I believe in choices. By providing choices to students, they become more motivated to do tasks given to them. This is especially for those instances when a student has a problem with authority. By giving them choices, you are making them believe they are in control when in reality they are still staying within the classroom expectations.
I believe in realistic consequences. Having a student miss recess because they were talking when you were talking isn't realistic. That sort of consequence does not happen as an adult, so why should it happen in the classroom? In my classroom, students will have consequences that match their actions. Students will understand that if someone upsets them, they need to calmly verbalize that they are upset and explain that to that person. I want them to learn to do these kinds of things on their own so that they are able to do so as adults.
I believe in composure. When students do something to try and set you off, it helps to correct the situation if have composure and don't let students see you lose your cool. They will soon learn that you don't miss a beat and will quit trying to set you off and start respecting you.
I believe in encouragement. Many students won't have the home life that they need/deserve. I want to be able to step in and provide them with the love and encouragement they need to succeed along with a sense of belonging.
My classroom management philosophy considers respect and encouragement as essential in establishing an open, loving, and hardworking atmosphere. Students need me to model the behavior I want them to use in our day to day classroom. I won't just talk the talk and not walk the walk so to speak. I want students to understand that we work together. When one student is having a hard day, it is our job as a whole class to lift them up and help them have a more positive day. When we are working in our cooperative learning groups, we each have a part to play that helps make the group run smoothly. Choices affect our lives every single day. I want my students to understand that the choices they make can shape how their day will go and the outcome of their success. If I encourage all of my students to find a positive in every negative situation, I can mold their brains to find a learning opportunity instead of having a meltdown or feel bad about themselves. Then they are able to focus on the situation as a whole and realize where they were in the wrong and how they can fix it in a realistic manner. Logical consequences make sense unlike color charts for my classroom. As adults, our boss doesn't change our color when we do something wrong, they make us correct the issue. I want my students to understand if they do something that isn't acceptable, it is their job to correct the issue. Lastly, I want to incorporate a calming corner in my classroom. I will have students that are just having a hard day and are not thinking clearly. Calming Corner will be a place where they can take 3 minutes to use calming exercises, read calming prompts to induce calm, and will be able regain composure before we address any issues one on one. By doing this, students will be able to think clearly about their actions and talk to me in their executive state of mind.