Nyhus 1

Brittany Nyhus

Classroom Management Plan

Nyhus 2

Table of Contents

Physical Classroom Organization Pg. 3

Classroom Operations Pg. 5

Student Records pg. 5

New Students pg. 5

Substitute Teachers pg. 6

Displaying Student Work pg. 6

Desk/Classroom Cleanliness pg. 7

Disciplinary Policies and Professional Ethics Pg. 8

Relationships with Students pg. 8

Classroom Economy pg. 9

Class Rules pg. 9

Class Store pg. 10

Break Box pg. 10

Classroom Disruptions pg. 10

Extreme Crisis Plan pg. 11

A Classroom Community pg. 11

Young Adolescents pg. 12

Cheating pg. 13

Professionalism pg. 13

Classroom Routines and Procedures Pg. 13

First Day pg. 13

Morning Routine pg. 14

Paper Trails pg. 14

Attention Grabbers pg. 15

Bathroom/Water Fountain Procedures pg. 15

Done with work early activities pg. 15

Praising Students/Motivating Students pg. 16

Classroom Jobs pg. 18

Differentiation Policy Pg. 19

Gifted Students pg. 20

Club Ed pg. 20

Challenged Learners pg. 20

Parent Involvement Pg. 20

Conclusion & Mission Statement Pg. 21

Appendix Pg. 22

Nyhus 3

Physical Classroom Organization

Welcome to Mrs. Nyhus’ fifth grade classroom! I have designed an area where students can take

control of their own learning and collaborate with each other to discover a world outside of their

classroom walls. Technology, inquiry and nature are all a large part of this classroom and these

key features can be seen throughout the map, found on page four.

When you walk into the classroom my desk is immediately available, allowing easy access for

students or parents who have questions before or after school. The filing cabinet will hold

information that the students need if they missed class, as well as scratch paper, and extra

practice worksheets for math. There is also storage right behind the teacher’s desk so I can easily

grab supplies or resources when working on lessons or with students at the small group

instruction table.

The students don’t have any supplies at their desk. Notebooks, books, and extra crayons,

markers, glue, paper etc. will be stored in the student supplies cabinet. Laptops and iPads are also stored in the student supplies cabinet for students to check out and use. Personal items such as

folders and notebooks the students are currently using are stored in cubbies at the front of the

room.

Students will sit at tables of four with a center basket of items they may need during direct

instruction. There are two whiteboards because I plan on having a mimio and two projectors

which will allow students to see my notes from wherever they are sitting. A mimio suctions cup

to your whiteboard, and is a combination of smartboard and whiteboard. This technology will be

held on the technology cart placed next to the whiteboard. The projectors will be mounted from

the ceiling.

Extra storage and counter space is on the left side of the room, and a sink is located right next to

the rabbit’s cage for easy access to hand washing after interaction with the class pet. The rabbit is

allowed to roam inside of that pen, and students will also be able to sit inside the pen during free

reading if it is their daily job. A reading corner is set up in the back left corner with beanbags, a

couch, and plenty of books to choose from.

The inquiry areas will change depending on the unit and students will use those areas to conduct

experiments, or work on group projects. They will display their findings on the bulletin board

that is next to the window on the back wall.

My favorite part of the classroom is the outdoor learning area. There is a door leading out to a

garden that is teeming with flowers, shrubs, and vegetables that the class can use in all content

areas. The garden will be integrated into daily classroom activities and have a large role in what

is going on in the inquiry areas, especially during the spring and fall.

Nyhus 4

Brittany

Nyhus’ 5th

Grade

Classroom

Nyhus 5

Classroom Operations

Student Records:

Students can be confident that their records will be kept safe and secure in my classroom. Grades

will be entered into the computers website at least three days after the assignment was turned in,

for daily assignments and tests, and two weeks for large projects.

For quick check in assignments and quizzes I will use Google

apps including Flubaroo. Students will be emailed a form and

continue to answer the questions asked. Flubaroo will allow me

to:

Compute the average assignment score.

Compute the average score per question, and flag low-

scoring questions.

Show a grade distribution graph.

Email each student their grade, and an answer key.

Send individualized feedback to each student. Using technology such as this app will allow me to quickly tailor instruction based on

assessment.

I will also have a binder holding all of my students’ information, each student having their own

tabbed section. In order to maintain privacy this binder will always be locked in a file cabinet. A

portfolio of sorts the information and items will be useful to share with parents during

conferences and quickly access information about each student. The binder will contain:

Name, address, emergency contact

IEP or 504 plans

Dietary restrictions

Latest assessment scores

Exemplary work

New Students

When new students arrive in the classroom mid-year I want to make sure they feel welcomed and

prepared to learn. The first thing a new student will receive is the “Welcome to 5th

Grade!”

folder. This folder will have our daily schedule, helpful school tips (as submitted by the students)

and a sheet containing fun facts about each of their new classmates. A ‘classroom buddy’ will be

assigned to the new student in order to make them feel welcome and to give them a person they

can ask questions to. In order to keep accurate records I will add the new students name to all

score sheets and student record forms at the bottom so they can be assessed immediately. As

Wong suggests this saves time rather than reprinting forms1.

1 Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). The first days of school: how to be an effective teacher ([2nd ed.). Mountainview, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications.

Figure 1 http://www.flubaroo.com/

Nyhus 6

Substitute Teachers

I want each substitute to be absolutely prepared when they walk

into my classroom, especially if I am unexpectedly absent and

don’t have time to lay out lessons. For those reasons I have

created a Sub Tub2. The Sub Tub will contain everything a

substitute teacher would ever need to spend a day in my

classroom. The sub tub will contain:

Substitute Teacher Binder o This binder will have a class roster with photos of

each student, emergency procedures, school

information (extension numbers, schedule)

classroom rules, classroom schedule, seating charts,

discipline forms, and note sheets for the substitute to inform me of what went on

in the classroom.

Lesson Binder

o This will have at least three lesson plans for science, social studies, math, reading,

and writing. All worksheets that are needed to complete the lessons will be stored

in the binder as well. Time fillers such as writing prompts, crosswords, and

riddles will be in the back of the binder.

Books

o Chicken Soup for the Soul: Classroom Edition will be included. This

book contains lesson plans, discussions, and short stories that require

no planning and can be used at any time.

o Mad Libs

o Poetry books

Miscellaneous Activities o Educational DVDs will also find their way into the Sub Tub

depending on what we’re currently discussing in class.

o Fun games such as “Are you Smarter

than a 5th

Grader?” I Spy, or card games

Displaying Student Artwork and Bulletin Boards

I want every student to feel like the classroom is a

place they feel safe, comfortable, and at home in. In order to

achieve those goals the majority of my bulletin boards will be

used to display student art and projects.

As a class on the first day of school we will design what at least

two bulletin boards should look like. The students might choose

an inspiration board with quotes and positive messages, they

might choose to keep that space open for the first unit we will

work on, or a fun bulletin board filled with jokes. My hope is that

2 http://www.ateacherstreasure.com/2013/03/sub-tub.html

Figure 2 http://www.ateacherstreasure.com/2013/03/sub-tub.html

Figure 3 http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Classroom-Elementary-Edition/dp/0757306934

Figure 4 http://ows.edb.utexas.edu/site/ana-sofia-rodriguez/bulletin-board

Nyhus 7

this will help the students feel like the classroom is as much theirs as it is mine as the teacher.

One bulletin board will be designated specifically for what we’re currently working on. This will

be a place where questions can be displayed with post its or students can show their learning by

creating part of the bulletin board. The part of the plant bulletin board in Figure 4 shows how

students could share their knowledge of a certain topic on a bulletin board.

Additionally I want students to be reminded of

their goals. On a wall near the door I will have

students write what their goals are for 5th

grade.

These can change with the unit we work on, or

be long term goals. I will use this to remind my

students that growth is something to always be

celebrated and that setting goals is an important

part of learning.

Desk/Classroom Cleanliness

I prefer a clean environment for learning and

feel like a disorganized classroom can lead to

me personally not teaching effectively. I will

expect students to respect the classroom by

keeping it clean. To accomplish this, before we

leave for lunch or recess all paper and trash must

be put in the recycling or trash bins, chairs must

be pushed in, and materials put away in their proper place. I’ll have the drawers and cabinets

labeled so the students know where items go and put them back in the same spot every time. If

students are not cleaning up quickly I will make it a competition between myself and the class.

I’ll give the students a time I think they can clean the classroom in, and the students will try and

beat that time. If they beat my time five times in a row the class will get time added to their

preferred activity time at the end of the week. No negative consequences (other than being late

for lunch/recess/specials) will be enforced.

Some students are disorganized because it’s how they work

best, therefore a messy desk doesn’t automatically mean that

the student is unprepared to learn. Students will not be

required to clean their desk until they have an issue with

producing papers and materials quickly from their desk. One

warning will be given for a misplaced paper or material

within their desk and then they will be required to clean their

desk according to the poster in Figure 6. I will refer students

to a handout that looks similar to this chart and they will have

to clean their desk to these specifications3.

3 http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/2012/09/the-clean-desk-diagram.html

Figure 5 http://mrsrobinsonsclassroomblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/meaningful-first-week-activities.html

Figure 6 http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/2012/09/the-clean-desk-diagram.html

Nyhus 8

To clean up at the end of the day I will also tell the students that the ‘magic number is (insert

number 1-10). The students will then have to each pick up that many pieces of paper or trash that

they find on the floor4.

Disciplinary Policies and Professional Ethics:

In order to maintain a classroom that is full of learning and a safe environment for all, discipline

policies must be put into place. Students will be allowed to have fun, and be kids, but they must

abide by the rules that are set for the class.

Relationships with Students

I believe that a positive and strong relationship with students is the best way to encourage

learning and increase intrinsic motivation. With upper elementary and middle school students a

respectful relationship between the student and teacher can be one of the most beneficial tools to

managing a classroom 5

To achieve this relationship we will spend the first week of 5th

grade getting to know each other,

and setting a solid foundation for the rest of the year. We

will start the first day with a get to know you assignment.

As students come into the classroom they will be directed

to pick up the bingo card that is on their desk and start to

mingle with other students trying to get each square filled

with a signature of a classmate (the bingo card can be found

in the Appendix on page 22)6.

Throughout the rest of the week we will continue to fill out

the “back to school” packet in the appendix. This packet

will allow the students to take a stake in making rules, their

own behavior plans, and help to develop many of the

policies that we will use in our classroom. Throughout the

year I will randomly ask the students to write their thoughts

on a sticky note and put it on the side of my desk

so I can review them. Sometimes they will sign

their names, other times they won’t. This will let me

gain insight on how the students are feeling about class and other information about

themselves as individuals.

Learning about the students and developing relationships will not end after that first

week of activities. I will always be available to have a private conference with the

students if they need to talk about something. A respectful community, and safe

environment will be built in my classroom and students will be aware that they can

bring to me any concerns or feelings they have without being judged.

4 Lori Kleve, 6th Grade Teacher, Hillside Elementary, West Des Moines CDS 5 Knowles, T., Brown, D. F., & Bird, L. B. (2000). What every middle school teacher should know. Portsmouth, NH:

Heinemann ;. 6 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Pre-Teen-Style-Perfect-for-Upper-Grades-289587

Figure 7 http://teachertalk-addie.blogspot.ca/2012/07/creating-caring-classroom.html

Nyhus 9

Throughout the year I will hold mini-conferences with the students. These will consist of 5-10

minute conversations about what is working well in class, what we could do to help them reach a

higher level of learning, and every day things like what book they’re reading, or what they’re

looking forward to in the next few weeks.

Classroom Economy

The majority of the discipline procedures in place will have consequences related to our

classroom economy. This classroom economy will be a large part of our classroom and will not

only be used as a tool for managing behavior but also to teach skills that will benefit the students

later in life.

Our classroom economy is called Nyhus Bucks; $500 in paper

money will be given to students at the beginning of each quarter.

Students are personally responsible for keeping track of their own

money. Money can be earned, taken away, or spent throughout the

quarter. At the end of each quarter a class auction will be held.

More about how the money will be earned and used will be

discussed later in this section. At the end of each semester a class

auction will be held (see Appendix page 24 for list of

auction items).

In addition there will be a marble jar that will be used to reward positive behaviors

as a class. One jar will start off full and the second empty. When a student does a

kind act without being prompted, when the class is complimented by another

teacher for good hallway behavior, a marble is moved to the other jar. Bad

behavior causes the marbles to move back to the original jar. Once the second jar

is full the class will get a Friday movie! This is being done in addition to Nyhus

bucks because I want the class to feel like they can work together to achieve

something fun as well as make individual choices that affect the students as

individuals.

Class rules

I want the 5th

graders to feel like they have a say in what goes on

in our classroom and that they are an integral part of our class

community. To achieve this, as a class we will come up with five

golden rules that we think are the most important to follow in a

classroom. In addition to coming up with class rules students will

also come up with the consequences for breaking a rule. This will

be tied to Nyhus Bucks. A list of negative behaviors will be

generated by the students and how many Nyhus bucks you will

lose if you are engaging in that activity will also be decided. For

example, if you are talking out of turn you might lose five bucks,

but if you are caught cheating you would lose one hundred bucks

(among other consequences).

Figure 8 http://houseofgeekery.com/2014/01/09/10-things-you-learn-playing-tabletop/

Figure 9 http://www.bestucanb.ca/2152/

Figure 10 http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/s/school_discipline.asp

Nyhus 10

Many students in 5th

grade have cell phones and these can cause a distraction during class.

Instead of requiring the students to put their phones in their locker where they risk being stolen, I

will have a drawer set aside in my desk for cell phones only. As soon as students come in they

will put their cell phone in the drawer and when the bell rings they are allowed to go get their

cell phone.

Class Store7

As a fifth grader I expect all of my students to be prepared for class. That means having pencils,

a red pen, textbooks, and an independent reading book at all times. If they do not have the

required items they will be directed to “Nyhus Mart” to rent the needed item. They will pay for

each item using Nyhus bucks and will be expected to return the item otherwise they will continue

to be charged. For a list of rental items and their prices please see page 25 in the appendix.

Break Box

At some point all of us need to take a break from what we’re doing, and what’s going on in the

environment around us and take a break. There will be a box set up in

the back of the classroom that students can go and sit in for a period of

time to calm themselves. If the weather is nice they can also go and sit

in our outdoor learning area.

In the box there will be tactile materials that the students can play with,

pillows, stuffed animals, and a few books if they would like to read to

calm down. For example students can use an I Spy book to get lost in

something else for five minutes. They can mold playdo or squish one of

the toys in Figure 10. Sitting quietly is always an option.

Classroom Disruptions

If students are disrupting class they will be asked once to stop what they

are doing. If it continues the appropriate consequence will be handed out.

A marble might be moved from the marble jar, or Nyhus bucks may have to be paid. If the

students argue and want to ensue in a power struggle they will be given a choice, either visit a

buddy classroom for 15 minutes, or pay the fine in Nyhus bucks. Our buddy classroom will be

with a nearby classroom that is a different grade than 5th

. The principal will only be called if a

student refuses to choose between a buddy classroom or paying the fine in Nyhus bucks and

continues the negative behavior.

Classroom disruptions may include but are not limited to:

Talking when it is meant to be silent

Arguing with other students

Disrespectful behavior towards the teacher or classmates

7 Kenzie, Robert J., and Lisa Stanzione. Setting limits in the classroom: a complete guide to effective classroom management with a school-wide discipline plan. 3rd ed. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2010. Print.

Figure 11 http://hbslp.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/the-fidget-toy-awakening/

Nyhus 11

Inappropriate language or behaviors

Extreme Crisis Plan

As a professional I have an obligation to keep all students safe in my classroom and to create an

environment that is suitable for learning. If a student becomes so disruptive that they are a

danger to themselves and their classmates I will ask the students to exit the classroom quickly

and quietly. Since we have an outdoor garden area this is an option for keeping students

separated from any danger that may arise. Once everyone is safe then the principal will be called.

Due to the need for swift action in the event for an extreme crisis, as a class will practice these

drills 4 times a year, once each quarter. Students will be reminded that in the event of something

happens we should never panic, just follow directions.

A Classroom Community

There will be a strict no tolerance for bullying in my classroom. Students will be expected to

treat each other with respect throughout the entire class year. Once a month we will devote time

to building our classroom into a family like atmosphere. The ice breakers and get to know you

activities in the beginning of the year will help, but as a class we will dive further into what is

going on in their lives, including bullying. Below are topics that we might talk about during these

monthly meetings, as well as activities to do as a class.

Bullying:

Students will be asked to take a piece of clean white paper and

crumple it up. They can stomp on it, make it dirty, but not rip it, if they

choose as well. After they mar the paper, the students will then be

asked to smooth the paper out and try to restore it to its original state.

They’ll be asked to tell the paper “I’m sorry.” I will point out that even

though we tried our hardest to fix this piece of paper, and we told it

we’re sorry it is still scarred, and affected by what we did to it8. After

this activity we will move into a discussion on the effects of bullying.

Negotiation and Communication:

Students will learn how to resolve arguments through negotiation instead

of back and forth arguing. Role plays, and information on what

negotiating is, will give the students a skill that they can use later in life.

General Team Building9:

These team building activities will teach the students various things about their

classmates. The discussion that will follow the activities will allow for application to

important skills that again, can be used in real world situations.

Human Knot:

All the students will stand in a circle and put their right hands into the

middle and grab hands with someone else. They then place their left hands

8 http://www.pinterest.com/pin/186899453256446983/ 9 http://www.deca.org/_docs/chapter-resources/DECA-teambuildinggames.pdf

Figure 12 http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a7/fb/08/a7fb088828c6d49644cd81cfcb4b1b0a.jpg

Nyhus 12

in and grasp a different person’s hand. The students’ goal is to untangle

themselves. The focus of this activity is teamwork.

Replication:

This game needs 5 sets of blocks, or other structure materials. Set up a

structure out of your materials away from all of the groups. Each group

will have 1 looker, 1-2 runners, and 2 builders. The looker of each group

gets to see the original model. Each group’s builders get a pile of the

objects in a space away from the other teams’ builders. The lookers look at

the original structure and will tell the runners the details they can

remember about the structure. Then, the runner goes to builders. When the

runner(s) get(s) to the builders, the builders can only ask the runner yes or

no questions. When the runner can’t remember any more details or wants

to confirm a detail, he goes back to the point where he can meet the

looker. He can converse freely about the details. This goes on until all of

the groups feel they are done. Then, the class looks at each all the group’s

structures as well as the original. Replication builds communication skills

and is a good teambuilding effort game as well.

Young Adolescents

5th

grade students are quickly entering into the world of a young adolescent. I am prepared to

deal with the issues that may arise that are related my students growing up. Hormones and

increased interest in having a boyfriend or girlfriend may cause disruptions during class. In order

to minimize this affecting our learning on the first day of school the students and I will have a

serious talk about leaving personal issues in the hallway before we come into the classroom. I

will explain to the students that I’m going to leave the things that are going on in my life in the

hallway as well. However, we all make mistakes and some things are going to affect us, if that is

the case I will ask the students to let me know if they are having a personal issue. If they need to

take five minutes in the break box that is fine, but as a classroom community is so important

respect for everyone is important no matter what is going on personally.

Some 5th

graders will also be going through puberty and the girls may get their period for the

first time. I will have feminine hygiene products on hand in case they are needed. My hope is

that I will have a solid relationship with my students that they will feel comfortable and trust me

if they need help with such issue.

Young adolescents are growing at such a rapid rate that they need to move frequently because

sitting can be uncomfortable10

. We will move and change what we are doing in the classroom

many times throughout the day in order to make it more comfortable for the students as well as

to increase engagement.

10 Knowles, T., Brown, D. F., & Bird, L. B. (2000). What every middle school teacher should know. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann ;.

Nyhus 13

Cheating

Ethics could be a potential topic for our monthly classroom community sessions, but that may

not be enough to discourage students from cheating. If a student cheats on any assignment, test,

or project they will score a zero on that item. Students will also be asked to fill out the cheating

form, found in the appendix, to be sent home to their parents.

If it seems like the parents did the student’s homework I will have a private conference with the

student and ask them to answer questions that were asked on the particular assignment. If the

student can successfully answer the questions no repercussions will be taken. If they cannot, I

will ask the student to redo the assignment using recess time. Nyhus bucks will also be taken

from the student if they are caught cheating, the amount to be determined by the students

themselves.

Professionalism

At all times I want to maintain a high level of professionalism. In the instance that teachers are

complaining or forewarning about students I will immediately excuse myself from the

conversation. I want to develop my own beliefs about the students in my classroom and in the

school and don’t want to break a student’s trust by sharing information about them.

If there is an issue between other teachers I will not take sides or participate in any conversations

that involve bad mouthing a staff member. As Sue Jones suggests I will find a positive mentor

who can help me navigate teaching, and not allow me to get bogged down in complaining about

students, other teachers, or administration11

.

In terms of dress I will dress to impress my students as Wong says, “you do not get a second

chance to make a first impression.” I will always make sure the clothes I wear are clean, and

appropriate for the classroom. While it’s easy to fall into the trap of wearing only trendy clothes,

I will leave those to the students and make sure I convey a message of authority and respect with

my clothing choices12

.

Classroom Routines and Procedures

First Day:

I want students to be as comfortable as possible on the first day of school. In order to achieve

this, a Welcome Back to School night13

will take place before the first day. I will send a letter to

11 Jones, S. (Director) (2014, April 16). Classroom Management. Curriculum and Pedagogy. Lecture conducted from Drake University , Des Moines. 12 Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). The first days of school: how to be an effective teacher ([2nd ed.). Mountainview, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications. 13 Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). The first days of school: how to be an effective teacher ([2nd ed.). Mountainview, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications.

Nyhus 14

parents (page 26 in appendix14

) introducing myself, our classroom and some of the things we

will be learning in the upcoming year, along with an invitation to the open house.

At the open house I will have a question box where students and parents can ask questions either

anonymously or if a personal response is requested they can provide

contact information. All questions will be answered via our class

newsletter. On the first day of school we will move into the first day of

school activities mentioned in the relationship building section on page

11.

Morning Routine

Each morning students will be expected to put their personal items away

and come into the classroom in a timely fashion. The “bell work” for the

day will be on the board as well as directions for completing the

assignment or activity. Bell work may include an extension from a lesson

in the previous day, cleaning desks, independent reading, or participating

in a group conversation. Students will be expected to have their bell work

completed in fifteen minutes unless otherwise noted.

After bell work is completed we will go over the agenda for the day in the

reading area. We’ll discuss any big projects, field trips, or other items in the near future and any

concerns, or questions the students have. The following routine will be posted in the room for

students to follow.

Morning Routine!

1. Enter classroom and move your number magnet to A or B Lunch or Cold Lunch.

2. Hang up materials and make sure you are prepared for today’s learning

3. Complete bell work by 8:45

4. When bell work is done, head to the library

area for Morning Meet Up

Paper Trails

Students in fifth grade will be turning in homework

three to five times a week, and in class assignments

almost every day. In order to organize how to hand

in homework and other papers, we will have three

homework bins, one for reading, math,

science/social studies. These will sit on top of the

students’ mailboxes15

. There will also be a no

name? basket that will be located on top of the

mailboxes. It is the students’ responsibility to check

the no name? basket for their work as I will not

enter it into the gradebook until it has a name.

14 14 http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/6e/3d/f6/6e3df680a73727c1c42449feb36a0f79.jpg 15 http://mrslaffinslaughings.blogspot.com/2013/08/five-for-friday-august-30-2013.html

Figure 13 http://www.fortheloveofteachingmath.com/2013/05/19/accessible-mathematics-instructional-shift-1/

Figure 14 http://mrslaffinslaughings.blogspot.com/2013/08/five-for-friday-august-30-2013.html

Nyhus 15

Students can find their graded assignments and other forms or information they might need in

their mailboxes.

Class library books will also be available for check out. A clipboard will hang next to the class

library that will have a form (appendix page 27) and students will be responsible for writing

down which books they take. If this privilege is misused “fines” will be issued and the class will

have to pay “Nyhus Bucks.”

Attention Grabbers

In order to regain classroom control from group work or other activities, we will play a game

called beat the teacher16

. When I want everyone’s attention I will say 5,4,3,2,1. Sometimes this

will be fast, or slow, quiet, or loud; I will expect all students to be quiet by the time I get to one.

If even one student is talking a marble will be taken out of the reward jar, but if all students are

quiet then a marble gets put into the reward jar.

If this technique doesn’t motivate students to be quiet I will start taking time off of their recess

on Friday for the amount of time I spend trying to get their attention. I will ask once for all

students attention wait 15 seconds or so to see if the students are coming back together. If the

students aren’t paying attention I will hold up a stopwatch, until I have the all of the students’

full attention. This time will accumulate and on Friday they will have to spend that accumulated

time cleaning, the classroom during recess.

Bathroom/Water Fountain Procedures

Students will be trusted to go to the bathroom as they see fit, until that

privilege is abused. As a class we will discuss that there should only be

one person in the bathroom at a time, and that trips must not take longer

than necessary. If a student needs to use the restroom they will take the

rubber duck pass and place it on their desk so I know who is in the

bathroom.

If this privilege is misused the students will receive 5 bathroom passes at

the beginning of each week. If they need to use the restroom at a time

other than designated breaks they must give me a pass. If they need more

than these 5 passes a week Nyhus bucks will be owed.

In order to cut down on water fountain time each student will be allowed to have a water bottle.

Students can only fill it up before or after recess and at designated breaks.

Done with Work Early Activities

Early finishers are something that will always be present in any classroom as no two students are

the same when it comes to speed of work. If students are done with work early they know that

16 http://mrslaffinslaughings.blogspot.com/2014/04/stop-talking-with-beat-teacher.html?showComment=1396729828649

RESTROOM

Figure 15 http://uwcmc.org/ducky/

Nyhus 16

they can always read independently until more directions are given. In addition they can quietly

work on other homework or work that needs to be completed.

If students don’t want to read or finish homework they can complete one of the below tasks.

$1.00 Word17

Students find a word and then add up the letters where a=1, b=2, etc until z=26.

When the sum of the word equals 100, than it’s a $1.00 word. Students will

receive five Nyhus Bucks and will increase their skills of addition and

vocabulary.

Book or Movie Reviews

Students will be able to write a book or a movie review and give their opinion to

the class. These will go in a binder and from time to time if the students earn a

movie party or we are looking for a new read aloud book we will consult the

reviews binder and the student who wrote their opinion will get to share why they

think we should or shouldn’t read or watch.

Club Ed18

Club Ed is a learning incentive that will be explained further in the plan. Students

can use the time after they finish their work to answer Club Ed questions and

receive Nyhus Bucks.

Praising Students/Motivating Students

Students should be intrinsically motivated, as extrinsic rewards often stop working after a period

of time. I will have the highest expectations for all of my students, and I will communicate with

them frequently that I know they all can reach high levels of

success, and I know they will reach those high levels.

To increase intrinsic motivation one of my strategies will be to

praise students when I see they have done an exceptional job

mastering a concept or shown great behaviors recently. This may

be recognized in front of the whole class, or I may sneak a sticky

note onto their desk for the student to find later. Figure 14 shows

what one of these sticky notes may look like.

I will also motivate students by giving them a choice in what we

learn and how we show mastery of particular concepts. I recognize that each student learns much differently than their peers and that they all have different

interests. Inquiry groups will be formed during many of our units and the students will dive into

a topic based on their interest, not on what I think is the most important thing to learn.

I also want to encourage all of my students to set goals and to see how far they grow throughout

a unit. Research shows that when students track their own progress and growth in ways that are

17 http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/top-5-ideas-early-finishers 18 http://www.mrcoley.com/clubed.htm

Figure 16

Nyhus 17

concrete and easily understood, they do better on high stakes testing, are more excited to learn

and take ownership of that learning19

. The student data tracking binders will be used by each

student to see where they start at the beginning of the unit and where they end on the final

assessment. These will be primarily implemented in Math and ELA, but used for Social Studies

and Science as well. All will be based on the Common Core Standards.

Each binder will include20

:

A checklist page of learning targets, that are written in kid language, based on 5th

Grade Common Core Standards

A table-like page of the same learning targets as

above, in order for students to rate it/date it and

record their post-assessment scores

Pre- and post-assessment graphs to graph their data

Levels of Understanding posters (levels 0 through 4)

Levels of Understanding rubrics

After each pretest students will fill in the graph as seen in

Figure 17, with their individual data on how they scored.

They will then look at their learning targets and develop

goals based on how to successfully learn the material we

will be covering in the unit. Students will be assured that

it is ok that their scores are not very high on the pre test,

growth is what we’re looking for!

Throughout the unit students will continue to rate their

level of understanding on a 1-4 scale, one meaning a lot

is left to learn and four, I can do everything on my own.

Students will fill out their information in a chart much

like the one in Figure 18.

At the end of each unit students will fill in their data on a

new chart so they can see their growth. Since the students

have physical charts colored in they can easily reference

and celebrate how much they have grown throughout the

unit. These charts will also be very helpful during parent

teacher conferences to show student progress.

Extrinsic motivation will also have a place in my

classroom. We have the marble jar to encourage positive

class behavior as a whole, and the students will be working collectively towards a movie party.

19 http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/dec09/vol67/num04/When-Students-Track-Their-Progress.aspx 20 http://youngteacherlove.blogspot.com/2012/07/math-data-binders-and-freebie.html Figures 17-19 can also be found at the above web address

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19

Nyhus 18

Each student will also receive Nyhus Bucks every quarter students will receive $500 and they

will be responsible for physically keeping track of the money as well as keeping their behavior in

check. ‘Fines’ will be issued for misbehavior, tardiness, or being unprepared. The students will

come up with a list of ways they can lose Nyhus Bucks as well as the fines for each digression.

Classroom Jobs21

Our classroom jobs will be tied to the Nyhus bucks that students will earn throughout the year.

Each student will receive their job on the first day of the month. They will be briefed on what

their duties are and what is expected of them. If they need more information they can visit the

student job binders. Each student will be ‘paid’ in Nyhus bucks if they do their job to teacher

satisfaction. Payday will happen at the end of the month and each student will receive feedback

on what they did well and could improve on, as well as their paycheck. These jobs will rotate

monthly, with each student getting to have a job approximately 3 times.

Clerk

Pay $600

Hand out papers to students. Hand out materials such as art supplies.

Collect papers or homework from students when asked. Organize the class

supply shelves and keep them neat.

Messenger

Pay $550

Deliver written or spoken messages to people throughout the building. Answer the

class phone.

Librarian

Pay $550

Keep a record of books checked out of the class library. Remind students to

return the books if they are late. Keep the class library organized. Take

books to the school library as scheduled.

Substitute

Pay $400

Perform the job of any absent student; gather extra papers for absent students.

Technology Supervisor

Pay $550

Turn the lights and computers on or off at appropriate times. Assist with technology

tasks such as setting up projectors, preparing cameras, or using audio equipment.

21 http://myclassroomeconomy.org/print.html?grades=4-5#

Nyhus 19

Horticulture Specialist

Pay $450

Water plants at regular times. Clean up fallen leaves or petals from plant pots. Dispose

of dead plants when necessary.

Store Clerk

Pay $500

Manage the school store. Keep a record of inventory.

Differentiation Policy

Gifted Students

I want all students to feel like their talents are embraced and that

their needs are met, that includes gifted students as well as

challenged learners. In order to allow gifted students to grow and

reach the highest potential possible I will implement several

techniques22

.

Mentors will be given to each student who expresses a specific

interest in a career path or topic. If the student chooses to have a

mentor they will be required to make a plan of what they want to

accomplish and learn from their mentor. The student will be given

full responsibility for communicating with their mentor and

maintaining that contact. Time will be given during school to work

on the plan.

Independent projects will be allowed for students who are excelling at

various topics. I want the student to take an interest in something specific and much like

the mentorship provide a plan for their learning. Students will be required to meet with

me periodically during the time they work on their independent projects to gauge

progress. The project will be presented to a panel of school faculty, and/or business

leaders.

Different types of questions will be asked to gifted students. Students will be required to

think about the topics we are learning differently. These questions may ask the student to

draw on prior knowledge, or compare and contrast more frequently. Maybe they will

have to apply the information to a scenario, however; these questions will always be

higher order thinking.

22 Tomlinson, C. A. (2001). How to differentiate instruction in mixed-ability classrooms (2nd ed.). Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Nyhus 20

Contracts will also be used, not just by gifted students but by everyone, I will expect a

gifted students contract to reflect the level they are currently at academically however.

I don’t want the gifted students to be lost in the shuffle, or required to ‘teach’ the rest of their

classmates. I want their opinion on how to advance their learning, and I want them to embrace

the talents that they have. Each student will be looked at individually before I suggest one of the

above options. I will also remember that these are only a sampling of the options that are in place

to help gifted students advance even further.

Club Ed

Club Ed will be a motivator as well as a way to differentiate instruction for all students. Club Ed

allows students to research questions and help Mrs. Nyhus learn new information based on what

the students come up with23

. Every two weeks I will post a new set of Club Ed questions. Each

question will be worth a specific amount of Nyhus bucks, the harder the questions the more

bucks the students get when they solve the answer. Students can use whatever form of research

they are most comfortable with, personal interviews, books, internet, friends etc. Students can

answer the questions as many times as they want, but Nyhus bucks are only received for the first

answer. This will allow students who have interests in different topics the ability to shine when a

question in their knowledge base is asked.

Challenged Learners

Meeting the needs of challenged learners will be just as important as meeting those of gifted

students. In order to do this I will be aware of what each student needs in order to succeed. If a

student is distracted by others quietly working around them they will be able to sit under my

desk, or in our break box to complete some of their work. Some students might need extra time

on tests, or a different set of directions. I will also always have a variety of methods for

information delivery. If we are doing a powerpoint and taking notes, some students may need an

outline, while others are fine deciding on their own what to write down. Some students may need

auditory, and visual information so I’ll always have handouts on hand for those students, or

something recorded for them to listen. If a student does have an IEP or 504 plan I will make sure

that I openly communicate with parents and other teachers on the student’s needs and what I’m

doing to meet those needs. Students will know that if they feel like they need an accommodation

for any reason they can discuss those thoughts with me.

Parent Involvement

It is very important to always have constant communication with parents as you are spending a

large amount of time with their children. The Welcome Back night will help me to start building

relationships with parents and will open the lines of communication. During that night I will ask

them to fill out a form that has their contact information, day and night time phones, email and a

preferred method of communication/time that is best to contact them. In addition to the Welcome

Back night we will have conferences in the beginning of the school year in which the behavior

plans and policies will be explained. Since I want the students to help me create many of the

23 http://www.mrcoley.com/clubed.htm

Nyhus 21

rules I will let the parents know that they will be announced on the class blog within the first few

days of class.

I will communicate with parents two ways. One, we will have a class blog where the parents can

find our schedule and read what their students are working on currently. Students will update the

blog with their own posts and parents will see their children’s learning through their written

work. We will also have a quarterly newsletter in which I will explain what is coming up in the

future and any changes that are going on in the classroom.

Parents may also be invited into our classroom when we need someone who is an expert on the

topic we are currently learning about. I will create a database of the parents, the topics they feel

they know a lot about and keep it handy in case we need someone to enrich our unit.

Conferences will be a time that I will get to show parents how much their child has grown. I will

keep samples of work from throughout the year and the students will have their data binders to

show their parents. I also plan on taking lots of pictures of students involved in classroom

activities and work in order to show the parents exactly what happens in Mrs. Nyhus’ 5th

grade.

Conclusion

Being a teacher is a huge commitment. You are responsible for shaping the minds of the future

generations. You are the reason that a student may grow up to solve world hunger, or a cure for

cancer. This is a commitment that I do not take lightly and will always work towards bettering

myself. This management plan will allow me to have a solid set of routines, procedures,

discipline tactics, and strategies in place in order to run the type of classroom that students can

feel moved to do amazing things.

Mrs. Nyhus’ Mission Statement

I am committed to being a lifelong learner and to seeking new

techniques, strategies and information to better myself as a teacher

All students deserve to reach their highest potential and have someone

believe in them, that someone is me

My classroom will be a place where students will work hard, learn a

tremendous amount and feel confident that they can do anything they

put their mind too

Nyhus 22

Appendix

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher

explains. The superior teacher demonstrates.

The great teacher inspires. ~William Arthur

Ward

Nyhus 23

Find Someone Who...

Went

to the

movies

Has

gone

skating

Likes

to play

video

games

Shares a

room with

someone

Has an

annoying

sibling

Wishes

they

could

drive

Wishes

they

were

taller

Likes

cool

clothes

Wants

to be

in a

band

Has a

friend

in this

class

Went

to a

concert

Can

cook

Wants

to dye

their

hair

Likes

butter on their

popcorn

Has gone

to a

sleepover

Needs

a hair

cut

Nyhus 24

Class Auction Items24

Tangible

• Small toys

• Sports balls

• Pencils

• Erasers

• Fruit

• CDs/DVDs

• Electronic video games

• iTunes gift certificate

• Coupons or gift certificates to local business

• Books

• Movie tickets Intangible

• Free homework coupon

• Lunch with teacher and two friends

• Lunch with the principal or another teacher

• Pick the next read aloud book

• Pick the Interest Centers topic

• Extra recess or computer time

• Swap desks with the teacher for a day/week

• Sit with a friend for a week/month

IDEAS FOR GATHERING MORE PRIZES

• Get the community involved by asking local businesses or vendors to donate products.

• Request autographs from local celebrities, such as the principal, a coach, the mayor, or

business leaders. You can have your students write letters to ask for them.

• Actively involve parents in finding or contributing auction items.

• Involve your colleagues (e.g. offer a lunch with the principal or another teacher).

24 http://myclassroomeconomy.org/rewards.html?menuItems=howItWorks,

Nyhus 25

Class Rental Store Items25

*All prices are in Nyhus Bucks

25 http://mrsreeve501.weebly.com/uploads/5/8/2/3/5823113/class_store_price_list_sheet1.pdf

Scissors $10.00

Binder Pouch $5.00

4 Pack Expo Markers $15.00

2 Pocket Crayola Folder $15.00

1.5" Crayola Binder $25.00

Designer Index Cards $7.00

Customizable Notebook Set $12.00

Markers (Thick) $15.00

Markers (Thin) $15.00

Colored Pencils $10.00

Twistable Colored Pencils $20.00

Pop-Up Tape $8.00

Eraser (pencil-top) $2.00

Eraser (pink, medium) $7.00

Crayons $8.00

Pencil $3.00

Highlighter $6.00

Pen $6.00

Earphones $30.00

Ear buds $30.00

Glue Stick $5.00

Glue Bottle $5.00

Bookmark $1.00

Compostition Noteboooks $15.00

Spiral Notebooks $12.00

3-in-1 Pen $10.00

Pencil Box $16.00

Nyhus 26

Nyhus 27

Student Book Title Date

Out

Date In

Nyhus 28