As a teacher, there are thousands of decisions that need to be made each day. In order to best manage the classroom, it will be important to anticipate the Essential Decisions that I will make each day. Below are five different decisions that I will make everyday in order to manage my classroom and ensure the success of my students.
How will I effectively teach content to my students?
By planning lessons that align with state standards and by using clear objectives, I will be able to effectively teach the subjects needed. When planning curriculum and lessons, I will use backward design to first identify what standards are being addressed and then create specific lesson objectives for the students. From there, I will plan my lesson assessments and activities to support the standards and objectives.
How will I know that my students are learning and ensure their needs are being met?
In order to understand what my students know both before and after a lesson, I will use effective assessment strategies. I will use data from these assessments to inform on how the lesson/unit should proceed. Along with this, I will use differentiation throughout the lesson in order to meet the needs of all of my students. For differentiation, I will makes changes to the process of a lesson, to the content covered in the lesson, or to the product created from the lesson when necessary for certain students. I will also differentiate students based on readiness, interest, and ways of learning.
How will I handle behavioral issues in my classroom?
In order to manage behavioral issues, I will work with students to create clear expectations and rules for the classroom. With their input, a list of expectations will be created at the beginning of the year and then referred back to when issues arise. By involving students in creating expectations, they will be more inclined to follow them and many issues will be prevented. When problems do arise, however, I will redirect student behavior and when needed ask students to be removed from the situation to complete a reflection on their behavior and how it affects the classroom.
How will I communicate with parents/guardians?
In order to keep parents involved in their student's education, I will send home folders of their student's work each week. I will also create a classroom webpage that includes classroom updates, assignments, and resources for parents to work with their students, along with my contact information. Furthermore, I will make personal calls to tell parents of student accomplishments, not just problems in the classroom.
How will I work with colleagues?
I will use collaboration with colleagues as a main resource when planning lessons, along with ideas for management and differentiation strategies. Hopefully I will be placed in a school with a positive staff community in which I can ask questions, share ideas, and receive support from fellow teachers. If this community is not already in place in my future school, I will work to create it by reaching out to other teachers and using collaboration.
How will I effectively teach content to my students?
By planning lessons that align with state standards and by using clear objectives, I will be able to effectively teach the subjects needed. When planning curriculum and lessons, I will use backward design to first identify what standards are being addressed and then create specific lesson objectives for the students. From there, I will plan my lesson assessments and activities to support the standards and objectives.
How will I know that my students are learning and ensure their needs are being met?
In order to understand what my students know both before and after a lesson, I will use effective assessment strategies. I will use data from these assessments to inform on how the lesson/unit should proceed. Along with this, I will use differentiation throughout the lesson in order to meet the needs of all of my students. For differentiation, I will makes changes to the process of a lesson, to the content covered in the lesson, or to the product created from the lesson when necessary for certain students. I will also differentiate students based on readiness, interest, and ways of learning.
How will I handle behavioral issues in my classroom?
In order to manage behavioral issues, I will work with students to create clear expectations and rules for the classroom. With their input, a list of expectations will be created at the beginning of the year and then referred back to when issues arise. By involving students in creating expectations, they will be more inclined to follow them and many issues will be prevented. When problems do arise, however, I will redirect student behavior and when needed ask students to be removed from the situation to complete a reflection on their behavior and how it affects the classroom.
How will I communicate with parents/guardians?
In order to keep parents involved in their student's education, I will send home folders of their student's work each week. I will also create a classroom webpage that includes classroom updates, assignments, and resources for parents to work with their students, along with my contact information. Furthermore, I will make personal calls to tell parents of student accomplishments, not just problems in the classroom.
How will I work with colleagues?
I will use collaboration with colleagues as a main resource when planning lessons, along with ideas for management and differentiation strategies. Hopefully I will be placed in a school with a positive staff community in which I can ask questions, share ideas, and receive support from fellow teachers. If this community is not already in place in my future school, I will work to create it by reaching out to other teachers and using collaboration.