Setting up a classroom is a daunting challenge - make the most of it with these suggestionsToo much stuff, too many students, not enough space - the challenges of setting up a classroom are many. They can be crowded or spacious, well lit or dingy, familiar or unfamiliar, warm or cold, large or small, noisy or silent, etc. Here are 10 specific strategies for developing the optimal classroom climate… In the Responsive Classroom I institute, we talked about using language to encourage and empower students. is also helpful. Using inspirational quotes and posters around your classroom is a great way to encourage your students to unleash their creative potential and show them how you’re embracing yours. Allowing students to help design certain learning zones, seating arrangements, etc. Simply put, students learn better when they view the learning environment as positive and supportive (Dorman, Aldridge, & Fraser, 2006). For example, avoid adverbs - pick a strong, concrete verb instead. Using student work to decorate the space also creates an inclusive environment that allows students to take ownership. Let them know today we are going to work together to ensure the classroom feels that way. How to describe a classroom? A learning environment is a diverse platform where users engage and interact to learn new skills. An example is a routine opening meeting to describe the day’s schedule and discuss how students will transition from one activity to another. Decorating the classroom, as well as allowing the students to participate in classroom decorating, can help encourage a positive work environment. A positive classroom atmosphere is essential for students to learn and develop. The classroom should be neat, well ventilated and spacious to allow for free movement. Describe the perfect classroom. Use strong, active, concrete writing words when writing description. Ask students to list responsibilities that lead to a positive classroom culture, tying in words they used to describe what they want the classroom to be. Conduct additional research on one of these approaches to classroom management: Reality By creating positive classroom environments, teachers are provided the opportunity for better classroom discipline and management. Discussion in 'Setting Development' started by Lonely Shadow, Jan 5, 2017. Describe how you will arrange your classroom space to promote student self-regulation and to provide a safe, orderly learning environment. Environment often heavily impacts young minds, which serves to further highlight the importance of a print-rich classroom environment. Encouragement in the Classroom. The first port of learning is the physical environment, which includes, but is not limited to classrooms. Creating a classroom environment where all students feel emotionally and physically safe enough to take risks is a real challenge and one that is worthy of the time it requires. Firm Discipline Discipline is an important factor in well-managed classrooms and one of the main characteristics. Building a Positive, Trusting Classroom Environment. Every student must feel safe and important in the class in order for maximum learning to take place. Classroom environment is one of the most important factors affecting student learning. There are other ways for teachers to create an effective emotional environment. Note: In pre-k all words should have pictures/icons, but by K/1 the letter wall is used as a word wall and some words may not, such as sight words/function words … by Joan Young. For my current novel, I will be entering a new chapter where a character enters a classroom for the first time in his life. It only makes sense that the outside community would effect the inside … Creating a positive classroom environment takes effort from both the teacher and the students. Creating a positive classroom is not that difficult, but the rewards are immense and far-reaching. Engagement Safety Environment 5. In other words, as a teacher, you are a very influential person; a teacher is a role model. Describing Words. One is beginning the semester with some ground rules related to classroom interaction. Bringing the Practices Together. When you create a positive classroom atmosphere, students learn better. Provide students with time to share happenings, events, or items with you.Even if you set a certain time frame aside each day for 3-5 students to share, it will help to create a friendly, warm, and welcome environment. Survey Your Classroom: Looking at the Basics The first things to consider when organizing your classroom are cleanliness, light and temperature. Explain what classroom culture and responsibilities are in a student-friendly way. Classroom Environment Creating a safe, positive classroom environment is key to effective teaching and learning. There will be areas where students can post ideas to help make the learning environment more engaging and fun. Thus, it is important for teachers to model acceptable behavior at all times, both on campus and off campus. A positive classroom environment is essential in keeping behavior problems to a minimum. How to Complete This Workbook 1. Here are some useful suggestions on the physical aspects and considerations of setting up the perfect classroom environment. Session 1: Features of a Positive Classroom Environment 4. Although you may not have complete control over some of these elements, try to make or suggest improvements as necessary. The Importance of a Positive Classroom. A constructivist classroom would start with a mini-lesson where the teachers asks the kids about going to a birthday party at a familiar place such as Build-a-Bear. If you haven’t considered the role of classroom environment in relation to student learning, I’d invite you to do that now. Table of Contents. By Jonathan C. Erwin, M.A., author of The SEL Solution: Integrate Social and Emotional Learning into Your Curriculum and Build a Caring Climate for All There is a direct relationship between the kind of learning environment teachers create in their classrooms and student achievement. Develop and reinforce classroom rules and norms that clearly support safe and respectful behavior. To create a positive climate for your classroom, focus on the following three “pieces” of the classroom climate “pie:” Positive Classroom Climate. Since students may learn in a wide variety of settings, such as outside-of-school locations and outdoor environments, the term is often used as a more accurate or preferred alternative to classroom, which has more limited and traditional connotations—a room with […] Figures of speech are used to help make descriptions more interesting - metaphors, similes, hyperbole, ononmonpea, things like that. Find something positive to say as much as possible or as much as time will allow for. A positive classroom environment yields positive students who are motivated to learn. There are several ways to describe a classroom depending on the layout and what perspective you are describing it from. Classrooms can be many things. Proactive approaches may include students co-creating classroom rules, or having students create and sign a learning contract at the beginning of the year. I became aware of the critical role that words, voice tone, facial expressions, and body language play in creating an atmosphere of respect—or disrespect—in the classroom. Achieving this improves your professional achievement and the success of the students you are charged with teaching. The idea for the Describing Words engine came when I was building the engine for Related Words (it's like a thesaurus, but gives you a much broader set of related words, rather than just synonyms). Photo credit: hdurnin via flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Believe it or not, I had a bit of a freak-out before the first day of school. Bullying Review 5. In a teachers student teaching placement it has been a priority for to establish and maintain a safe and positive environment where all students can grow, inquire, and learn. High on my list would be making "killer statements" (put-downs of other students) an absolute taboo. The term does not pass on a traditional or limited connotation such as a room full of desks and a chalkboard. September 19, 2012. The classroom will … Not every student is learning in the classroom. Browse this awesome list of 50 inspirational posters and print them out for your classroom today, or simply edit the template below: Celebrate learning. This poster of environment adjectives would fit perfectly into a primary classroom. Resources in this section address how an instructor might keep students motivated, and how to prevent, detect and deal with cheating, plagiarism and other infractions of academic integrity. I assume you mean describe in writing. Session 1: Features of a Positive Classroom Environment 4. It is a residential section of Maryland that is less than 7 miles from Washington, D.C.. One of the main things that affect the community surrounding our school is gang violence. While playing around with word vectors and the "HasProperty" API of conceptnet, I had a bit of fun trying to get the adjectives which commonly describe a word. Self-Assessment 1 2. Here are practices that Janetta Wallace, a high school chemistry teacher, uses to implement the five elements of a strengths-based classroom environment. Creating a classroom environment where children feel motivated to engage in only positive behaviors will reduce disruption and create little need to apply reactive strategies. School Environment Grand Canyon University EDA-575 August 27, 2014 SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT My school is situated in an urban area. An old-school classroom might provide the children with worksheets and multiple choice answers after a whole group lesson on the overhead with the teacher presenting the information. environment. Greet your students each day with enthusiasm. Goals/Objectives of Study 1. Creating a positive classroom environment is an important aspect of effective teaching. If teachers ignore their students as they enter the classroom, students learn that it is acceptable and appropriate to not greet individuals. Learning environment refers to the diverse physical locations, contexts, and cultures in which students learn. Creating a Supportive Classroom Environment 1. By providing children with a language rich environment as they learn to read, write and communicate, educators help set students up for future academic success. By José Vilson. While learners can learn in an array of settings, the term refers to the more preferred and accurate alternative to the traditional classroom. Numerous distractions stand between the teacher’s message and the student’s ears. Creating a positive classroom environment is a very important aspect of effective teaching. Research shows that a positive atmosphere increases student academic achievements and leads to increased self-esteem. Regardless of the perspective, you can take advantage of the senses of sight, touch, and smell. Resources for expanding children's vocabularies, If your class enjoys drawing inspiration from the Adjectives to Describe a Setting Poster, perhaps they would enjoy similar resources focusing on different types of words. Note: If dual language/bilingual classroom, two letter walls are recommended for a high rating– one in English and one in Spanish. You can make the most of your classroom environment by carefully considering your needs and the needs of your students. , 2017: Features of a strengths-based classroom environment creating a positive atmosphere. On My list would be making `` killer statements '' ( put-downs of other students ) an taboo... What classroom culture and responsibilities are in a student-friendly way Lonely Shadow, Jan,... And a chalkboard creating positive classroom environment creating a positive atmosphere increases student academic and. 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