You can see it at
http://ekbu42.googlepages.com/classroommanagementstrategies

The only thing left to do is for you – any feedback you can give me to make the website flow better, and any suggestions of classroom management strategies would be much appreciated. We’ve all got something to share so why not share it here?

Use these questions to guide your thinking as you read the website:

• Have you learnt anything new from my website or has it reminded you of something you think is particularly important to classroom management?
• Do you have any suggestions on the strategies I have discussed or do you have any others to add?
• Is the website easy to follow and well-presented?

I hope you enjoy reading it!!

The more immediate challenge is in our new boy, who has behavioural issues which require a fair bit of planning and management on our part. I am very glad to say that his second class was much better than the first!! This is mainly because we planned strategies to deal with his behaviour, but he also was not so uncomfortable in the new environment.

What we think will help us teach the whole class without him dominating:

• He has a blanket up the front where he can sit, and be told to stay or go back to if need be. It is his space, and we will make sure not to have the other kids using it
• Accepting that he can watch – he doesn’t feel too comfortable participating yet, and when he does participate can get out of control, but he is happy to watch which is perfectly alright. Another dance teacher at the school has had kids who spend terms just watching before they are ready to dance themselves.
• not praising good behaviour that has only occurred because of prompting/discipline “thats better” is a better way to praise him
• Being more aware of my own authority as the teacher. I tried (and it worked!) to be firmer, and even a bit bossy. I think sometimes I am too nice, and too focused on everyone enjoying my classes. It helps a lot that we are bigger than prep kids!!
• Involving him in what the other kids are doing, mainly by giving him the prop that we are using (coloured scarves, feathers, balls…) he doesn’t get disconnected from the group, or bored, so he doesn’t act up as much, and also he can see how the others dancers behave.

These things are great management strategies, but mostly they work because there are two teachers in the room – one teaching the class, and one either focusing on, or working with him. I am conscious that this is not likely to be possible in a school setting, and I will have to deal with everything myself, but its great to be able to start like this, and learn from it, but

I have spent a long time today searching blogs for ideas about VELS, however I find myself constantly following other links and ideas on various blogs. Why is this? One reason I think is that a lot of education blogs are focussed on using technology, and VELS is the ‘boring’ curriculum writing stuff you have to do but don’t really feel like sharing with others. I think I will get a lot more useful ideas and information from actually talking in person to teachers, either on rounds or in other forums. Because of this, I have to say that this part of my plan was not very successful. I was successful however in finding lots of great posts and blogs on using technology in education, so my time was not wasted!!

Something else I found today leads to my other point. Its easy to think that a blog is pointless if no-one is reading it or commenting. But as Langwitches writes, WHO do YOU write for? I’m not boring just because no-one comments. I completely agree with her ideas, which I would sum up as – I write for myself, to record my reflection and learning, but I do it in a public way so that I can share with other educators and we all benefit. As a new blogger I think this is one mantra I will be sticking to!! I am glad that a uni assignment gave me the momentum to get started.

I also have to catch up on reflections – I’ve done a lot of work today! One thing I do need to do is get some help with the tech stuff – there are some things with edublogs that I need to learn how to do. I’m sure if I ask very nicely Cam should be able to help

Aside from achieving the main aim of this project, that is to investigate the VELS in Unit Planning, I have discovered a lot of very useful resources, mainly in the Maths and Indonesian areas. There are links to these on my Ideas/resources document, and my references page. Not wanting to rave too much, but the MAV website is FABULOUS. I especially like the Curriculum Planning section (at http://mav.vic.edu.au/curriculum-planning/), as evidenced by the number of times I refer to it! Ian Lowe has put together such a comprehensive resource for teachers I can see myself using a lot in the future. I also love the way Ian’s focus is on moving away from textbooks to more realistic uses of maths, which corresponds to the Interdisciplinary approach of VELS. Aside from being the official emphasis of the Education Department, I believe that this approach would be far superior in both educational outcomes and engagement levels, which would lead to less classroom management issues.