facilitator role so that students can work together to learn.
Furthermore, I want to commit myself to promoting interest and passion in learning. I believe in
making bonds between students and with myself by creating a literacy community.

As a future English teacher, the manifestation of student questioning through discussion is of the
upmost importance to me. I believe that in order for students to learn and enjoy the material
taught in my classroom, they have to be able to question and debate literature. In my opinion,
literature is an art thats purpose is to create different perspectives and interpretations. I firmly
believe that in order to be an accomplished English teacher, I have to show students that they can
question literature, not just accept my point of view. I want to see students debate in class
without my interjection as a teacher, and I want to see them be able to defend their
interpretations through their passion of the work. However, I also believe that student led debate
in the classroom can take place in multiple setting, meaning that it can be seen through literature
circles, presentations, and more. Debate does not have to be arguing, it can be the sharing of
ideas or favorite quotes and sections of a novel.

Passion is integral to learning, especially in the Language Arts. It fuels discussion, interest, and
more importantly inquiry. Through the encouragement of my belief of debate and questioning, I
hope to cultivate passion. The acquisition of passion goes hand in hand with my belief of
creating a learning community. Passion cannot be cultivated without personal knowledge of
students because there would be no way to inspire passion without knowing a students interests,
dreams, etc. Furthermore, when students feel comfortable and supported at school, it is easy to
center instruction around student debate, discussion, and questioning. I believe a literacy
community within the classroom is integral in creating an environment where students feel
encouraged to participate and have a sense of belonging because of the mutual respect that exists
in a community. Overall, my beliefs of debate, passion, and the importance of relationships work
together to form a welcoming and intellectual classroom community and will help create lifelong
learners.

Thoughts about teaching and education are not static; they are dynamic and always changing. I
am continuing to learn about the inner workings of the classroom as my education progresses
and my experience grows. My teaching philosophy will continue to grow and shape itself when I
gain invaluable teaching experience this next year.

Part 2: Classroom Arrangements

o Desks will be arranged in a manner most conducive to promoting class discussions
o Depending on the classroom size, the desks will be put into three columns; the
center column which can have rows as long as 3 desks will face straight while the
left and right columns will angle in towards the front of the classroom, creating a
trapezoid shape
o If the classroom is smaller, I would place the desk in a V shape facing the front
board or create a U shape in the same way
o The teacher desk will be placed in the back of the classroom facing the front of the room.
There will be a desktop computer for teacher use on desk
o There will be at least two bulletin boards in the classroom and other displays on the walls
o One bulletin will be used for basic information about the school (schedule, lunch
menu, calendar, announcements, etc.) and will also display student birthdays. The
other bulletin would be used to display student work
o The other displays in the classroom will include posters about English, a poster
depicting the writing process, a list of student and teacher expectations (created
the first day of school), and more student work (ideally some type of brick wall or
book shelf that will be added to throughout the year by students as a requirement
for their book reports)
o Ideally the room will have a Smart Board and a white board
o Students will hopefully have access to computers when needed (whether by going to the
computer lab or using a laptop cart)
o There will be a wall that has folders on it for each class period that will contain work that
students missed when they were absent
o There will also a leveled paper organizer on a desk or small table in the back of the
classroom that will be labeled for each class period. Students will submit work back there
by placing it in the bin that coincides with their class period
o There will be a stool in the front of the classroom where the teacher may teach from if
desired


I want desks to be arranged in the classroom in manner that will best facilitate class
discussions. I believe that three columns where the two outer ones are angled in will best do so
with the least amount of side student talking which I believe usually occurs in groupings of desks
into tables of four. If my classroom and class size are smaller, I think putting the desk in a V or a
U formation will give all students equal views to the board up front while allowing theme to
interact easily with one another during full class discussions. In all of the three student desk
situations it will be able to make groupings of the desks for group work assignments. The teacher
desk will be located in the back of the classroom so it will not be a distraction in the front of the
classroom where students will be facing the board and each other. Additionally, I do not believe
in being at my desk during class time so putting the desk in front of the classroom in order to
monitor students will be unnecessary. I would like to be walking around the classroom
facilitating or sit in the front of the classroom on a stool.
I want all displays and bulletins in my classroom to be useful to the students. The one
bulletin board will contain a display of important information about the school including a
calendar of events, lunch menu, class schedule, etc. This bulletin board will also contain a
display of all student birthdays. The other bulletin board will display student work that will both
make the classroom homey while also making the students proud of their hard work. Around the
classroom will also be other displays of student work, English posters, an expectation list created
by myself and the classes, and a writing process sign to help remind students about what they are
expected to do while writing. The room will also have an area on the wall that will have work
students missed while absent for each class and a small table/desk where students can submit
work.


Part 3: Classroom Procedures

o Students enter classroom, place any homework in the bin on the back table and begin
with bellringer activity displayed on SmartBoard
o Teacher will greet students at the door as they walk into the classroom
o Teacher will review answers to Smartboard bellringer activity with the entire class
o Teacher will stand in front of the classroom to get student attention
o The lesson will end with an exit slip or a summary of the days activity, a preview of the
next day, and assignment of homework
o Students can sign out to use the restroom during the first 5 and last 5 minutes of class,
they do not need to ask the teacher to do so; teacher will monitor sign out sheets to make
sure students are not taking advantage of this policy
o Students are free to get up and move around the classroom to sharpen pencils, throw out
trash, get tissues, etc.
o Students will have assigned seats that will change each quarter, for the last quarter they
may choose their own seats which can change depending on student behavior
o Students are allowed to borrow pencils from the teacher, and will be given new
worksheets if they lose theirs
o If students are absent, they can go to the back of the classroom to the display for missed
work and take the work they need out of their class period folder

Part 4: Base Classroom Rules

o The general rule for the class that other rules will branch from will be Follow the
Golden rule or treat others the way you would like to be treated. Some of the rules
would be as follows:
o Be respectful
o Be engaged
o The rules will be presented on the first day of school and will be presented with examples
of what respect and engagement look like. Teacher will share expectations and allows
students to share their own expectations
o If students are no respectful or engaged they will have consequences depending on the
severity of their actions. Consequences can include moving seats, detention, etc.
o If a student is disrespectful, distracting, etc. three times, the teacher will call attention to
the parents
o Additionally, if a student is failing or on the brink of failing, teacher will call parents and
schedule a conference to create a plan to help the student be successful