First of all, this was much harder than I had imagined it would be. I find it difficult to explain classroom management in one word and even more difficult to represent a concept that has multiple components into one picture. I made 2 hands, a large one for the teacher and a small one for the student, and I layered them one on top of the other. I intended for this to represent the concept of classroom management as a collaborative effort. I believe that the teacher and student should work together to create an environment that safe, functional, and successful. What I learned after reading the comments from my classmates and seeing their artwork was that I really didn't have the clearest view of what good management was. I realized that I had a main idea, but that I wanted to borrow some components from my classmates as well. From this experience I learned that it is ok to add to, take away, or even change your point of view. As you learn and grow you should also be able to adapt your views and accept the fact that personal views always have the opportunity to change. When I think of classroom management now, I still think of it as a collaborative effort, but I also see good management as the building blocks of a successful classroom. I see that in order to have a successful classroom, you must lay a good foundation to be built upon. The classroom as a whole should build onto this foundation, and the teacher should be a guiding resource and a helping hand, but not a dictator. I believe that students should have the opportunity to take on responsibilities and make the classroom their own. And most of all, it is so important for your classroom to feel safe, secure, and "homey", because you never know what kind of environment your kids go home to, and your classroom may be the only real, safe, loving family they have.
And yes, I got all of this out of playing with play-doh. Imagine that!