Mrs. Day's Classroom Management Plan: A Real World Homeroom

Objective: 

The student will be able to relate his or her experience in the classroom to the real world. This is accomplished by establishing a monetary system that tracks the student’s approaches to learning (ATL). Students who engage in the learning process eagerly will earn more money that they can spend on rewards. 

Execution:

Begin with the classroom “icebreakers” questionnaire using Surveymonkey.com. With this data, establish students' likes and dislikes for specific rewards. Students have the liberty to create their own rewards chart and how much he or she believes each reward is worth. One idea is:

• “TV time” in which students may watch a short video or play a game on their iPad.

Tracking Student Accounts:

 LiveSchool is a student/teacher interactive account that tracks students’ behavior using a point system that can be converted into a dollar amount (just like a real credit card).  This will teach students about credits and interest as well, thus preparing them for the real 21st-century world. 

Weekly “Chores” and Quarterly “Job Assignments”

• Every student will have some type of chore that they must execute each week. This will be done on a rotation basis. Although students to do not apply for these positions, students may write a letter requesting a job change. Sample positions are:
• Janitor
• Classroom Organizer
• Teacher's Assistant

• Job assignments will be earned each quarter when a student applies for a “higher” position, such as a teacher’s assistant, class accountant, Mayor of the room, and more.

How Students Earn Points/Money

ATL: Organization

Desk/Student Area

• Students are required to maintain a clean and neat environment so it is safe and easily accessible. Students will earn points for neatness. Students may be fined if their area is messy or they did not follow a classroom procedure to take out or put certain items away.
• The student uses a daily planner on his or her iPad to track assignments. Random checks will occur throughout the school year for students to earn points.

ATL: Collaboration & Communication

Participation:

• Students who willingly participate in class discussions are rewarded with a point amount. Students may earn more points when he or she volunteers to help another student, pick up trash off the floor, and so on. 

Group Work

• Students are attentive and engaged when working in groups

ATL: Reflective Thinking

Homework:

• Another way for students to earn points is by turning his or her homework in on time.  Pending the skill ability required of the assignment, students may earn more points (students will be notified in advance how many points each assignment is worth). Students may still earn points if homework is turned in late, but the amount decreases. After three days, students must pay a fine for each day that it is late.

Classroom Teamwork:

• Students may earn a “Fun Friday!” if the class--as a whole--is responsible during instructional times. When the class cooperates, the letters and punctuation remain in “Fun Friday!” Each letter/punctuation represents two minutes of recess. Students may earn up to twenty minutes of extra recess the last Friday of the month (the first week of school, students can earn a “Fun Friday!” along with other special weeks during the school year (i.e. holidays, certain author’s birthdays, Teacher Appreciation Week, etc.)