Wong Video Reflection #4
Summary:
The fourth Harry Wong video opens by reminding us of the importance of procedures and routines, which allow students to know how the classroom is run. When students know how the class is run, they are more motived to do what needs to be done. On the other end of that, when the teacher knows how to manage a classroom you can have the students do whatever you want them to do. Together, these allow us to have fun and teach at the time!
Harry Wong then moves on to explain that effective teachers begin assignments with energizers, focusers, or motivators! This grabs their attention and makes them excited to learn. If you can achieve this, then your students will be willing to read, do homework, and research simply because they are interested and want to know why or how something happens. For example, you cannot expect your students to read if you don’t pick up the text book to read it yourself! Harry Wong say this is profound, “no adult has ever picked up a text book to truly read it”. So, by getting your students motivated and excited about what they are learning, it is more likely they will actually read the pages you assign them to read.
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He says, that students learn more because they are supported by their peers, and learning is most effective when it takes place in a supportive environment. Which, is why Harry Wong calls his groups support groups. When your students can work together cooperatively, you have reached the highest form of teaching. However, most teachers keep students in the same support group for way to long! According to Wong, support groups should change with each activity, such as changing who is each support group as well as changing the number of students in each support group with each
Having a well thought-out comprehensive behavior management plan, and well- designed lesson plans, which addresses the various learning styles of the students in the class and gets all the students engaged in the learning activity.
As a teacher in training, I have very limited in-classroom experience and depend heavily on the expertise of professors as well as a variety of books and articles published on education. I am convinced that a learner centered approach to instruction is of fundamental importance and that it will inform most teaching decisions I will need to make to become an effective educator. Knowing as much about the students before school even begins will help structure the content material and guide the instruction methods. Along with this, knowing what the school provides in terms of environment and materials will help formulate a plan to give students every possible opportunity for achievement and success. Wong (2005) defines classroom management as “all of the things that a teacher does to organize students, space, time and materials so that student learning can take place” (p. 84).
According to Wong, “All of the things that a teacher does to organize students, materials, times and space so that instruction in content and student learning can occur” (Wong, 2003), involves appropriate classroom management, not just the appearance of the classroom. Wong outlines four principles that classroom management is premised upon- having daily routines and procedures, clearly communicating expectations with students, having an established discipline plan that states what behaviors are expected in the classroom-having consequences for misbehavior and rewards for positive behaviors (Wong, 2003). In the next part of the essay, the author will identify ten negative classroom behaviors and conditions, how these behaviors and conditions can influence the classroom, and how these behaviors may also be changed by different
Today’s classrooms are designed after a few key theories. One of which is behaviorism. Behaviorism is the idea that we can control others through intervention as a higher order of animals. One of the guiding principles of behaviorism is scheduling, which helps initiate behaviorism strategies of learning. One of those strategies is contracting in which a teacher and a student negotiate to create a desirable outcome. Another is a token economy which uses contracting and scheduling to produce systematic results. In addition, prompting is the idea that a student will know what to do if a certain activity occurs. Modeling is simply the idea that your behavior will determine that of your students. Finally, Rote learning is the concept of use it
In regard to classroom management, much of the research cites effective classroom management as the tool or the blueprint for an effective classroom. One article refers to classroom management as a master plan for success, creating “an air traffic control analogy” to explain the extent of the impact of classroom management on student and teacher success (Mundschenk, Miner, & Nastally 2011, p. 98). Classroom management is critical in the classroom because it provides the framework of the classroom and influences how things are run. In most cases, classroom management pertains to “setting limits”, help students “monitor their behavior and academic progress” through feedback, and establish “safety and transition routines”-- all helpful tools to help both teachers and students become successful in the clas...
My personal philosophy of classroom management focuses on creating an environment where children feel safe and where they feel like they belong. I will create this environment for my fourth grade class through making my expectations of the students clear while developing an engaging lesson plan and personable interactions with my students. I developed my philosophy from studying different theorists and based my philosophy on the theories of Glasser and Kounin. Glasser believed that the teacher’s roll in the classroom is that of a leader rather than a boss. He believed that students should be given power in the classroom and that the teacher should share it with the students. I will use his ‘7 caring habits’ specifically supporting and respecting to help my classroom feel safe and welcoming to my students. Meeting the individual needs of my students will be the focus of my classroom management routine. I will meet individual needs by promoting self management and self efficacy in my students by creating an environment that that has predictable and consistent daily routines while focusing on my student’s successes (Shindler, 2010). Having a predictable routine will encourage a success oriented environment and will reduce anxiety and help towards creating positive self efficacy in each of my students (Shindler, 2010). In Glasser’s Choice Theory he talks about focusing on the present and not bringing up the past (Glasser, 2010). Therefore, I will focus my classroom on being goal driven and will help each student obtain their goals. Thus, helping my students have positive self efficacy. I will apply Kounin’s technique of Momentum (Pressman, 2011). This involves the teacher keeping exercises short and moving around the room a lot so...
I want to take a student-centered approach to classroom management, with the priority being the ability for the student to learn. The keys to making this a successful plan are respect and dignity for students, differentiated instruction, and established behavior norms. Modeling these values will show students the behaviors to imitate when they leave school. Established Behavior Norms In order to achieve the goals set out in my classroom management plan it is imperative that rules, expectations, and routines are built into the classroom as soon as possible.
Through exploring multiple learning theories and reflecting on my own teaching beliefs, I have developed my own theory of learning. As I developed my theory, I wanted to consider what it takes to be a highly effective teacher. An effective teacher must have mastery of instructional strategies, classroom management, classroom curriculum design, and use assessments as feedback (Laureate Education, 2010a). By using a variety of instructional strategies, teacher’s can meet the learning styles of all the students in the classroom. Effective classroom management can lead to students feeling safe and more willing to take risks. When a student feels comfortable to take risk, then learning will increase and the students’ confidence will grow. Classroom management also creates order in the environment, which will allow effective learning to occur. By understanding curriculum, the teacher can target skills and causes learning to take place. Teachers need to deliberately plan lessons around standards and specific goals based on curriculum and the school’s mission (Marzano, 2010). Assessments need to be use to guide instruction and used as a “method for improvement and mastery,” (Marzano, 2010). While determining my own theory of learning, I believe that I need to consider what effective teachers demonstrate in the classroom.
Robinsons says that, “In fact, the real challenges for education will only be met by empowering passionate and creative teachers and by firing up the imaginations and motivations of the students.” (247). The reason why he says that is because most often having a teacher not take a lot of interest in what they are teaching or not having the inspiration in wanting to get students excited for learning. What he means by this is
III. Analysis There are numerous new techniques in classroom management and each one looks at their classroom slightly differently. Harry Wong is an American educator as well as author of one of the top selling classroom management books, “The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher”. Wong has developed the Pragmatic Classroom which is a three step approach to classroom management.
Classroom management has the largest effect on student achievement, so students cannot learn in poorly managed classroom. Additionally, research has pointed out that the quality of teacher-student relationships is the main aspect of classroom management.(…2). Furthermore, when teachers set classroom management plan, the plan will give structure to everything from seating to lessons to grading to the relationship between students. Teachers should incorporate strategies for addressing student behavior into classroom
... lunch room, distributing materials, carrying messages to office etc. These tasks can be assigned to different students every week. Effective teachers make sure that every student has a job so that they feel responsible. These activities can also be used to reward improved behavior (Evertson, Emmer, and Worsham, 2006). Jones describes routines as operational rules. Jones says, “Operational rules must be specified to provide for smooth operations, which include materials to use, when to sharpen pencils, get a drink, go to the bathroom, how to get help and how the class is dismissed” (Allen, 1998). An effective way of establishing routines would be considering each and every minute detail of classroom activities. Children should know the importance of rules and routines in the classroom and it is a teacher’s responsibility to teach them (Canter &Canter, 1992).
Classroom management is a necessary component to every classroom. It includes creating a set of rules and clear expectations that all students follow. This helps unify the classroom for both the teacher and students allowing for a smooth, effective, and educational environment. When the students are aware of what is expected, they are motivated in order to attain the goals dispensed by the teacher. Some students are naturally motivated and want nothing more than to surpass goals for the sake of triumph and pleasing the teacher. Other students need extrinsic motivation in order for them to become engaged in
My classroom management starts with a well-organized, clearly labeled classroom layout so that my students can easily access the resources they need for my class. I display visual aids and reminders around the room to support the students and I display their work in specific places around the room to give them a sense of belonging. I create routines and procedures to support the students and enable them to form smooth transitions between activities. There is a certain way they enter and leave the classroom, distribute books and papers, and move their desks and chairs. In my classroom these mundane tasks are completed quickly, competitively, and with enthusiasm. Having routines in place helps students understand exactly what is expected of them and gives them confidence in their actions.
In many cases, it has become very complex to keep students interested in their education. So the teacher must be creative and find ways to keep pushing the student onward as well as upward. In order to devise the ultimate plan for educating students, a teacher must acknowledge that the “students” are what teaching is all about. The most important factor in the equation is unequivocally the STUDENT! All humans are different in some sort or fashion. But the fact still exists that we all have only this place to function in. So help by putting forth an effort to make it a better place for us all.