Early Child Education

Early Child Education

Early Child Education is an interesting career path because it allows one to mold young lives. It is a rewarding experience where one gets to interact with children and help them develop into the next phase of life. Given the serious nature of the job, it must be approached with the utmost care. An early childhood educator should be intentional about how they do their job rather than simply improvising along the way. A pre-K teacher should ask themselves how they intend to manage their classroom and create an action plan.

Classroom Management Plan

I want my classroom to have a certain culture. I am for my students to feel safe within the classroom. I can ensure this is possible by giving them the space to express their feelings and thoughts without judgment or criticism. Children must learn how to express themselves when they are young. This is taught by encouraging open communication between the teacher and the students and among the students themselves. I want a culture where students can freely express themselves. However, they should only do so respectfully. It is critical to teach children to respect others, both in words and by actions. Respect should be accorded not only to their friends but also to people who are different than them. I can create this culture of respect by rewarding behaviors that model this behavior and speaking against those that are disrespectful.

Communication with the parents of the students is a vital part of classroom management. I plan to stay in close contact with my students’ parents. I can do this by calling them via phone or writing them emails. However, I feel that these methods of communication are rather impersonal. I can request the parents to meet up with me for a one-on-one at least once a month for an update on their child’s progress. I can also send handwritten letters to the parents through their children since writing by hand gives communication a personal touch. As a teacher, I would spend plenty of time with the students. However, I would also require parents to communicate to me how the kids behave when at home. Molding a young child can only be done through the teachers, parents, and community’s collective effort. I would encourage the parents to interact among themselves to build a strong community necessary to raise young kids. I would encourage them to arrange playdates that provide an opportunity for both the children and their parents to interact.

Classroom Rules/Expectations and Procedures

As much as I would encourage free expression in my class, there would also be some ground rules. I would encourage the students to take part in creating the rules. For example, by asking what behaviors they think are good and which ones are bad. I prefer this over arbitrarily setting the rules myself because students are more likely to abide by the rules if they participated in their creation. Students’ active participation in their creation simplifies the implementation process. It also makes it easier for them to understand the importance of the rules and expectations. I would phrase the rules in the affirmative voice and avoid the negative voice whenever possible. For example, “raise your hand to ask a question” rather than “do not interrupt classmates.” These rules are sometimes referred to as descriptive rules because they teach the students the behaviors expected of them. Laying down clear expectations for students is a method of instilling preemptive discipline.

The conventional classroom rules do not suffice in a modern-day class. Due to the advancement of technology, many children possess electronic gadgets even at a young age. Some parents allow their children to come to school with gadgets such as mobile phones to communicate with them and ensure their safety. It is important to establish classroom rules regarding the use of digital information and technology. I would encourage to minimize the use of cellphones in class mainly because it distracts them from active engagement with other classmates. I would require them to keep their phones in their bags when not in use. However, when used well, electronic devices have innumerable benefits. For instance, they can use phones and tablets to play games that stimulate their brain, such as completing a jig-saw puzzle. The devices can also be used as teaching aids. I would strive to find a safe balance that ensures that the students benefit from digital technology, but do not get addicted to them.

Student Behavior

I hope to create a classroom cultured that encourages good behavior. Once students display this good behavior, I have to praise them and encourage the behavior. I can tell other students to clap when I recognize good behavior in a particular student. I would also use such an instance as a teaching opportunity. I would also encourage good behavior by gifting students who demonstrate good behavior. For instance, I could let a well-behaved student decide the leisure activity that the class does during leisure time, or give tangible gifts such as candy. I would also verbally praise good behavior. It is important for people, and especially children, to be affirmed when they behave well.

Aside from encouraging good behavior, it is essential to find methods of preventing and managing misbehavior. This must be done constructively, and not in a way that makes the students cower. The first method of managing misbehavior that I would use is by issuing a warning. These warnings should come with consequences, but not threats. Additionally, warnings should be used to correct misbehavior and not punish it. For example, if a student is consistently distracted in class, I would issue a warning saying they will miss a lot if they are unfocused. I could also send students on a timeout when they display bad behavior. This gives them the chance to sit calmly and think about their actions. After this timeout, I would then speak to them about their actions. Finally, I can opt to involve parents in cases misbehavior is demonstrated repeatedly or where the student often breaks the rules. It is much easier to find a solution to this when several adult figures are involved in the process.