A classroom management plan containing your philosophy is an essential part of every effective teacher’s playbook. To begin formulating a classroom management philosophy, jot down a simple statement that encapsulates what your ideal classroom might look like. Then think about the overall learning atmosphere: What is the role of the students? What is the role of the teacher? How do they work together?

Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Janelle Cox, who is a longtime grade school teacher based on the East Coast, takes a look at how to write your own personal plan. Janelle’s ideas include views on:

She also includes a sample classroom management plan excerpt: “I believe that all students should be treated fairly, and that it’s better to teach discipline than to impose it. I will do this by having a strict routine and consistently teach my students acceptable behavior.”

 Janelle sums up her article like this: “Once you have answered these questions and the questions that you have come up with yourself, you should have a pretty good idea on your overall classroom management philosophy. Be sure to introduce your statement with your overall viewpoint, and your goal of your classroom management plan. Then follow that with a paragraph about the students’ role, the teacher’s role, and your overall view of managing a classroom. Sum up all your thoughts on how your plan will provide your students with a safe and supportive learning environment, and you have yourself a classroom management philosophy statement. Good luck!”