Module 2 The Classroom System

The Classroom System Classrooms are like road systems that we travel each day while driving from one location to the next. As educators, we should think of our classroom system with intersections, stop signs, stop lights, overpasses, exits, crossroads, turn lanes, etc. If we didn’t have a system in place on our roads then we would have chaos, the same should be considered for a classroom of learners.

The Classroom System In order to create a proper classroom management plan, it consists of many items. It must include a set of procedures for everything: how to turn in papers, pick up materials, hand out papers, what to do when students enter class, passes for bathroom, nurse, and library, homework procedures, and any other things you may need to monitor your classroom.

The Classroom System Without procedures and routines a classroom can be a big dishevel. Teachers need tools to help them create their procedures and routines in order for them to have a successful learning environment each and every day. 

The Classroom System from Harry Wong Harry Wong p. 82: We know what the single most important factor governing student learning is. In a study reviewing 11,000 pieces of research that spanned 50 years, three researchers determined that there are 28 factors that influence student learning and placed them in rank order. The most important factor governing student learning is CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT.

Classroom System The way you manage your classroom determines how your students will learn. Teachers should manage a classroom not discipline it.

Three Important Behaviors Three behaviors should be taught the first days of school: Discipline Procedures Rules

Procedures and Routines These should be taught the first day of school. There should be a procedure each time students are transitioning from one task to the next, remind them how you want things done. Everything should have a procedure!

Procedures and Routines Teachers must have a set of procedures and routines in place in order to provide structure in a classroom. PROCEDURES + ROUTINES= STRUCTURE

Procedures and Routines Very important- There should be little if any wasted time during instruction or transition from one task to the next.

Prime Time Harry Wong, p. 133 “Prime Time in school is the first few moments in class. If you blow these moments, you jeopardize the success of the entire class.” This is crucial!!!

That is a lot of wasted time! Instructional Time Question- What if a teacher loses 5 minutes each day of instructional time because of wasted time? How much would that equal in a week? 25 minutes ( half a class period) How much time is wasted in a six weeks? 150 minutes (WOW!-That is scary….over two hours of wasted time, two class periods.) That is a lot of wasted time!

Preventing Wasted Time How can you prevent wasted time? Have procedures in place for your students. There should be a procedure for everything….details later in this module. Transition quickly and have a routine to make the transition move smoother and quicker

Procedures and Routines Students must know from the very beginning how they are expected to behave and work in the classroom A procedure explains how you want something done- you must clearly state A routine is what the student does automatically without prompting or supervision. Know the difference between procedures and routines!

Procedures Three Reasons why they are not followed: The teacher had not thought out what happens in the classroom. The students have not been trained to follow the procedures The teacher spends no time managing the classroom.

Teach them the procedures…just like a lesson. From the first day of school when student enter your classroom, you must begin teaching them procedures and routines. Tell them as you greet them at the door what they should do. Teach them the procedures…just like a lesson.

Procedures Example: Students entering a room on the first day of school, might greet the teacher at the door with the teacher prompting, “Good morning, as you walk into the room, please grab the papers on the table and find your name on the desk. Thank you.” This has now become the beginning of a procedure. As class starts you remind them that is what they will do each day when they come to class. The next day greet them the same way and ask them to pick up their papers again. Now, it is becoming a routine. After a few days, you will no longer have to remind them to do this. It is a HABIT.

Procedures Class should start as soon as the bell rings. Students should be working on a warm-up. The day you change a routine, they will question it. If you don’t have a warm-up one day, they will not know what to do, because you have interfered with their routine.

Procedures Every day Post the assignment in the same place Post the objectives in the same place Have their warm-ups ready in same place The more consistent you keep their routine, the more consistent they will be with their routine.

Three Step Approach to Teaching Procedures 1) Explain: State, explain, model, and demonstrate 2) Rehearse: Rehearse and practice the procedure under your supervision 3) Reinforce: Re-teach, rehearse, practice, and reinforce the procedures until it becomes a habit REHEARSE EXPLAIN REINFORCE

What Defines Procedures? What do they do as soon as they walk into the room? How to turn in work or get back work Where to find absent work What to do when you want their attention What to do in order to sharpen pencil How or when to throw away trash How to be dismissed from class

STRUCTURE Harry Wong, p.191 Students risk failure because of the lack of STRUCTURE Procedures and routines create STRUCTURE If your class is designed with structure in mind, you will have successful students

Another Way to Design Successful Students Give your students respect by saying Have a great day as you dismiss them Say please to them Tell them thank you Always address them with a hello in the hallway Build a professional relationship with them and they will be more productive in class Always show respect

Conclusion For a successful class create structure with procedures. Procedures will become habits and turn into routines Design class with no wasted time Students need structure to be successful

Conclusion This information should be helpful when creating your classroom system and how you want your classroom to run. SMOOTHLY! Follow the next step in module 2, now you are ready to create procedures for your students. Good Luck! Remember, this is a crucial part that will determine your success this year.

Sources Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Clipart Harry Wong book, “The First Days of School”