2. Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge 

Student Range in the Classroom

2A) understands theories and philosophies of learning and human development as they relate to the range of students in the classroom;

This paper was written for the Science Methods course SCI 288, which focused on using different management ideas and methods in the classroom. This shows knowledge of different theories that would work in the classroom for diverse students. 

When I wrote this paper, I learned that there is no perfect way to manage a classroom. My students will change every year, so I will need to develop many methods that will work and change as my students do. However, with this paper as my baseline, I know that I can only build up from here and know what my baselines are for classroom management in my classroom for the future. 

Promoting Learned Behaviors

2G) understands the theory behind and the process for providing support to promote learning when concepts and skills are first being introduced;

Teachers have come up with many ways that work best for them to manage behaviors within their classroom. Although I do not like the clip-down charts, many teachers use them. In my classroom, I wanted to promote model behavior to teach acceptable behavior. Students can receive stickers for their sticker chart for doing lots of things. My main focus is for them to speak and act respectfully and kindly to others, listen for instructions, make quick transitions, exercise guesses and tries,  and stay on task.

With 10 stickers, they can buy a desk pet or fidget toy from my collection. I like this method because I can encourage students to exhibit acceptable modeled behavior within their area of need for improvement. 

I prefer one-on-one conversations with a plan of action for behaviors that need improvement. I try to set this plan up as an agreement or as something new to try out to see if our day improves.

This leads to a permanent learned behavior rather than a shamed center of attention situation, which does not feel good to anyone. 

When speaking to my students, I always try to remember that criticism will not stop a child from loving you; it will only stop them from loving themselves.