Classroom management refers to the strategies and techniques that teachers use to create and maintain a productive and positive learning environment in their classrooms. It involves a range of activities, from establishing rules and routines to responding to student behavior and maintaining effective communication with students and parents. Effective classroom management can help create a safe and supportive learning environment that enables students to focus on their learning and achieve their full potential.

Teacher Feature

Principal of Dixie Middle School and Special Education Teacher, Paul Hurt.

Teacher Feature Reflection Questions:

1. Why did Mr. Hurt become a teacher and a middle school principal?
2. What does Mr. Hurt believes makes him a good teacher?
3. What is Mr. Hurt’s favorite part of being a teacher/principal?
4. What advice would Mr. Hurt give to new teachers?

Utah Education Flashback

Corporal Punishment
The use of physical punishment to discipline a student is called corporal punishment. Corporal punishment is still legal in many states today in the United States. It was banned in Utah in 1992.

Classroom Management

Clear expectations and rules
Teachers should establish clear expectations and rules for classroom behavior and communicate them to students and parents at the beginning of the school year. Clear expectations  help students understand what is expected of them and how they can contribute to a positive learning environment.

Develop positive relationships with students
Teachers should build positive relationships with their students by showing interest in their lives, acknowledging their strengths and abilities, and providing support and guidance when needed. Trust and respect between teachers and students and students will create a positive classroom environment.

Use of positive reinforcement: Teachers should use positive reinforcement, such as praise and rewards, to encourage positive behavior and academic achievement. This can help motivate students to do their best and contribute to a positive classroom environment.

Developing a Classroom Management Plan

Procedures and Routines
Consider the following procedures and routines that every classroom teacher must address:

1. Entering the Room
2. Where to put backpacks
3. Taking Attendance
4. Tardy Procedure
5. Turning in Homework
6. Late Work
7. Returning Graded Assignments
8. Absences
9. End of Period Procedures
10. Obtaining Help With Assignments/Tutoring
11. Participation in Group Discussions and Group Work Procedures
12. Restroom/Hall Pass Procedures
13. Throwing Away Trash and Sharpening Pencils
14. Students Completing In-Class Assignments Early
15. Lost and Found
16. Emergency Drills: Fire/Earthquake/Lockdown
17. Cell Phone Policy

Arranging Physical Space in Your Classroom: Creating a Classroom Floor plan

1. Teacher access to all parts of the classroom
2. Desk arrangement to show optimal layout for instruction and student tasks
3. Minimize disruptions caused by high traffic areas in classrooms

 Rules, Consequences, and Recognition

1. Rules: Create and Post at least six classroom rules that reflect behavioral expectations
2. State the rules positively
3. Rules reflect specific and observable behaviors
4. Rules must be applicable
5. Post rules in prominent visible location
6. Plan for teaching rules
7. Develop rule rationale using real life examples for each rule
8. Plan for correcting early –stage misbehaviors
9. Consequences
   1. Verbal procedure
   2. Parent/guardian notification procedure
   3. Administrative procedure
10. Recognition procedures for rewarding student success

Attention Getters
Provide three attention getting classroom strategies

Beginning of Year Letter to Parents and Students
Letter to Parents (disclosure statement) with course expectations

1. 1. Greeting
   2. Supplies
   3. Schedule

Classroom Visual Instructional Plan
How do  teachers decorate their classrooms? What do they hang or place in their classrooms to stimulate learning or to help create an inviting, welcoming learning environment? Consider the aforementioned policies and procedures. How would you address each?

Engaged Time

In Loco Parentis
In loco parentis is a Latin term meaning “in [the] place of a parent” or “instead of a parent.” The term refers to a common law doctrine which denotes the legal responsibility of some person or organization to perform some of the functions or responsibilities of a parent.

The typical organization found to be in loco parentis is a school, which is deemed to have some of the responsibilities of a parent over its students. Additionally, siblings or grandparents who take on the role of raising their sibling or grandchild may also be found in loco parentis (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/in_loco_par). Teachers are “in loco parentis” when students are in their care.

Academic Freedom

1. Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution.
2. Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject.⁴ Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of the institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of the appointment.⁵
3. College and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution (https://www.aaup.org/report/1940-statement-principles-academic-freedom-and-tenure)

Academic Tenure
After the expiration of a probationary period, teachers or investigators should have permanent or continuous tenure, and their service should be terminated only for adequate cause, except in the case of retirement for age, or under extraordinary circumstances because of financial exigencies (https://www.aaup.org/report/1940-statement-principles-academic-freedom-and-tenure).

Educational Boundary Issues
Situations where there is a violation of professional boundaries between teachers and students or between other educational professionals and students are referred to as boundary issues in education.  These violations can take many forms, including physical, emotional, and intellectual boundaries.

• Physical boundaries: Any inappropriate touching, hugging, or personal contact with students is a violation of physical boundaries. This type of behavior can make students feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, or unsafe.
• Emotional boundaries: Teachers and other educational professionals must maintain professional boundaries and avoid engaging in inappropriate emotional relationships with students. This includes avoiding sharing personal information, discussing personal issues with students, or engaging in any form of romantic or sexual behavior.
• Intellectual boundaries: It is essential to respect students’ intellectual boundaries and not cross ethical lines when dealing with assignments, tests, or grading. Cheating, plagiarizing, or sharing confidential information are examples of intellectual boundary violations.

Educational boundary issue violations can have severe consequences for both students and educators. Such violations can result in emotional distress, loss of trust, and negative impacts on academic performance.

To prevent educational boundary issues, educational institutions should establish clear policies, codes of conduct, and ethical standards that set professional boundaries and prohibit inappropriate behavior. Teachers and other educational professionals should be trained on these policies and held accountable for maintaining them.

The Utah Professional Practices Advisory Council (UPPAC)
A state-level organization that provides guidance and support to educators, administrators, and school districts in matters related to professional conduct, ethics, and best practices. Its mission is to ensure that all Utah educators maintain high standards of professionalism and ethical behavior, and that they are equipped with the tools and resources necessary to provide the best possible education to their students. The UPPAC is made up of representatives from various education organizations, as well as members of the public, and it is responsible for reviewing complaints against educators and recommending appropriate actions to the Utah State Board of Education.

School Safety

School Safety
School safety refers to the measures put in place to ensure that students, teachers, and staff are safe from harm or danger while on school grounds. This includes preventing and responding to threats such as violence, natural disasters, and accidents.

Some common school safety measures include:

• Physical security measures such as locked doors, metal detectors, and security cameras.
• Emergency response plans that outline procedures for responding to threats and emergencies.
• Training programs for students, teachers, and staff on safety procedures and how to respond to emergencies.
• Mental health resources for students who may be struggling with emotional or psychological issues.
• Collaborative efforts between schools and law enforcement agencies to identify and address potential threats.

School safety is an important issue that has gained increased attention in recent years due to high-profile incidents of violence and other threats in schools. As a result, many schools have implemented more comprehensive safety measures to ensure that students, teachers, and staff are able to focus on learning in a safe and secure environment.

Gangs and Schools
Gangs and their impact on schools can be a serious concern for educators, students, and parents. Gang activity can lead to violence, intimidation, drug use, and other criminal behavior on school grounds, which can make it difficult for students to feel safe and focus on their education.

To address the issue, many schools have implemented programs and policies aimed at preventing gang activity and promoting a safe learning environment. These programs may include gang awareness education for students, increased security measures, and partnerships with local law enforcement.

National Gang Center
This federally funded center provides information, training, and technical assistance to help communities prevent gang activity and respond to its effects. Their website includes a variety of resources related to gangs and schools, including research, best practices, and tools for assessing and addressing gang activity.

School Shootings
School shootings are a tragic and distressing occurrence in which a firearm is used to inflict violence and harm within a school setting. School shootings can happen in any school. School schootings have been perpetrated in elementary schools to universities, and they can take place in both urban and rural areas. They often result in numerous injuries or fatalities, as well as long-lasting psychological trauma for survivors and their communities.

There are many factors that can contribute to school shootings, including access to firearms, mental health issues, social isolation, and a lack of adequate school security measures. School shootings have prompted discussions about gun control, mental health care, and school safety.

In response to school shootings, many schools have implemented safety measures such as metal detectors, security cameras, and active shooter drills. Lawmakers continually propose legislation to mitigate the ever increasing shootings.

Dress Code: Why are dress codes important in a school setting?

https://www.mayheminthedesert.com/schoolshooting

Vocabulary

Boundary

Violation

Physical boundary

Emotional boundary

Intellectual boundary

Code of conduct

Ethics

Professionalism

Inappropriate behavior

Consent

Exploitation

Confidentiality

Trust

Utah Professional Practices Advisory Council (UPPAC)

Classroom Management

Policies

Emergency Procedures

Rules

Consequences

Classroom floor plan

Letter Home to Parents

In Loco Parentis

Academic Freedom

Academic Tenure