Classroom rules and Discipline Procedures

Watson, Angela. How to Create Class Rules. Retrieved from http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/free-resources/behavior-management/class-rules

Rader, Martha. Establishing Classroom Rules and Consequences. http://www.education.ne.gov/BMIT/pdf/EstablishingClassroomRulesandConsequences.pdf

The first article was interesting because it differentiates rules from procedures. The rule is the speed limit is 55 miles an hour, the procedure is to watch the speedometer and stay focused on the road in front of you. Procedures help you be successful at following the rule. Along with that, Angela Watson suggests to create goals instead of rules. Goals such as respect yourself and respect others. It frames rules in a positive light, and helps students reach them successfully. By creating a set of classroom goals together as a class, students are more invested in following those guidelines. Along with that, you must also choose logical consequences. Your district or school may have their own set of rules and consequences that they will expect you to use.

The second article points out the importance of using positive rules verses negative rules, and staying consistent with discipline and routines. She also includes 50 tips to motivating students and keeping them focused in the classroom. These tips help with classroom management, and hopefully helps avoid any misbehavior.

My classroom is very interesting because classroom rules are not posted any where. The students respect my cooperating teacher, and they also respect me. However, my teacher doesn't seem to have an issue with things like cell phones. I have been in classrooms where we have created the goals/rules together, and it seemed to help us be more involved and no doubt understanding what was expected of us.

As a teacher, any way that you can get students to invest a little bit more in their learning is a good thing. Instead of just reading a list of goals/rules on the first day of class, students are able to take time to think about what is in their best interest. Students care about the environment they are in, whether it's positive or negative, so if they have a say about classroom expectations, they can hope that others are just as invested in the learning as they are.

Flipped Classroom

Tucker, Bill. The Flipped Classroom. Winter 2012. Retrieved from http://educationnext.org/files/ednext_20121_BTucker.pdf 

7 Things You Should Know About Flipped Classrooms. Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7081.pdf

This relatively "new" idea of a flipped classroom is a surprising and beneficial way to teach students. The idea is that students learn the lessons on their own time, outside of the classroom, typically via online work. They then bring their questions, homework and work collaboratively in the classroom. The concept for a flipped classroom started with chemistry teachers Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams in Colorado. They were having a hard time finding time to teach students who were absent, so they started recording and annotating lessons and posting them online. Students who were absent appreciated the ability to catch up, however, students who were present also liked the ability to re-watch the lessons.

I have never seen a flipped classroom in person, but from what I have read it seems to be an incredibly beneficial way to really work closely with students and their learning. I think by requiring students to come to class with a question or two, and checking their notes that they complete at home, you can encourage them to take a proactive role in their education. 

As a teacher, it may depend on the district that you are teaching in and how far you can implement this concept, but I truly believe flipped classrooms can totally change the system. However, we must make sure that flipping our classrooms does not make us lazy.  Students are able to benefit with more one on one time, and they have the ability to revisit the lessons that they are stuck on. 

Job Availability in Washington State

Research:
Ryan Weldon, Career Advisor: Arts, Letters, and Education
Career Services, EWU/EagleAxis
Find a Teaching Job! (Facebook page)
Spokaneschools.org

On my EagleAxis account, I have signed up for a "job email blast"and I receive emails when there are teaching opportunities posted. Although I haven't applied for any yet, it's reassuring to know that there are openings out there. There are not only jobs posted from all over the state, but also a few for teaching English abroad (South Korea and Japan). It's also really great for finding career/recruitment fairs and interviews.  The only unfortunate thing about it is that I receive emails for elementary jobs and teaching jobs outside my content area.

It's nice to know that there is hope for all of us. That we are not wasting our time attempting to get a degree that will not be used once we graduate. I've heard that teaching openings are rare to find, especially in certain areas. From what I could find, there aren't any full time teaching jobs currently open in District 81. So as long as you're willing to relocate, you can find something.

Depending on where we end up, we will be teaching a diverse set of students. The geographical and economic background of the area will determine what kind of students come through our classroom. It's important for us to consider that as we are looking for jobs.