Teacher Interview on Classroom Management

I interview Melissa Watson who is a science teacher and an assistant principal at a local middle school in Chicago.

Norma:  Melissa thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me today. This interview is about your classroom management style. How long have you been a teacher?
Melissa: You're more than welcome and I've been teaching for 8 years. 3 years here.

Norma: Let's start with how you construct your class when it come to classroom management?
Melissa:  Over the last few years I've started with a behavior contract.
•At the beginning of the school year the students comes up with a list of rules and consequences that we put down on paper.
• The list of rules/ consequences will be created by each student in class, if the class is large then the students may group up and create their questions.
• After all rules have been agreed upon the students get a copy and they must all sign it. I keep the sign copy until the end of the school year. Their parents are also sent a copy.

Norma: What is the purpose of the contract and does it work?
Melissa: Yes it works. I have the student create what they want to see happen inside of the classroom environment. When children are apart of the structure they feel more invoke to do better.
•I also found out that children can not say that they didn't know what was expected of them since they had a say in what the expectations are.
• This also tires into what happens if they dont follow the rules. Our actions have consequences.

Norma:  Why do you think this choice for behavior management has worked?
Melissa:  I believe it's very important for the students to be involved in creating an atmosphere that they feel comfortable and safe. Students need to know that their structure in place and consequences for not holding up their end of the responsibility. They need to know they have a voice and this isn't a dictatorship.

Norma:  Can you share some of the consequences if students do not follow the rules?
Melissa:  Students are given a warning, After the 2nd time the students have lost a recess and have to stay indoors with me, The 3rd time the panernts are contacted. If after that the students behavior isn't improving they will receive detention.
• Usually the stundents shape up before detention, however in some cases I have skip right to the detention.
•  Those cases are rare however if within a 55 minute period a student is not focused and has been warned more than 3 times they may find themselves with a detention. The call home would be to let the parent know about the detention and or a meeting date.

Norma:  This is great information. Is there anything else that you would like to add to help new teacher who will be starting out fresh in the classroom?
Melissa:  Make sure you're organized, have a routine that the students follow daily. This is very important children need to know about structure.
• If they know that you don't have a plan for the day they usually will not be focused and talk a lot. Would usually means that you didn't have successful instructional time in class that day.
• Follow through with whatever consequences you put in place. If you don't follow though the kids will play you. They will not take you serious.

This concludes our interview!  She was very open and information she shared was very beneficial.

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