2004

    Guidance and Classroom Management has been a positive class for me because it has answered so many questions and concerns that I have had since day one. It increased my awareness about things that  I want to avoid in my classroom and what I want to model as well. I enjoyed the in class discussions, in which Dr. Acklie shared her personal stories with us because it allowed me to see the real side of what a teacher thinks and feels. The way you manage your classroom has a huge affect on the atmosphere that takes hold of your room and students need to benefit from that environment.

    Students need to be in a classroom that is not only filled with different discipline strategies, but in my opinion, a teacher that guides them to reach their full potential as well. Barbara Coloroso really portrays this idea. She is a down to earth, charismatic person that understands the way students should be treated. She concludes that students should be treated as you yourself would wish to be treated. Don’t ask of them what you wouldn’t ask of yourself. Students need to know what you expect of them because they aren’t mind readers. In addition, she says that students need guidance to support them through their schooling. 

   Discipline seems unnecessary the majority of the time, but sometimes it cannot be helped. Reading Essential 55, I felt that Ron Clark was speaking from a Guidance point of view, but also that he used discipline to get his point across to students. I didn’t appreciate some of his rules because at times his wording and methods seemed harsh and out of line. Overall, I took away from Clark's book that students need to be taught how to survive and be successful in our society. 

    I have come to the understanding that every child is completely different. I can’t have a set structure in my classroom that never changes. I must be flexible and decide what skills and techniques will best suit their different needs.   I want my classroom to not only be a place where students can learn, and feel comfortable in, but also a room they can enjoy and have fun. I have the power to make my classroom setting exciting, and interesting. That is part of the reason I want to be a teacher. This class has made me realize the power I have over my student’s happiness and enjoyment of school, and that is something I take very seriously.