Not only did we have the opportunity to look into literature of our own choosing during this course, we get to see the highlights from texts that were chosen by our peers.
Erinn presented on The Classroom Management Secret and 45 Other Keys to a Well Behaved Class by Michael Lisin. This book caught my attention, because the source was only from personal experience. This is valuable, because there is so much to learn simply from experience.
“Creating a classroom your students love being a part of combined with an unwavering commitment of accountability.”
This quote is one Erinn highlighted in her presentation. It is very valuable and powerful. I believe this is an idea many forget, or simply does not come to mind, when people think of classroom management. We need to create an environment where students are loving learning and can gain a passion for acquiring knowledge.
The main idea of the book was to create a good classroom environment with strategies that could be used individually, but essentially built onto one another. The author used the experiences he gained in the classroom of a great teacher to frame the ideas in this book. Knowing strategies to implement for classroom management is so important and being able to gain effective strategies from experience is very beneficial.
One of the most memorable aspects to Erinn from this book was the first day of school, where the author had a list of strategies to use. These strategies included: smile, create a peaceful place, create a routine, tell a story, have a plan, have a meaningful lesson, and have fun. “Start out strong” is something Erinn said during her presentation that I think should resonate with every educator. Starting out strong can start the classroom off on a good note and set up the whole year for success.
During the presentation, Erinn posed two discussion questions. 1. What would be your first key to classroom management? Mine would be setting up the physical environment of the classroom. This is a part of classroom management that starts before students even enter the room. It is a strategy that is thoughtfully planned before you even know the students. It is obviously a strategy that will adapt with the students in the classroom, however, to me, it is the starting step in managing a classroom. 2. What do you think will be the most important aspect of classroom management in your classroom? In my classroom, I believe structure and setting routines and expectations will be the most important. It is important that students know what is expected of them and are taught was is acceptable in the classroom.
So, as you go into your classroom and are thinking about the management strategies you will use, consider Erinn’s two questions. What would be your first key to classroom management? What do you think will be the most important aspect of classroom management in your room?
Miss Alex’s Classroom 