Web Exercises

Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Web Exercise #1:  Using Visual Cues to Communicate and Give Directions

  1. In seeking ideas for managing your classroom, consider advice from veteran teachers by researching ideas on routines and procedures.  The National Education Association website has free articles with valuable tips and tricks of the trade that are available for everyone.  You don’t have to join or become a member to have access to this information.
  2. Go to  http://www.nea.org/tools/using-visual-cues-to-communicate-and-give-directions.html
  3. Respond to the article by writing a paragraph about how you can use visual cues to manage your future classroom.  Consider what this will look like and whether or not you will feel comfortable trying them out during your student teaching placement.  Document any concerns you have about the use of visual cues and other ideas that you may want to implement instead.

Web Exercise #2: Classroom Management Tips

  1. The George Lucas Educational Foundation has developed a free website called Edutopia that contains a wide variety of articles and other free resources for teachers to enhance their professional practice.
  2. Go to http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-management-resource-guide and click on the link to download the PDF document titled “Ten Tips for Classroom Management.” You can access additional guides and resources through other links on this site.
  3. Use the 10 tips as a guide to create your own personal top 10 list of what you believe is your philosophy of classroom management.  In creating this list, you may want to interview teachers and local school administrators to learn their advice and what they feel matters most in terms of managing student behavior and setting up a successful learning environment.  Create your list, refine it, and continually make changes as you gain more teaching experience in the classroom.  Then, print a final list to include in your professional portfolio.  This list will be of great value to you as you prepare to interview for teaching positions and the hiring committees ask you to explain your philosophy of classroom management.