Practical

//Models of Classroom Management // by Jack Martin, Jeff Sugarman, and John McNamara This book could just as easily fit under the 'Theoretical' section because it is both practical and theoretical. Written by three professors of education from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, this book describes seven different models of classroom management (i.e.,: Communication Approaches, Behaviorist Approach, Group Management Approach) and gives practical examples of how they look in the classroom. Each model is subjected to a critique of its positive and negative features. The final chapter of the book is dedicated to helping the teacher create their own model of classroom management. Some helpful ideas that I gleaned from the many models presented here are:
 * Practical **
 * 1) Students who feel valued, trusted, and taken seriously wil be more involved and motivated. Accept intellectual and emotional responses/content (Communication Approach)
 * 2) Use encouragement (recognizes the act - "You did your best work, and I especially noticed _") rather than praise (recognizes the actor - "You're the best") (Democratic Approach)
 * 3) Teach self-control strategies - self reinforcement, self instruction, and self regulation (Social Learning Approaches)
 * 4) Have a maximum of 5 classroom rules (School-Wide Approaches)

//Classroom Discipline Problem Solver // by George Watson This book is written by a Saskatchewan native who taught both elementary and junior high school for 24 years This book is an amazing if somewhat dated resource (it was published in 1998). It covers almost every eventuality that can occur in a classroom from how to stop swearing to dealing with apathetic students. Each section is clearly written and very easy to skim through. Many templates are included throughout the book such as "The Five Step Problem Solver Form" (Figure 1-6) which asks the students several questions such as why the student chose the behaviour he/she did, what will happen if the student continues to act that way and how to find a solution that everybody would be happy with. Another example is the"Inappropriate Language Form" (Figure 1-1) which requires the student to write down word for word what he/she said including the circumstance that led to such language. This form is then taped to the Principal's bulletin board and if the swearing continues, the form is mailed to the student's parents. I believe that reading this book has equipped me with practical strategies that I can use to deal with difficult situations that are bound to happen on a day to day basis in the classroom. This is a book that I don't feel is a test of endurance to read, but rather a treasure chest of relevant information that has been shared by an experienced teacher who has probably seen it all and then some during his teaching career.