Standard 4: Classroom Climate
Effective teachers create academic, physical, social, and emotional conditions, with emphasis on academic performance by:
- Respectful Learning Environment - Modeling and fostering respectful communication with students while appreciating differences of opinion and facilitating respectful classroom discussion.
- Classroom Safety - Involving students in establishing clear guidelines for behavior that support a developmentally appropriate and safe learning environment while consistently following through with clear expectations, procedures, norms and protocols.
- Classroom Organization - Strategically organizing and structuring the physical classroom environment for optimal student learning.
- Growth-Oriented Classroom Climate - Cultivating a classroom culture that encourages rigorous learning, perseverance and promotes critical thinking.
Reflection:
Every year, during the first week of school, to break up the monotony of disclosure statements and back to school routines, I have my students write the class norms - the set of guidelines that determine how we behave in class and how to we treat each other so we can foster a positive culture of learning. Each year, my students continue to impress me with their list of class norms and I have discovered that students are more likely to buy in to the class rules when they get to form them. I rarely have problems with student behavior because they know what is expected of them because they wrote the guidelines. And when I do have problems with students not being in alignment with the class norms, a simple private discussion to remind them of the class norms is sufficient to get the behaviors back on track.
The first week also focuses a lot on growth mindset messages. Students learn that their ideas are valid, even when and especially if they are different from their peers. Because I focus on conceptual learning, even incorrect answers offer valuable feedback on student thought processes and their responses allow me to bring the material to meet them where they are. I try to foster a culture of positivity and respect toward my students and hold my students to the same standard when interacting with their peers.
Every year, during the first week of school, to break up the monotony of disclosure statements and back to school routines, I have my students write the class norms - the set of guidelines that determine how we behave in class and how to we treat each other so we can foster a positive culture of learning. Each year, my students continue to impress me with their list of class norms and I have discovered that students are more likely to buy in to the class rules when they get to form them. I rarely have problems with student behavior because they know what is expected of them because they wrote the guidelines. And when I do have problems with students not being in alignment with the class norms, a simple private discussion to remind them of the class norms is sufficient to get the behaviors back on track.
The first week also focuses a lot on growth mindset messages. Students learn that their ideas are valid, even when and especially if they are different from their peers. Because I focus on conceptual learning, even incorrect answers offer valuable feedback on student thought processes and their responses allow me to bring the material to meet them where they are. I try to foster a culture of positivity and respect toward my students and hold my students to the same standard when interacting with their peers.
Student written Class Norms for 2022-2023 and 2023 - 2024.
Classroom organization - everything has a place. Baskets at the front of the room containing extra copies of work. Tables with chairs situated to make the SmartBoard visible.
Snippets from Evaluations that show my classroom is a growth-oriented, respectful and safe place for students.