Module:

You're in Charge! Developing Your Own Comprehensive Behavior Management Plan

Wrap Up

Congratulations! You have developed three components of a comprehensive behavior management system for your classroom: rules, procedures, and consequences. As you know, there are other components. For more information on those components, please visit http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/parmod/cresource.htm

Clearly, developing a comprehensive behavior management system is a lot of work. However, by implementing this system you accrue a number of benefits:

1. Clarity of behavioral expectations: Both you and your students will have a common language when you talk about rules and procedures, one that will make it easier for you to agree what needs to be accomplished in the classroom.
2. A more positive classroom orientation: You'll be able to recognize students for what they do (rather than simply punishing their misbehavior), something that will help to improve the classroom climate.
3. Increased consistency regarding behavior: With a classroom behavior management plan, you'll find that you're able to be more positive and consistent when you deal with students' negative behaviors.
4. A decrease in your own stress level: Knowing how you will respond to classroom situations, before they actually happen, serves to reduce the level of stress in teachers.

Click to play the movie below. Listen as Mike Rosenberg explains some additional points to keep in mind. (Time: 1:29)

Think back to your initial responses to the following questions. After working through the resources in this module, do you agree with your Initial Thoughts? If not, what aspects of your answers would you change? What do you think you should keep in mind as you anticipate a crowded classroom with kids of all types–including some who might have so-called "behavior issues"? Which elements of a behavior plan do you think would be important to have in place on the first day of school?