Classroom Management Plan
Philosophical Beliefs
Teaching art requires the knowledge of many different tools and mediums. These diverse processes can be dangerous and expensive to the students, the school and teachers. My goal is to provide students with the best art education possible while keeping everyone safe and staying on budget. To do this, a thorough classroom management plan is imperative.
My management plan is a bit acetic and catered to work with the ever-changing environment of a high school art classroom. However, I tend to lean towards a student-centered type of philosophy called Progressivism. This practice encourages experimentation by the students. Their learning comes from finding answers from their experimentation. It is important to understand that art is subjective and is created with feeling therefore needing the student to feel empowered by his or her own choices. This philosophy values the scientific method of teaching, allows individuals to have their own beliefs, and promotes the interaction of students as valuable to the learning process (Ganly, 2012).
In order to implement safety and equipment care to this management philosophy I need to be clear and concise of the procedures for each project. During this instruction I would be taking a more Perennialism, a teacher centered philosophy, approach that associates the students with reason. For example, students should wear an apron when working with medium that will stain their clothes.
As I have stated, my high school art room requires an eclectic management style. One that is malleable for problem solving the everyday nuances of an art room. However, respect and rapport with the students is the constant and glue to make management possible. One thing that my many years working with youth has taught me is to just truly care about them. This is not something you can fake and should be the reason why teachers are teaching in the first place. With that said, there are key things I like to remember to help build a respectful relationship with my students.
These are:
- Learn to call your students by name
- Learn something about your students' interests, hobbies, and aspirations
- Create and use personally relevant class examples
- Arrive to class early and stay late -- and chat with your students
- Explain your course policies -- and why they are what they are
- Post and keep office hours
- Get online -- use e-mail to increase accessibility to your students
- Interact more, lecture less -- emphasize active learning
- Reward student comments and questions with verbal praise
- Be enthusiastic about teaching and passionate about your subject matter
- Lighten up -- crack a joke now and then
- Be humble and, when appropriate, self-deprecating
- Make eye contact with each student -- without staring, glaring, or flaring
- Be respectful, it goes both ways
- Don't forget to smile!
Students that trust and respect me will have a better chance of success in my class. I expect them to have high expectations of me and in turn, I of them. I need to be prepared for class and able to problem solve any situation to build this respect. By setting high expectations for myself this will create a similar environment for my students learning.
Classroom Physical Space
An art room needs to hold many supplies and have room to use these supplies and make a mess. It also needs proper ventilation, sinks, lights, tables, computers and many more details to uphold the safety of the students. In my current art room space is used wisely as it is small. I have considered classroom physical space a great deal and have created a blueprint of my dream classroom. You will find this in appendix A, Classroom Layout.
This is a basic layout of a functional graphic design, printmaking, and photography classroom. It does not include a ceramics room, outdoor kiln or a metals and sculpture classroom area, as it is just one room in an art department. This classroom is designed to handle general art classes, photography, graphic design, printmaking, school newspaper, and media courses. This layout also includes a gallery area for the art department to share. I feel it is important for students to show their work in a formal setting. This is confidence building and develops a personal goal setting for the outcome by the artist.
My layout provides enough room to be a safe and functional area for students but the interior design will help in keeping the room safe and functional as well. Color theory and thoughtful typesetting of directions will be painted on the walls. I will use my background in graphic arts and marketing to make signage that students’ will read and remember. This coupled with reminders of necessary precautions and techniques needed for individual lessons will all come into play for a well-managed and safe classroom.
Classroom Procedures
Setting up good classroom routines from the start is key to managing a classroom. Routines will differ depending the needs of students but the 3 routines that are important for every type of art class are:
- Entering the classroom on time and quiet to hear the days instructions
- Use class time for working on assignments
- Clean up your work area and put away your supplies properly
More specific routines will be handled by assigning classroom duties to students on a rotating schedule. When students know exactly what is expected of them in a variety of situations, the time saved can be spent teaching rather than organizing or disciplining. This will help any transitions between activities go smooth as well.
A few times during the school year I will have my students work in small groups to join forces on a collaborative art pieces. Although some students are more reluctant than others to do this, the practice working with others can only benefit them in the future. Working in small groups can develop a more instrumental skills of listening, presenting ideas and persuading’ (Jacques, 1991).
I believe teaching students takes a village. I will do as much as I can to support my peers and community with education. I will also provide a classroom where staff and volunteers feel welcome and beneficial to the learning needs of my students. Thorough communication with this help is important. I will also make sure they have read my rules and routines before hand and we can go over any questions before class starts.
Policies and Rules
My rules are clear, rational and minimal to ensure that they will be memorized and practiced.
- Arrive on time
- Listen to others and participate in class discussions
- Stay on task and do your assignments
- Listen to directions
- Pick up after yourself and clean your work area
- Treat computers, equipment and supplies with care
Each of these rules should be similar to the expectations in other classrooms as well as enforce basic human decency. These rules, along with my procedures, will foster a positive learning environment because they will aid in students productivity while in class. Modeling these rules and rewarding students who follow them are two ways I will teach my class rules throughout the school year. My rewards will consists of a point system that when enough are accrued, a reward is purchased for the individual. The students will agree upon these purchases at the beginning of the year as this will constantly change. Some ideas are; a waiver on an assignment or being able to alter assignment criteria, snack drawer privileges, music choices and so on. This system can also be set up to have class rewards as well.
Positive Reinforcement & Hierarchy of Consequences
In my classroom I will use intrinsic motivation to reinforce positive behavior. I feel that this coincides with my encouragement for students to apply their own style and unique perspectives to each art project. Their art should arise from within and this will support in manifesting positive behavior and confidence with each student.
Unfortunately all teachers and all classrooms will encounter negative behavior. I have several things I consider while dealing with such behavior. First I analyze the situation and seek to understand the situation. May times this effort is met with positive behavior. Once analyzed, I will take action but not allow for any situation to cause me to react or show any outward frustration. I will remain calm and professional at all times. Finally, I will be constant and fair. Upholding my set rules will aid in treating all students equally. In the case of chronic misbehavior, more serious measures will need to be taken. This will start with the principle and parent communication. If this does not work and the student is distracting other students from their work, then removing the student from the class may be necessary. This would only be the case after all other efforts have failed.
