Manage classrooms structured in a variety of ways to promote a safe learning environment.
In order to optimize student's learning experiences, ELA teachers must create an environment in which students feel comfortable to take risks, asks questions, participate, and come to class. I believe that the classroom environment is the most important aspect to foster learning. If you start out on the right foot, everything else will fall into place.
Teacher-centered classrooms are old news. We have to start looking at setting up our classrooms as student-centered. The traditional classroom with student in rows and teacher in front lecturing is just not the way to go. We want our students to be engaged and take part in discussion. I think that the best seating arrangements are either in small groups or in a circle/ U shape. Both ways allow student and teacher collaboration and discussion. Seating arrangements may not seem like a big deal, but the way you arrange your seats is a big deal because if students feel comfortable in a classroom, they are prone to not only like being there, but also to learn. I like to switch up the seating a lot. It keeps students on their toes!
Teacher-centered classrooms are old news. We have to start looking at setting up our classrooms as student-centered. The traditional classroom with student in rows and teacher in front lecturing is just not the way to go. We want our students to be engaged and take part in discussion. I think that the best seating arrangements are either in small groups or in a circle/ U shape. Both ways allow student and teacher collaboration and discussion. Seating arrangements may not seem like a big deal, but the way you arrange your seats is a big deal because if students feel comfortable in a classroom, they are prone to not only like being there, but also to learn. I like to switch up the seating a lot. It keeps students on their toes!
I think that the way you decorate your classroom also aids in your classroom management/atmosphere. In my cooperating teacher's classroom, I made a few bulletin boards: one to introduce the poetry unit, another to introduce A Midsummer Night's Dream, and lastly, one to display student work. Putting up your students' work is very important because it gives their work an authentic feel and it shows them that what they do is important. I think it is important to put effort into your classroom because if you do not care about your class, why should your students?
With the seniors, getting class participation was hard to do. So, I put their names on popsicle sticks! It was a funny way to get them to start participating because they didn't like to be called on randomly, so students would usually just volunteer. When it would be impossible to get them to talk, I would go over to the popsicle sticks, shake the cup, and say, "Okay, guess it's time for the popsicles!" This usually got them going! I really liked this method because after about two weeks, I didn't even need them! They just started to talk on their own!
Even though getting the seventh graders to talk wasn't hard to do, I still liked to keep them on their toes and switch up the people who talked a lot. My second placement had a smart board and I downloaded a random name generator which allows you to enter all students names so that when you click the select button, it randomly chooses a student. This was a great way to incorporate technology into the classroom as well!
Seating Charts:
Even though getting the seventh graders to talk wasn't hard to do, I still liked to keep them on their toes and switch up the people who talked a lot. My second placement had a smart board and I downloaded a random name generator which allows you to enter all students names so that when you click the select button, it randomly chooses a student. This was a great way to incorporate technology into the classroom as well!
Seating Charts:
shakespeareseating.docx | |
File Size: | 91 kb |
File Type: | docx |
groupwork_seating.docx | |
File Size: | 76 kb |
File Type: | docx |