Blog #3

"Reflect on your school’s or mentor teacher’s classroom management system."

The management system at Morgantown High School is strong in some aspects and not strong in others.  Most of the time, it is dependent upon the teachers who are implementing the intended rules.  Regarding truancy, MHS is strict.  They turn in students after 5-6 absences, but the system outside of MHS is slow.  Regarding small rules, such as the dress code, MHS definitely has an issue with following policy, and after being at my high school in Charleston, where it is dealt with very strictly, it's very different being in the Morgantown High community and seeing students walking around in cut-off shirts, short skirts, and dresses that would normally be seen at the clubs in downtown Morgantown.  

There are also rules such as not bring backpacks to class and not wearing hats.  Most teachers allow both of these things, but my mentor does not allow either.  Backpacks must be kept in lockers and hats must not be worn.  Students come in each day grumbling when they are forced to return their backpacks to their lockers, but finally, they are getting more used to it.  I honestly could care less about backpacks because I know I carried mine in high school and if teachers had not allowed me to carry it, I would have been pretty upset because my locker was so far away from my classes.  Hats are also the least of my worries during class unless there is a test, in which I would make them take them off.  My teacher thinks that wearing hats is disrespectful so the students are not allowed to wear them.  Sometimes the girls wear toboggan's that sit on the back of their head's but she doesn't make them take them off.  It creates frustration with the students and given the students that we have in our classes, I prefer to pick and choose my battles and this is one I'd rather not even worry about, however, I just keep my mouth shut for this.  My only thoughts are, if one student must take off their hats, all students should have to.  Other teachers also allow students to wear them anytime so my teacher hears a lot of complaints.

My teacher and I also have very different management styles in the classroom.  I am a lot more vivacious and I am very enthusiastic and therefore, my students usually are, too.  My teacher is somewhat opposite in that she is more low-key.