Education 345
Management Part I
Due: 1st Observation
Underlying Principle
Developing a caring and well-organized classroom community is an ongoing process. Educators who are able to
create a learning environment that is safe and allows all students the opportunity to learn are those who know
their students well and then willingly try appropriate strategies for those particular students. These educators are
also eager to learn from their own experiences as well as those of others – including students, parents, and other
educators. Over the course of this semester you will have the opportunity to observe and learn from the
management strategies used by your cooperating teacher and other teachers. You will also have numerous
opportunities to practice and explore a variety of management strategies yourself. Use this two-part assignment to
guide you through this process.
Procedure Part I:
Observe & Identify Content, Conduct and Covenant Strategies
During the first few weeks in your classroom, be purposeful in observing the management strategies your
cooperating teacher uses. Use the prompts below to identify and record the specific strategies you see being used.
1. Content Management
a. Classroom routines
 Describe the routine used to begin the day.
 List routines established to manage bathroom use, drinks, pencil sharpening, paper collection,
lining up and walking in the hallways, etc.
b. Lesson structure- observe 2 or 3 lessons and take notes on the following areas:
 Opening- observe how the teacher begins the lesson. Note any tie to previous learning or
experiences or the use of motivational materials that capture the students’ attention.
 Relevance- note what the teacher says or does to make the purpose or relevance of the
lesson apparent.
 Strategies- note the procedures or strategies used in presentation of the content.
 Closure- note how the teacher ends the lesson: e.g. Summary, assignment, or other activity.
 Evaluation- Note the way(s) in which the teacher evaluates students’ understanding/mastery
of the lesson objectives.
 Materials- list the materials the teacher uses throughout the lesson (e.g. concrete objects,
overhead projector, books).
2. Conduct Management
a. Maintaining group attention
 Record management strategies used by your teacher to maintain group attention.
 Note specific words the teacher says to the students to focus them on the task.
 Note how desired behaviors are identified and encouraged.
 Note consequences for undesirable behaviors (e.g. no recess, note home, etc).
b. Transitions
 Observe the management techniques used by your teacher to transition the students from one
activity to another.
 List the strategies used in at least three differing transition situations (e.g. moving from one
subject matter to another; moving from working individually into groups, moving from a class
or activity outside of the room back into the room, getting ready for recess or special classes).
3. Covenant Management
a. Community-building
 Watch for ways that your teacher encourages community. Think about teacher – student
relationships as well as student – student relationships.
 Describe opportunities the students are given to care for and serve one another.
b. Individual student
 Describe the ways in which your teacher attempts to make each individual feel a part of the
classroom community (e.g. Special Person of the week, jobs, responsibilities, Birthday
celebrations).
4. Management Perspective/Framework
a. Describe the overall management perspective or framework from which your classroom teacher and
school are working.
b. On what key principles do they base their management strategies and techniques? Are conduct,
content, and covenant management all addressed?
Education 345
Procedure Part II:
Management Part II
Due:
Mid-semester
Reflect and Set Goals
By this time, you have had plenty of exposure to a variety of management situations and strategies.
1. Reflect. Take some time to reflect and write about your experience as it relates to classroom management.
Review the observations you made for Part I of this assignment.
a. Is your classroom a safe and well-functioning learning community?
b. What management strategies seem to be working well in creating this kind of community? How do
these strategies relate to the framework/perspective of your cooperating teacher? Why are they
working?
c. Are there strategies that work for your cooperating teacher that don’t seem to work for you? Or viceversa? Why might this be?
d. With what areas do you find yourself still struggling?
2. Goals. As you prepare to take on more lead teaching, set 3-4 goals for yourself in classroom management.
Be sure to include at least one goal in content, conduct, and covenant management.
a. On which areas of classroom management do you want to focus?
b. What are the underlying principles that guide your classroom management?
c. Are there any new strategies you would like to try that may contribute to a more positive learning
environment?
Note

As part of the Final Reflective Activity, you will be expected to reflect on your experience with
classroom management. Your reflection will include a response to the mid-term management goals you
identify for yourself. See Final Reflective Activity Part I, #4.