Effective Classroom Management

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Course Description
This course is designed to assist teachers and administrators in public and private schools to develop skills to help them effectively manage the behavior problems that today's students bring to school. Students will participate in several assignments that reinforce the concepts and strategies found in the textbook The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong. Most of the assignments require access to a classroom and are designed for currently employed teachers. Special provisions will be made for participants who do not have access to a classroom.

Objectives
• Evaluate present level of classroom management skills
• Review research on classroom management
• Identify mentors who could assist in improving management skills
• Develop a one to two year growth plan
• Understand the importance of conveying "high expectations"
• Develop skills for "welcoming" and sending "positive invitations"
• Evaluate a classroom to determine the level of "readiness"
• Gain an understanding of how effective "reputations" are developed
• Develop appropriate rules, procedures, and routines for the classroom
• Understand the importance of cooperative learning, learn how to make cooperative learning work,
  and learn how to structure a cooperative learning activity
• Understand the components of Powerful Learning
• Develop a model discipline plan

Time Requirements
Effective Classroom Management is a 13 week 3 credit graduate level or sixty hour professional development course taught online. Most modules take one week to complete. Module 10 will be completed over two weeks so students have time to revise and complete the final integration project.

Hardware & Computer Skills Requirements
Participants may use either a Macintosh computer or a PC with Windows 98 or higher. Participants should possess basic word processing skills and have Internet access with an active e-mail account. Participants also are expected to have a basic knowledge of how to use a Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer or America Online's (AOL) browser. To download a browser at no cost, visit one of the following Web sites – Netscape.com; Microsoft.com and AOL.com.

Course Materials
The required textbook for this course is The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong. The textbook and course materials will be provided for all students. In addition, online readings and Web site reviews (including journal articles and best practices from the body of educational research) will be assigned during the course to enhance learning. These readings will be presented as annotated Web sites within the course content.

Session Outline
Module 1: Introduction and Overview
Objective: Evaluate present level of classroom management skills.
Contents:
  1. Course Requirements, Goals, and Expectations
  2. Introduction of Class Members
  3. Setting Personal Goals
  4. Evaluation of Present Level of Classroom Management Skills

Module 2: The Effective Teacher
Objective: Review research on classroom management.
Contents:
  1. The Research on Effective Classroom Management
  2. Efficient vs. Effective
  3. The Four Stages Of Teaching
  4. Don't Be A Pal

Module 3: Why Positive Expectations are Important & How to Welcome and Invite Students to Learn and Behave
Objective: Understand the importance of conveying high expectations.
Contents:
  1. The Importance of Conveying High Expectations
  2. Developing and Applying Skills for Welcoming Students
  3. Developing and Applying Skills for Sending Positive Invitations to Students

Module 4: How to Have Your Classroom Ready and Your Reputation Will Precede You
Objective: Evaluate a classroom to determine the level of readiness.
Contents:
  1. Evaluation of a Classroom to Determine the Level of Readiness
  2. Understanding How Effective Reputations are Developed

Module 5: Classroom Procedures
Objective: Evaluating current classroom procedures.
Contents:
  1. Entering the Classroom
  2. Seating Arrangements
  3. Starting the Class
  4. Taking Roll
  5. Class Assignments
  6. Homework

Module 6: Classroom Rules, Consequences, and Rewards
Objective: Develop appropriate rules for the classroom.
Contents:
  1. General Rules
  2. Specific Rules
  3. Your Rules
  4. Presenting Your Rules
  5. Area of Freedom
  6. Why Consequences Are Needed
  7. Negative Consequences
  8. Rewards or Positive Consequences
  9. Positive Language, Rewards, and Praise

Module 7: Developing Procedures
Objective: Understand why procedures are essential.
Contents:
  1. Why Have Procedures?
  2. What Procedures Are Needed?
  3. Teaching Procedures
  4. At-Risk Students and Procedures

Module 8: Working Cooperatively
Objective: Creating a cooperative learning classroom.
Contents:
  1. Benefits of Cooperative Learning
  2. Dividing the Class into Groups
  3. Who is in the Group?
  4. Making Cooperative Learning Work
  5. Structuring a Cooperative Learning Activity
  6. Implications for Teachers and Administrators

Module 9: Powerful Learning
Objective: Understand the components of Powerful Learning.
Contents:
  1. What Is Powerful Learning?
  2. The Components of Powerful Learning
  3. Implementing Powerful Learning

Module 10: Your Personal Growth Plan and a Model Discipline Plan
Objective: Develop a model discipline plan.
Contents:
  1. Teaching as a Profession
  2. Improving Your Performance
  3. Taking Risks
  4. Classroom Rules
  5. Positive Consequences
  6. Negative Consequences
  7. Course Evaluation

Grading

Assignment	Points	Grading Scale
Forum Discussions	30	100 – 93	A
Reading Assignments/Reflections	20	92 – 85	B
Model Discipline Plan	30	84 – 77	C
Final Exam	20
Total Points	100

Student Requirements

1. Actively participate in all Forum activities.

2. Complete all reading and reflection assignments.

3. Complete the Model Discipline Plan assignment. Review research and literature on classroom management to insure the plan is researched based.

4. Pass a final exam.

Student Academic Integrity
Participants guarantee that all academic class work is original. Any academic dishonesty or plagiarism (to take ideas, writings, etc. from another and offer them as one's own), is a violation of student academic behavior standards as outlined by our partnering colleges and universities and is subject to academic disciplinary action.