Teaching Philosophy

Jose F. Perez

Texas State University

Music offers many benefits to students, as a future educator I believe it is

important to help students realize as much of their full potential as possible through
participation in a music program. In my teaching point of view I feel an ideal classroom

setting should teach students a level of responsibility, respect for the classroom and

respect for others. The overall setting should be a healthy outlet for the students

development as a person, and above all the class should be enjoyable for the students. A

teacher can have a plethora of strategies to prevent problems before they occur. For me a

strong characteristic of classroom management and discipline is consistency.

Consequences and expectations need to remain the same, as well as the use of positive

reinforcement to promote positive behavior, and a respectful relationship between teacher

and students. Being able to maintain constancy will achieve success for both students and

teacher throughout the year.

Barbara Coloroso states that the teacher should never treat students in a way the

teacher would not to be treated. Too often teachers may tend to use their authority

inappropriately, in turn making students develop a sense of fear rather than respect for the

teacher. Credibility and trust need to be established, teachers should not automatically

assume they will receive respect from their class due to their position. A student may

question why they must learn a particular piece of music. An inappropriate response from

the teacher would be because I said so or because Im the teacher. According to

Coloroso, Students have a right to be in school, however they also carry the responsibility

of respecting the rights of others around them. The teacher must show the students

respect. By leading the example students can be shown the expectation of respect that is

required from them. As previously stated classroom management cannot be successful

without consistency in procedures and rules for the class.

 The common practice I have seen is the introduction of rules and procedures

during the first class day. However students will often forget about the rules and

procedures by the end of the month if not sooner, that is if the educator is not consistent.

In a choir room setting if it is desired that bags or phones go in a designated area before

class begins. This procedure must be established during the first meeting and maintained

as a daily routine throughout the year, so it becomes a habit. In creating these rules, it is

the teachers responsibility to understand the cultural setting each student comes from. As

Linda Alberts principle states, students need to feel they belong to be engaged and

involved in the classroom. If a teacher establishes a rule that excessive talking leads to

automatically being sent to detention or the office, it may make the student feel

unwanted. The student may then become talkative just to get out of class. If a student acts

out against the rules the teacher must place themselves in the students mindset, perhaps

they are acting out due to other reasons other than just to be disrespectful. The educator

must maintain a positive and safe environment where all students can feel a sense of

being wanted. With each rule established the teacher must also have an appropriate way

of handling consequences.

In the class setting there are well behaved students and those who will have the

tendency to misbehave. In maintaining consistent classroom management the

consequences must stay the same for all students. Linda Alberts Principles state that the

teacher should work cooperatively with students to develop the consequences of broken

class rules. When the student that is never late and the consequence is any late student

may need to organize or help clean the classroom for the amount of time they were late

after school, the same rule must apply to all students. The educator must not give special
treatment to any one student as it may make other students feel unwanted or less

important. In Budd Churchwards Principle, the teacher should put students in charge of

their own behavior. This is achieved by giving them a written warning when they

misbehave. Consequences are more likely to be respected by the students if there is a

positive and credible relationship that is built.

Building and maintaining positive relationships with each class will help teachers

better understand the students. According to the principle of Marlene Canters, the

teachers that are the most effective are the teachers who maintain control of the class

while remembering their main responsibility is helping the students learn to their best

ability and behave properly. It is important for the teacher to be welcoming and extend

help whenever the students need it in the classroom. The very opposite action can cause a

negative relationship to build with the students and teacher. Acknowledging and praising

the students when they are behaving well and succeeding is also important, not just

attention when they misbehave. Marlene Carter states that students should enjoy positive

support when they behave acceptably. Having a positive attitude as a teacher helps

achieve a strong bond with students, this will encourage good behavior amongst students

and they will more likely want to follow the rules in return for positive praise and

encouragement.

Teachers should always establish a classroom environment, rules, and routines

that encourage good behavior. According to the Fred Joness Principle, students will work

hard and behave well when given incentives to do so. An example would be after a class

has achieved perfect attendance or superior grades, they may be awarded a period of time

that they get to choose an activity they favor for a certain day. This will give the students
a sense of being in charge of their actions and encourage them to come to class with a

positive mind set ready to achieve. This principle is for the students to assume a sense of

responsibility for their actions.

Though there are a variety of methods educators may use in their principles. In

my opinion I feel that the principles, routine, consistency, consequences, respect, and

building positive relationships with the students are essential in developing and

maintaining good behavior for an ideal classroom.

Canter, L., & Canter, M. (1982). Lee Canter's Assertive discipline for parents. Santa

Monica, Calif: Canter & Associates.

Jones, F. H., Jones, P., & Jones, J. L. (2007). Fred Jones tools for teaching: Discipline,

instruction, motivation. fredjones.

Coloroso, B. (1994). Kids are worth it!: Giving your child the gift of inner discipline.

Somerville House Pub..

Charles, C. M. (1989). Building classroom discipline (No. 371.1024 Ch475b). White

Plains, US: Longman Scientific & Technical, 1992.

Albert, L., Roy, W., & LePage, A. (1989). A teacher's guide to cooperative discipline:

How to manage your classroom and promote self-esteem. Ags Pub.