1. By: Adrienne Woolley

3. Step 1: Review Step 2: Ensure
the School’s the Physical Step 3: Ensure the
Policies & Arrangement & Classroom Climate
Procedures Décor of the is Supportive &
Pertaining to Classroom Are Reflects a Sense of
Student & Inviting & Mutual Respect
Teacher Conducive to Between Teacher &
Expectations Learning Students
Step 4: Step 5: Develop Step 6: Evaluate
Communicate all Classroom the Overall
Expectations for Policies & Effectiveness of the
Students’ Academic Procedures that Classroom
Performances & Clearly Regulate Management Plan
Behaviors in the All Activities
Classroom

4. • Teacher should read (and memorize if
possible) the faculty handbook.
• Teacher should find and read the following
information in the student handbook:
• Academic Requirements
• Dress Code
• Rules & Consequences

5. The teacher should consider the following
environmental factors when designing his or her
classroom:
• Physical arrangement of classroom
• Color scheme
• Bulletin board designs
• Temperature
• Lighting
• Space

6. Tips for Classroom Arrangement
• Ensure the classroom is barrier free and safe for students
• Designate specific areas of the classroom for specific
activities:
• Main instruction area
• Small group instruction area
• Learning centers area
• Computer or technology area
• Free reading area
• Reference book area
• Teacher instructional materials area
• Student materials area
• Independent study area
• Listening center area
• Teacher storage area
• Place teacher’s desk in the best location to monitor students
• Place paraprofessional’s desk area in the best area to assist
students
• Arrange students’ desks in a manner that is conducive to

7. Bulletin Board Guidelines and Information
• Bulletin boards can be used for a variety of purposes:
• Displaying student work (neatly)
• Displaying class schedule
• Displaying monthly calendar
• Posting of school news
• Extension of instructional unit or theme
• Aiding in instruction/reinforce skill
• Posting notices
• Decorating the classroom
• Displaying word of the day
• Commercial or teacher-made materials can be used
• Materials should be laminated for durability
• Make titles for bulletin boards to explain themes or purposes
• Use contrasting colors
• Bulletin boards are appropriate for all ages
• Designate a storage place for all bulletin board materials

8. • Quality relationships help to prevent or decrease
discipline issues.
• Convey to students that you are confident that they
can master the content.
• Address and resolve conflicts in a timely manner.
• Hold class meetings when serious issues arise such
as bullying or harassment.
• Use a variety of methods and resources to convey to
students that they are valuable members of the
classroom.

9. The Teacher should:
• Set high expectations on academic performance of all
students.
• Clearly define acceptable & unacceptable student work.
• Celebrate students’ successes and provide
encouragement when a student’s mastery is not yet
achieved.
• Set high expectations on student behavior.
• Clearly define acceptable & unacceptable behavior.
• Develop a classroom discipline plan prior to the
beginning of the school year.

10. Tips for Communicating With Students & Parents:
• Certificates and awards
• Class meetings
• Daily progress report
• Display students’ best work on a special bulletin board
• Individual conference with student
• Positive notes to parents or guardians
• Positive notes to students
• Positive sticker on a good paper
• Positive telephone calls or emails to parents or guardians
• Recognize acts of kindness toward other classmates
• Special class privileges
• Tangible rewards
• Teacher-student conferences
• Verbal praise
• Weekly progress report

11. Procedures: designated methods for completing certain class
activities or tasks; the way to “conduct business”
Examples:
• How students enter and exit the classroom
• How students are to respond to or ask questions in the
classroom
• How and when students will move around the classroom
Policies: a set of guiding principles or courses of action
Examples:
• Grading system
• Late work
• Homework
• Student tardiness

12. Ask students and
parents to fill out the
Classroom
Management Plan
Evaluation at the end of
the year. Also take time
to self-reflect on your
management plan.

13. Shelton, C. F. , & Pollingue, A. B. (2009). The exceptional
teacher’s handbook: The first-year special education
teacher’s guide to success. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.