KSA #7 Teachers create and maintain environments that are conducive to student learning and understand student needs for physical, social, cultural and psychological security.
As a teacher I believe that creating meaningful relationships is the first and most important step to teaching a child anything. If they do not feel safe and welcome there is no possible way for their brain to acquire new information. With that said, I think it is extremely important to know about students’ interests and cultural heritage. When you get to know who a student is they see that you do in fact care and are interested in them as a human being. Once you have achieved this with your students their brains can shift out of “survival mode” and in to a brain state which allows them to acquire new information. There is nothing more important than developing relationships with students, and making them feel safe and wanted. I want to be a teacher because I want every child to know that at least one person cares for them, believes in them, wants the best for them, and wants them to succeed. I certainly understand the framework that I work within and respect that it is also my job to cover the curriculum and teach my students specific things. However, I know that without creating a safe environment, learning simply cannot occur.
"Most of all, her main strength is the ability to establish a strong connection with each student in every class that she taught."
- Sally C., PS I Teacher Advisor
Throughout my university career, as well as the time that I have had in the classroom, I learned very quickly that the classroom community must be established within the first few days of school. With that said, I believe that it is extremely important to have a very detailed plan for those first few days so that the classroom community can be established. I also believe that it is important to have a community building plan that can be carried out throughout the year, or semester, so that the sense of community is upheld and the classroom continues to be a safe and caring environment for all.
"Allie recognizes and values diversity, shows respect to all students regardless of race, ethnic background, gender, age, class, religion, language or exceptionality."
- Caroline R, PS III School Administrator
Building a Classroom Community Plan
Below is a Classroom Community Plan that I have created for a lower elementary classroom. The plan involves both the students and I. This plan emphasizes the importance of everyone respecting one another. It also emphasizes that every single one of the students is important and is needed to make our classroom complete. The plan helps to teach students what respect is; what it looks like, sounds like etc.
First Day of School Plan
Below is a very detailed First Day of School lesson plan that I have created. It starts with me greeting my students at the door and welcoming them to the class. The objective throughout the day is to create a safe, caring, and united classroom. There are a variety of activities to help students get aquatinted with each other, with me, and with the classroom. Additionally, together we begin to develop a vision for our classroom.
Classroom Management Techniques
Action
This technique includes having the students do a certain action ( for example, put their finger on their nose) when they are done what you have asked them to do, or when they can hear your voice. This allows you to look around and take a survey of how much more time you might need to give them to complete the task or to know that you have everyone's attention. Sometimes I do silly ones like put your hands under your armpits and move your arms like a chicken. This gives them a quick and short body break to release some energy and get some giggles out. The students seem to enjoy it and I love getting to watch them do it! It certainly makes me smile and brightens up my day.
Why?
I have also found that when explaining to students why we are doing something I get a far better compliancy rate. For example, when we are doing group work I like to remind them that we need to keep our voices down because we want to respect all of the other groups around us so that they can hear themselves think and focus on the job at hand. I also find it helpful to get them thinking how they would feel if someone was being extremely loud causing them not to be able to think
.At their level
One other technique to mention… I find it has been extremely effective to actually get down to the students level when I am talking to them individually about a behavior or action that I don’t want to see happen again. I find that when I am at their level they seem more comfortable and less intimidated. This is awesome because the last thing that I want any student to feel is intimidated. Being at their level allows my words to act more as guiding words, rather than threatening words