429 Teacher Work Sample

Learning Environment

When I was in high school, chorus class was my safe haven. I always felt safe and
accepted and I knew that my teacher loved and respected every one of her students just by her
character in the classroom. I will strive to be the same way for my students when they enter my
music classroom. I will provide a safe and positive learning environment for my students by
promoting a respectful and comfortable environment. I will not accept bullying, disrespect or
discrimination of any kind in my classroom. Students should be viewed as students, not male or
female, black or white, or tall or short. In my class room, all students will be the same. They will
be respected and valued by all other students in the classroom, and by me as well. I will be open
to all students opinions and I will be sure that the students know that I am not only their teacher,
but a mentor and will be willing to have an open door for them.
An activity that I would promote for the students to open up and allow the class to see
them for who they are would be to do an Open Mic type activity. I would allow the students to
get up in front of the class and sing, play an instrument, tell a joke, read a poem or anything of
that sort. The class will have to be quiet and give the student performing their respect and will be
given the same respect when they perform. This activity will allow the students to get to know
one another on a different level than just talking to them and will allow all students to focus on
respect for their classmates.
I will have a big poster hanging on the wall with the following behavioral expectations/
rules for all students to see:
1. Listen when others are talking
2. Keep your hands and feet to yourself
3. Be respectful of others and yourself
4. Follow directions

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Learning Environment

If a rule is broken once:

When a student misbehaves, appropriate behavior should be praised or modeled and

brought to the students attention. For example, if Johnny is interrupting while someone
is talking and Suzy is sitting quiet, listening and being respectful, praise Suzy for her
good behavior and ask that Johnny model Suzys behavior.

Modification. (Remove student from the situation, change seating arrangement)

If a rule is broken a second time:

Write up

Lunch detention

Contact parent for advice or to see if they know why the student may be misbehaving.

If a rule is broken a third time:

In school suspension

Parents are informed of constant misbehavior

If a rule is broken a fourth time:

Parent/teacher conference

Out of school suspension

Contact or involvement of a behavioral specialist or special education specialist.

There will be different types of intrinsic and extrinsic reinforcements that I will utilize in the
classroom. The main reinforcement tool I will use is a 3 strike system. During the duration of the

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Learning Environment

class period, there will be a box on the white board for me to be able to draw strikes if necessary.
The goal is to have less than 3 strikes by the time they leave my classroom. Students will be
given strikes for breaking rules as a class, not individual students. This would include getting too
loud, not following directions, getting off task easily, or anything that will take away from their
learning. If the students get less than 3 strikes, a student from the class will be asked to put a
sticker on the Fun Friday chart. When the class gets a certain amount of stickers on the chart,
they will be rewarded with a Fun Friday, in which the students will have a free period. I will
provide a small snack for the students and they will be allowed to play games as a class (freeze
game, four corners, heads up 7-up, etc). Fun Friday will act as a positive reinforcement. The
strike system can be used as a negative reinforcement because if the students misbehave, they
will receive strikes, and if the class receives 3 strikes within their class, they will not get a sticker
for the Fun Friday chart. I think this is a great system!

There are non-instructional routines and procedures that will take place every day. The
following are examples and how I plan to handle these procedures and routines:

How will you begin and end class (include taking attendance and, if applicable, lunch plans)?

Since I am a fine arts teacher, taking attendance can be different for me. So, I will greet each
teacher and their class at the door, and I will ask each teacher which students from their class are
absent for that day. I will make a note of those students that are absent and mark the rest of the
students present. I will end class by choosing a line leader and asking the class to line up behind
the line leader and follow their teacher out of the classroom once she arrives to pick the students
up from my classroom. I will not have to deal with lunch plans, the general education teachers
will be the ones to take the students to lunch and will have to take their lunch plans for each day.

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How will you distribute and collect materials and student work?

If I have a lesson that includes a worksheet or handout of some sort, I will pass them out myself
and I will probably ask a student or two to help take the hand outs up when we are finished.

How will you assign and utilize student helper(s) or assistant(s)?

I will utilize student helpers for things like passing out or taking up papers, passing out or
handing out instruments if needed, taking things to the office or simply helping a student may be
struggling with whatever activity we may be doing.

How will you manage routine tasks such as pencil sharpening, bathroom breaks, and transitioning
between classes or hallway transitions?

I will have a restroom pass in my class for students to use in case of an emergency. I will have a
restroom chart and every time a student asks to go to the restroom, their name will be marked.
Students will be able to use the pass a total of 3 times.

How will you ensure your students are appropriately supervised and safe during emergency
situations? (e.g. fire and tornado drills)

In case of emergency situations (i.e. fire or tornado drills) I will have charts posted by the door
with procedures on them for what to do in case of an emergency. We will go over these
procedures at the beginning of the year and we will have scheduled drills for the students to
practice what to do if an emergency were to actually occur.