This course focuses on recommended classroom management procedures and routines that help to develop relationships and build community. Cooperative learning, intentional relationships, and character education are components of an effective classroom community where students feel responsible for their learning, and have an obligation to each other and the school.
The concepts presented in this course have applicability to the following standard and its associated performance statements (PSEL) as outlined by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA, 2015).
Standard 5: Community of Care and Support for Students
Effective educational leaders cultivate an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community that promotes the academic success and well-being of each student.
Many teachers who are new to the profession have had little training in the area of classroom management. Experienced principals have encountered this and have strategies for supporting teachers in what is a major component to teaching success. They create a plan and timeline for improving classroom skills and set goals around best practices in classroom management, including classroom organization, lesson preparation, and classroom routines.
A goal for the principal is to help teachers understand that classroom management is more than routines and organization. Building a sense of community in the classroom has many benefits for students. Effective educators start at the beginning of the school year to create opportunities for their students to forge supportive and collaborative relationships and to identify and reinforce the community’s shared values.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify and describe recommended classroom management procedures and routines that foster positive relationships and a sense of community among students.
- Analyze the roles of cooperative learning, intentional relationship-building, and character education in creating an inclusive, supportive classroom environment.
- Explain how effective classroom management contributes to students’ sense of responsibility for their own learning and their obligations to one another and the school community.
- Evaluate strategies for supporting teachers—especially those new to the profession—in developing classroom management skills aligned with best practices.
- Design a plan and timeline for improving classroom management skills, including classroom organization, lesson preparation, and establishing effective routines.
- Assess the impact of a classroom community built on shared values, collaboration, and mutual respect on student academic success and well-being.
- Apply the principles of Standard 5 (Community of Care and Support for Students) to real-world scenarios in supporting teachers and fostering inclusive, caring school communities.
Lessons contain exercises that you will be asked to complete, and resources you can use for continuous learning. Use a personal journal to record your completed exercises and document your learning in this course. This guide can assist you with creating your personal journal. Your school district facilitator may request you submit your personal journal to show proof of course completion. Direction on where to submit your finished journal will be provided by your district facilitator, should they require it.
Select a lesson from the table of contents below to begin your learning. Lessons do not need to be completed in sequence. The pre-test and post-test are optional. If you would like to receive a certificate of completion, you must mark each lesson as complete.