Management Model: I am familiar with, and capable of applying various management models. Though the one that sparks my interest the most is Flip Flippen's "Capturing Kids' Hearts". This model is a student driven, collaborative model that works to build a positive classroom community. In this model, teachers greet students at the door, provide a safe learning environment, and include students on decisions regarding the class rules and procedures. The instruction revolves around reinforcement and encouragement. This model is a great way to provide your students an environment that they feel comfortable in and are willing to become actively engaged.
Capturing Kids Hearts is a model where students get involved in making decisions along with the teacher. This model has a contract which the students and teacher work on collaboratively. The contract is a behavioral contract where the students and teachers work together to come up with classroom rules and procedures. Getting the students involved and giving them choices helps them to feel empowered and engages them more in activity.
When students are off task or break a rule or procedure, the teacher is to ask “The Four Questions”. The first question the teacher is to ask is what are you doing. Then the teacher will ask what are you supposed to be doing, followed by “are you doing it?” The final question the teacher asks is “what are you going to do about it?” When you ask these questions, it is important that you create a silence between each one to give the student time to think and answer the question.
Finally, building a classroom community is a huge component of Capturing Kids Hearts. You build your classroom community by greeting the students at the door, with a handshake and by saying something to every student. This makes the students feel welcomed into your class and shows them that you care. “Students do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” This quote has been said to me numerous times by my professors and I truly believe it. Students who report positive or average relationships with teachers also reported positive or average opinions of the school environment or the school in general (Yeager, 2004). Other ways you build classroom community is by providing encouragement and a safe environment. When students feel safe and comfortable, they are more likely to be engaged and apt to learn. “In order for a classroom community to flourish, students must not only identify with everyone in the class, but must also internalize at least partial acceptance of the class’ purpose and values”(Rovai, 2001, pg. 35). Classroom community is positively correlated to learning, so teachers should jump at the option to incorporate this model in their classroom.
Capturing Kids Hearts is a model that could bring positive student behavior and engagement into your classroom. This model demonstrates classroom community and its importance while also building positive student-teacher relationships. This model is student-driven, and the students and teacher work collaboratively to complete classroom rules and procedures. This model welcomes students into the class, which makes them feel comfortable and safe. Capturing Kids Hearts will do exactly what it says in its title; capture the kids’ hearts both intellectually, emotionally and socially.
Rovai, A. P. (2001). Building Classroom Community at a Distance: A Case Study [Electronic version]. Educational Technology Research and Deevelopment, 49(4).