Classroom Management

Signature Assignment
Fall Semester 2019

Alexandra Guillen
 Table of Contents
Self-Introduction/ Philosophy of Education…………………………………………………. 2

Classroom Arrangement……………………………………………………………………… 2

Procedures……………………………………………………………………………………... 5

Beginning of class…………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Ending of Class……………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Transitions Between Activities……………………………………………………………… 5

Managing Student Work……………………………………………………………………. 6

Student Absences…………………………………………………………………………… 6

Late Work…………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Grading and Recording Student Work……………………………………………………. 7

Communicating with Parents………………………………………………………………. 7

Consideration of Diverse Learners………………………………………………………… 8

Rules and Consequences……………………………………………………………………… 8

Summary……………………………………………………………………………………… 10

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Self-Introduction and Philosophy of Education
Hi there, my name is Alexandra Guillen and I am currently a student majoring in
Secondary Education Spanish at Arizona State University. My education includes graduating
from Washington High School where I attended all four years and was a part of the Educators
Rising National Organization. I am also a junior in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at
ASU.
Throughout my years as a student I’ve had those teachers that I wasn’t a match with. I
wanted my career to make a difference and help others. I've always enjoyed comforting students
in content areas to enhance their educational experience and prosper in life. I wanted my career
to be exciting and challenging as well as inspirational. As a Hispanic female I want to be that
role model for every student, especially minorities who often don’t see themselves as role
models. I am a public figure and I want to show others that with education anything is
achievable.
My philosophy of education is my vision which is to educate students and help them
develop into young adults by challenging their weaknesses. I will create a safe learning
environment by nurturing all minds and meeting the needs of each student.
Based on the research of Madeline Hunter, Dr. Fred Jones and Dr. Harry Wong, I believe
that education is the great equalizer and that every child no matter what circumstances should be
exposed to that opportunity. Students often times need that role model from a teacher, especially
those minority students who come from a diverse background. When students see themselves
relating to their teachers, they want to go to school and they want to learn. I didn’t grow up in the
best area, but my education differentiated me from my peers and I know it can with all students.
Every child deserves better opportunities and the right to an education no matter where they
come from and who they are.

Classroom Layout
A productive and mobile classroom is created with accessible pathways especially to the
front exit door and classroom. Based on Dr. Fred Jones theories, my room is set up to be
accessible for any student and person because of the pathways and loops in my class.

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 I will begin with my teacher desk which is located in the bottom left hand corner. This is
where I chose to place my desk so that I have a clear view of all my students, and I am not a
distraction. It is also easily accessible from the front and back of the classroom as well as from
each student's seat.
My students’ desks will be long tables with lots of workspace and personal space. This
will allow every student to be comfortable in their seat without having to slide into a drilled in
seat. These tables are set up in rows of three going across left to right and rows of two going
vertical up and down. This allows for space and walkways for me as the teacher and the students.
It will minimize distractions if students need to get up and be mobile, these tables are great for
mobility. It will also be helpful when working in groups or new partners because students in the
front can easily turn their chairs to talk to their classmates behind them.
The big table in the back is a table for accommodating students and if needed for other
class materials or visiting students/ faculty. The great thing about the tables as desks is that
students have space for personal belongings but are able to work with their partners and
classmates as well as students in wheelchairs by removing any present chairs. This way the
accommodated student won't feel singled out or left out.
The filing cabinet and the locked filing cabinet are both placed in the back-left hand
corner behind my teacher desk. I chose to place these behind my desk so that I am responsible
for the materials in these cabinets and no students have access to them. No students should be
behind my desk and therefore these cabinets will be locked and isolated as well and out of the
way to avoid temptation.
The material cabinet and bookshelves are both in the back-right hand corner where there is more
space. The placement of these items was chosen to be here simply because having the materials
and bookshelves in the back and out of the way allows for easy mobility and access. They're also
out of the way and away from the locked cabinets and my desk but allows me a clear view of
what the students are grabbing. It’s always a good idea to have a good view of the materials as
well to make sure directions are being followed properly.
For all of the boards including smart board, bulletin boards and white board, they are all
placed pretty spaciously around the room. The smartboard is in the front of the classroom so that
all students are facing forward. It will also keep their attention away from the back of the room
since most of the distractions are in the back. The white board is placed on the right-hand wall so

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that the students only need to turn their heads to the right and have a clear view of the classroom
objective and weekly assignments. It’s also a great tool for leaving any quick and leaving any
notes or reminders. The bulletin boards are located on almost every wall except the wall with the
white board. The bulletins are located one in the back of the room next to the bookshelf, two in
the front of the class and two on the left-hand wall. The two on the front are located before
leaving the class right next to the door and one next to the American flag and Constitution. That
being said, the flag, Constitution and Bill of Rights is located in the upper right-hand corner,
visible but not blocking anyone’s view. The bulletin boards are going to have school events and
flyers on them so that students can promote their clubs and events. Some in the back will have
class successes and photos also because it is important to showcase students and their
achievements.
My classroom will have double trash cans so that one half is regular disposable trash and
the other is recyclable. I want to establish a positive environment with trash and recycling so that
students learn responsibility and empathy. The future is theirs and they need to learn to take care
of it. I have placed a few in the classroom because paper will be used, and students carry a lot of
trash that often ends up on the floor because there is no trash can nearby. There is a trash can
located at every corner of the classroom, one in the front, one in the back and one on each side of
the classroom.

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Classroom Procedures
Students flourish with structure because it lets them know what to expect without any
surprises. Sometimes school is the only place where students feel in control of themselves and
their outcomes due to these structures and procedures. These set of steps encourage adolescents
to not waste time and focus on school. Researchers Harry Wong and Fred Jones concluded that
carefully structured and planned procedures are essential to students’ academic success.
Beginning Class:
It has been shown that students become engaged and attentive when greeted at the door.
My students will expect me at the door every period to greet them as they walk in with a smile
on my face and a compliment. As they walk in silently, they will turn in any homework from the
day before into the appropriate tray for their class and pick up any new work sheets or materials
needed for the lesson that day. Bellwork will be posted on the board so they can start right away
as they will have four minutes after the bell rings to complete individually unless otherwise
directed by myself. Bellwork is the perfect time to take attendance because all of the student’s
present should be in their seats doing their work. After that is done and I have addressed any
other issues such as tardiness or absences we will begin our lesson for the day.
Ending Class:
All class time is essential and important which means there is no time to waste. Every
minute of class time will be used including the last few minutes of class. Ending class is time for
a quick recap of what was just learned and to check for understanding. There will be no disorder
or chaos tolerated and no packing up until I direct to do so. I will be dismissing my students, not
the bell. When there are six minutes left in class, I will give my auditory signal so that pencils
are down, all eyes are on me and there is silence. I will then direct students to wrap up where
they are and clear off their desk except for a pencil and a half sheet of paper, unless otherwise
instructed by myself. Other times there might just be a verbal closure such as a discussion but
that will also be instructed by myself. Once they have completed the closure, they will hand them
to me as a ticket out the door as I thank them for their participation.
Transitions Between Activities:
Like I mentioned before, all class time is essential and limited which means transitions
between activities and lessons need to be quick and efficient. I will have a timer so that students

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have two minutes to transition either into groups or out of groups. This timer will be loud so that
all students can hear it and know that time is up. After the timer rings I will also use my auditory
signal, which is ¡hijos! and they will know to respond, ¡si señora! The way the desks are set up
will also allow for easy transition from individual work to partners and vice versa.
Managing Student Work:
Managing my students work is very important because I want to make sure they get
feedback without having to worry about someone knowing their score. To collect homework,
that will be done as they enter the room before starting bellwork. As they enter the room there
will be a tray with different colored sections for different classes so that they enter the homework
into the correct tray. After all students enter and are seated, I will proceed to shut the door and
pick up the homework on my way to my desk where I will then take attendance. For handing
back work I will use two ways to do so. First, I will hand back any exams or quizzes individually
upside down on their desk before packing up for an exit ticket. Another way I will hand back
work is by having a cubby with individual folders for a row or section and the person at the end
of the row has to grab the folders and pass them up to the person in front of them. They will
collect and pass in a specific way so that the folder underneath belongs to the next person instead
of digging through the folders. This way all work will be organized in a folder for them to keep
and reference back to. For handing out materials I will have a leader in each section or group
responsible for gathering materials for their group and that person will change monthly.
Student Absences:
Students will be responsible for following special instructions for when they are absent,
as instructed at the beginning of the school year and retaught throughout. In the designated spot
at the back of the classroom will be a three-ring binder divided into class sections. In this folder
there will be a paper clipped packet of papers or materials needed for them to complete. This also
includes any notes that I handed out. Students will go into the folder before class begins and
during bellwork I will briefly explain instructions on what they missed and encourage them to
come in for more clarification and help. They will have the same amount of missed days to
complete those assignments and have them turned in.
Late Work:
Any homework I assign will be very minimal since I don’t want my students to feel
overwhelmed with busy work. All homework when assigned will be within reason and vital to

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their learning, thus they will have an appropriate yet generous amount of time to complete it. If
homework is not turned in at the beginning of class, they will have until the end of the day to
turn it in and it will not be considered late. If I have left, I will allow students to turn it into the
office to leave in my mailbox. The office employees will know to date and time stamp the work
turned in, so I know it was on time. If the student does not have it in by the end of the day, they
can turn it in a day late for 25% off or two days for 50% off unless told otherwise by myself with
certain projects. After that it will receive zero credit; however, exceptions will be made when
circumstances are in place and I will determine the severity.
Grading and Recording Student Work:
Students are always anxious to know what they received on a grade and thus I will return
all homework the very next day with feedback unless I say otherwise with assignments like
essays, this will be returned by the end of the week. I will do my best to grade that same day so
that I am able to return work the next day. If for some reason I am unable to finish grades, they
can expect their paper back no more than two days later. Students work very hard and I want
them to be able to reflect on their feedback when it's fresh in their minds. I will never return
something to a student months later after they have forgotten about it.
Students work will be recorded the same day it is turned in. I will put in a grade reflecting
that the assignment was turned in and on time, but I will enter the final recorded grade after I
have finished grading each individual paper. Entering everyone's grade for an assignment
together will avoid plenty of conversations with angry or concerned parents.
Communicating with Parents:
Communicating with parents is vital to ensure students are doing fine. These are the
moments when parents express any questions or concerns and I am able to do the same. I cannot
expect a student to do their work if I have no communication with the parents. I will make
myself available to parents as much as possible by having multiple ways of contacting me. My
primary contact information will be by email for parents who have emails and for those who
don’t it will be by phone call or text message. Parents will not have my personal phone number,
instead they will have a code to join my group and be able to communicate with me via text and
phone call without having my personal number. Although parents won’t have access to my
personal number, I will have access to a primary phone number and email as well as other
necessary information that I have gathered through an emergency contact card. Another way

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parents can access me is through my website where there will be a discussion board and parents
can ask myself and others questions but there will be an option to contact myself directly. In an
emergency or severe issue, I will be contacting parents directly by phone call instead of email
and if I have not heard back from parents through email within two days, I will call.
Consideration of Diverse Learners:
Everyone learns differently and there are many different ways in which people learn and
teach. It is my job to accommodate any lesson plans to make sure they meet the needs of all
students and that they actually retain this information. I will follow all IEP and 504 plans in my
class as well as accommodations. I want all of my students to feel comfortable learning even if I
need to put in more work, I will go that extra mile for my students. My class procedures will be
taught the first week of school and re-taught at least once a month if not more to remind students
of what is expected and to avoid any confusion because they will forget just like any human
being, it’s normal and okay. These procedures will also be posted in my classroom with pictures
so students can visualize what that procedure looks like. These procedures will allow my
classroom to have structure and ease students minds in hopes to make their learning fun and
easy.

Rules and Consequences

After considering the studies of Harry Wong, Fred Jones, and Richard Lavoie, I have
produced a list of five clear and comprehensible rules for my classroom. These rules and
consequences are set so that there is consistency and structure in the classroom. I want to make
sure that all students have a safe and fair learning environment. The first day of class, at the
beginning of the school year, I will teach my students these rules as well as keep them posted so
that anyone new who steps into the classroom can have an idea of what is expected of them. I
will also re-teach these rules throughout the school year as a reminder so that they don’t forget.
My consequences will be fair and reasonable without any bias. These rules apply not only to the
students but for myself as I model what is expected of them. As I have mentioned before, all
IEP’s and 504 plans will be followed and respected. The rules below were created to respect
others and school materials while creating a safe and productive learning environment.

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Classroom Rules:
1. When someone is speaking, we are silent, attentive and respectful
2. Listen for my cue to leave, only the teacher dismisses the class
3. Treat others the way you want to be treated. *Respect your peers, their properties and
school property
4. Please keep all electronics away and I will do the same
5. Always keep your work area and the classroom clean

Classroom Consequences:
The consequences below will be used to help students become accolimate to the rules. A
warning, possibly in conjunction with a conference, will be the first step for minor offenses. In
order to try to resolve the issue with the student first, I will then go on to detention, but if that
fails, I will be getting the student’s guardian(s) involved. Finally, administrative intervention will
be used in the case of repeated offenses.
The consequences below will be put in place to help students accommodate to the rules
and learn some responsibility. A warning, possibly with a conference, will be the first step for
minor offenses so that students have a chance to correct the offense. A detention will be the next
step to resolve the issue with the student first and if that doesn’t work, I will be forced to call
home and involve the student’s guardian(s). As a final consequence, and administrative referral
will be given to cases with repeated offenses.

First Offense: Warning/ Conference with Student

Second Offense: Detention
Third Offense: Call Home to Guardian
Fourth Offense: Administrative Referral

*Teacher reserverves the right to skip steps based upon the severity of the violation.

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Summary
Considering the research of Madeline Hunter, Dr. Fred Jones, Dr. Richard Lavoie, and Dr. Harry
Wong, I have created what I believe is a well-coordinated classroom management plan. My
classroom layout is set up to encourage attentiveness and give students a safe and reliable
environment to enter every day. My procedures will give students structure and stability by
placing them in a routine, so they know what to expect and what is expected of them. The rules
and consequences are set out to ensure that all students and their learning environment are
respected. I chose to become an educator because I want to educate students and encourage them
to develop into young adults by challenging their weaknesses but nurturing their strengths. I
come from a background that most students can relate to and I want to encourage them to be
successful.

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