PLE 5

I have done a lot of thinking over the years of what my classroom will look like. How are the desks arranged, what is hanging on the wall, where is my desk? I mean you really cannot know exactly what your class will look like until you have it to yourself but you can plan. I have always pictured my classroom with my desk in the corner sort of out of the way. When it comes to my students and their desks I imagine it in a semi circle, possibly two, around the room. Basically I want an open middle of the room. I want students to feel comfortable in my classroom and in a subject area that does require a lot of lecturing I want to be engaged with the class and to me that doesn't me standing up at the front at a podium looking at straight rows. I think with the classroom being more open students will be more willing to participate and interact with the rest of the class. It would also hopefully remove or put a damper on encouraging bad classroom behavior and students getting lost in the classroom. In regards to the CSEL artifact which includes:
1) A class full of seniors who have already checked out for the year.
2) They are not paying attention and are passing notes, texting and are pretty much done learning for the year.
3) There 3 disruptive students and basically want to roughhouse the whole time.
4) Rules that were enforced are no longer being followed.

Obviously what I would have hoped to have been going on in my classroom is not working anymore. I would have to maybe rearrange the classroom to separate these students. I would also have to change my rules regarding their status in my class. I would threaten walking at graduation because that is a big deal to them and their family. It would be disappointing for a few parties if they were unable to do that. I may also offer them options in regards to what we are learning to make them feel like they have some "control" over the classroom because then the environment of the classroom might go back to be more engaging because they feel like they are learning something different even though it might be two options of what I have planned out in the lesson plan. Cell phones would also be threatened. I understand that texting is part of our society now and everyone does it  but if it gets to the point where it is distraction I have thought of the idea of the "Phone Bowl"  where you have to put your phone in a fishbowl in front of the classroom and can't have it until the end of the class.