Effective Learning Environments |
||
During my education course concerning child psychology, one of our projects was to take a grade level and create a "first day of school" drama. Our group acted out the drama with our fellow classmates acting as kindergarteners. It was important to act out the "first day" because it is always a stressful and exciting time of the year. We made sure that students were greeted at the door, given a name tag and a carpet square. This was to make sure students feel accepted in the class. Next, we went over safety rules, expectations, room decor, and a "First Day of School" book and scavenger hunt to get students used to the room. Overall, our ideas showed that we have practiced creating a comfortable first day of school for students. I feel that I am able to "structure the classroom environment to promote positive peer interactions and positive self-esteem, to ensure that each student is a valued participant in an inclusive learning community." Every step during our presentation was to make sure that each student, no matter what age, felt at ease and a sense of unity with their fellow classmates. |
I was assigned to read "Developing Character for Classroom Success" by Charlie Arbourgilie and collaborate with a group of colleagues to create an overall presentation on the book. A lot of the book talked about giving all students high expectations and setting a trustworthy atmosphere. Depending on the grade I am teaching, I feel that this book gives great ideas when it comes to letting students grade their own tests, quizzes and implement partner tests. High expectations are something that I will use in all of my classes while altering the expectations with each student. I feel that all teachers should read all literature to obtain different perspectives so that they may pick and choose how to live their teaching life. Some new teachers may think they have all of their knowledge from college, but learning of experiences of others may be beneficial for them to avoid certain circumstances. While reading this book, and many others, I have been able to "use a variety of teaching methodologies and techniques and objectively assess the effectiveness of various instructional approaches and teacher actions for impact on student learning" |
|
