A boss relies on authority. A leader relies on cooperation.

Teachers are often asked about their classroom management style or behavior management program he/she uses in the classroom.  After several years of observing different classroom management techniques as an itinerant OT provider visiting many grade levels in both regular and special education classrooms, my own philosophy began to develop based on what I had seen working well in those classrooms.  I knew that as a parent I wanted my own children to be motivated by the excitement of learning, and I wanted their behaviors to reflect that they had learned to control themselves in a variety of situations, not only when there was threat of punishment or promise of reward.
 
Upon coming to Royalton Hartland, I was given the opportunity to receive training in Choice Theory, which turned out to be exactly what I had envisioned for managing our classroom community.  I was able to continue that training to become certified in Choice Theory/Reality Therapy in the summer of 2013.  The way that I manage my classroom is grounded in Choice Theory which stresses the importance of relationships, internal rather external motivation, and understanding that all behavior (positive and negative) occurs to meet a need.  
 
Rules and procedures are a vital part of our classroom community, but they are developed with the students rather than by me alone.  Students have a clear understanding of behavioral expectations/norms, and hold each other to that standard, but our classroom is also a family.  When a student is having a difficult time adhering to behavioral expectations, we work to help the student make positive changes rather than simply punish.  We celebrate each others accomplishments and help each other grow.