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Links to a wide variety of classroom management sites
.http://www.theteachersguide.com/ClassManagement.htm
http://drwilliampmartin.tripod.com/reallybest.htm

Vicki Phillips "EmPOWERing Discipline"
"An approach that works with at-risk students"
http://www.personaldevelopment.org/Publications.html

Love & Logic System
"Helping Parents & Educators Create Responsible Kids"
http://www.loveandlogic.com/

See ROP Director for existing resources (videos, books, etc.)

Classroom Management

Before we step foot in the classroom as a first time teacher, we find ourselves awake at night thinking of all the amazing and ingenious lessons and ideas we can bring to our students. Dreams are large, imagination is endless, and then.....you step into the classroom. The reality is, your dreams of inspired teaching CAN come true, but FIRST you must become skilled at managing your classroom. Kids will not arrive on day one anxious to learn from your expertise. You could be Bill Nye the Science Guy, Bill Gates teaching about computers, Ansel Adams about photography or George Lucas about movie making--ANYONE who steps in that classroom will have students who may be unmotivated, students who act out, students who are late to class, etc.

How do you prepare yourself and your classroom for a wide variety of motivations and behaviors? First, you study. Do some research (see links below). Borrow books and videos. Talk with fellow teachers and dig for their strategies. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. The strategy that worked the best for me was meeting with the most resistant students, one-on-one, outside of class. At that meeting, start with finding out about what the student is interested in and how to link learning to something that will spark their interest. Talk with them as equals, not in a power environment. And then just informally state the problem and ask the student to help find a solution. Establishing that positve relationship with each student is THE most important step in managing your classroom. I particularly found daily profundities in the book EmPOWERing Discipline by Vicki Phillips and the Love & Logic approach. A well-planned lesson is also a major determinant of your classroom environment. See Dr. Madeline Hunter's Lesson Design Model.