Marzano Classroom Management

After reading Marzano's Classroom Management chapter I chose two goals to work on regarding management. As a school we have been working on using learning goals and rubrics for lessons. I have also been using rubrics for behavior and management as well. If we are going to be working in a group I use the learning goal as our target and then together we usually create a behavior rubric for what our group should be doing. Usually I say "what should your group be doing if you are going to meet this goal?" They are quick to come up with ideas. We use our grading E, M, P, DN scale to rate their behavior. Usually I only fill out the E and M parts of the rubric because I expect they are at that level. Ideas that would go on the rubric would be help others in your group or share ideas and listen.  At then end they can give themselves a P if they did not meet those expectations. This allows some balance in dominance vs cooperation which Marzano talked about. Students are involved in the process and set their own goals for behavior some times using this system (pg 100).

Another goal I had was creating a procedure for homework that is consistent. I felt like I did something different every day with homework. Sometimes they would turn it in to the inbox, sometimes they kept it, sometimes I didn't even go over it that day. Last week I tried to be more consistent and create a routine we could all get use to. If there was homework I would have them pull it out at the beginning of that class (math or reading). That way I will make sure I can check to see who has it done and go over it and give feedback right away. I found if they just put it in the inbox I would not get to it for a couple days and the students wouldn't know if they did it correct in a timely manner. I'm hoping to get this routine down to about the first 5-7 minutes of the class and check their homework, go over a couple answers and then turn it in so I can keep track of who has it done and the students get feedback right away. Marzano stresses the importance of creating routines for everyday activities so the students and the classroom as a whole is productive and orderly (pg 89).