ESTABLISHING A POSITIVE CLASSROOM CLIMATE

ESTABLISHING A POSITIVE CLASSROOM CLIMATE

A positive classroom environment is one which the teacher and students have good relationship both academically, socially, emotionally and professionally. It allows for free interaction and enhances communication and collaboration and other 21st century skills, students will learn to live and love themselves as family.

A learning environment of caring and concern is established by teachers and students, as a teacher, I will involve the students in making the rules for the class, we will establish the class essential agreement and have students to pledge and sign on the essential agreement. For the case of bullying, I will be a lead example for students, I will model what I say to the students and treat all students with fairness, warmness and respect, I will let them know that I am always available to listen and help them.

I will conduct or create classroom activities on bullying to help students identify bullying on books videos, and explain or discuss the impact and effect of the bullying, I will develop the habit of having class meetings with students where we can talk about bullying and peer relation and create rules against bullying where students will agree among themselves that:

• We will not bully another student

• We will try our best to help other students who are bullied 

• We will not leave any student behind

• We will play together and try to settle our differences

When students are involved in discussions, they could express their feelings and share their experiences, I will use the opportunity to create an atmosphere for student’s reflection and they will be able to develop self-love and love for others as they see themselves as family. 

Strategies that might help to reinforce caring and inclusion in the class are:

As a teacher, I will create curriculum that promotes kindness, fairness, communication, collaboration, friendship, and cooperation, and have lesson activities that stresses on empathy, anger management and how to resolve conflict. When creating the class rule students are also aware of the consequences should in case bullying occurs;

• Have student apologize for their behavior and misconduct

• They will be reported to the principal and school counselor

• Their parent will be involved too

• They will be denied recess or other forms of privilege

IMPORTANCE OF CREATING A CLIMATE OF CARING AND CONCERN IN THE CLASS IN DEVELOPING A POSITIVE CLIMATE IN THE CLASSROOM

Every child wants to learn in an environment he or she feels comfortable and welcomed, no child wants to feel like a “Nobody.” We all want to be respected and be part of the group that we find ourselves in. when I looked properly on my school’s mission that states “Learning and Leading in a Collaborative Culture,” it simply defines what a positive learning environment would and should be. 

When student have the knowledge to treat others the way they want to be treated, and know that there should be no disparity in color, gender ethnicity, race or cultural beliefs, a school environment where students have understanding of their roles and contributions as leaders who learn and lead, work collaboratively with others under every circumstance will achieve a better goal in academics and in life as well. 

I would always tell my students ‘We are all in this together, if we fail we fail together and if we win we win and conquer together.’ Together we stand divided we fall. It rings bell in the ears of my students and as each day goes by I see them with the team spirit, they look out for each other.

As teachers, we model want we want students to do and when we create a classroom with positive climate we are able to get some of these in the class:

• Respect: The classroom will be filled with learners who respect everybody’s opinion or personalities, including culture and background. When the teacher respects every student’s culture or background and try to include some of the student’s language or creating activities that is cultural where students could be allowed to share parts of their culture in the class, students feel more welcoming, appreciate and respect others cultures and beliefs. This helps to clear the edge of discrimination and segregation

• Communication and collaboration: A classroom with positive climate promotes effective communication, there is no bridge in interaction, sharing ideas and working together as a group or family, when students are thought to work together as a group or team, they develop love for each other.

• Reduces social conflict: Creating a classroom of learners who see themselves as families, when students are constantly reminded of the golden rule “Treat others the way you want to be treated,” it is a short and simply way of saying put yourself in someone’s situation. This single act alone helps to reduce high incidence of bullying. The case of bullying cannot be overemphasized, it is typically one of the most challenging parts of every school, where students show cruel behaviors and attitudes towards others, directly or indirectly causing harm or hurting the way other students feel thereby obstructing some fundamental rights that the other students have.

• Promotes Inclusion: No child wants to be excluded, exclusion is one thing that can also break a student down emotionally. When students are not allowed to participate in class discussions or play with a group or set of students, they feel demoralized and rejected. Creating a classroom with positive climate reduces the chances of exclusion and promotes inclusion. Students feel happy when they are part of the progress of the class, they also feel excited about taking part and contributing to the class as well as being part of their peers.

• Trust: A classroom with positive climate promotes trust, trust is a key word that every teacher needs to build in the classroom, when there is trust, students will believe in each other, there will be openness, honesty and confidence will be created, students will be responsible for their actions and accept their wrongs

How I would create or develop a good climate in the classroom which will connects students from different background and culture

As a teacher, my main goal is to be organized and create a classroom of learners with positive attitude, knowing that my students see me as their role model, my target will be to create an avenue and atmosphere where students feel reliable and included, for social and emotional environment I will:

• Create a classroom where all students are accepted and welcomed • Establish cordial relationship and interactions among my students and I. • Model positive behaviors • Make sure that all students are actively involved in school activities

• Recognize and appreciate different racial background, culture, religion and ethnicity. Develop the habit of discussing cultural values of students. Learning greetings in student’s language and using student’s native language to greet in the morning, students feel happy seeing that the teacher and other students are part of their culture

• Introduce measures that ensures safety

• Have open conversations and discussions with students • Have class meeting to discuss with students on various topics like…. “What makes a good friend?’’

A good climate for students is one which allows for belonging, as a classroom teacher I will make sure that everyone understands the daily routine and the rules of the class, I will create nice reading areas and make sure the room is conducive, friendly and inviting for students to learn. As a teacher, I will be firm and also reachable, show supports to students and engage students in active learning.

Since learning is perceived as interesting, relevant and important, I will create a learning environment where:

• All students will learn and grow based on their individual abilities and skill levels

• Classroom rule are developed with the inputs of the students 

• Procedures are put in place to address student’s individual learning needs

• There will be high degree of students’ involvement

• There will be an established structure and routine in the class

• Team spirit will be established

• Students will learn how to solve their problems with each other before they escalate. Students will develop good dialogue skills and learn to work collaboratively with each other.

• There will be good rapport between teacher and each student and I will use proactive approach to discipline

• I will use effective practices and current curriculum in the classroom for all students.

Based on the diversity of students, as the classroom teacher I will give opportunities to students from different cultures and background, students will be able to participate in all class activities with no discrimination or exclusion. I will provide a "scaffolding" that links the academically challenging curriculum to the cultural resources that students bring to school and explicitly teach students the culture of the school and seek to maintain students' sense of ethos cultural pride and identity. 

When students are involved in the class activities they feel included and appreciated. It is important to communicate high expectations for the success of all students and a belief that all students can succeed. 

With this, as a teacher I will develop a bond with my students and help students see learning tasks as meaningful and also allow students to create a learning environment that is interactive and collaborative.

MY ROLE AS A TEACHER

Reference

Teaching Tolerance. " Critical Practice for Anti-bias Education"

http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/PDA%20Critical%20Practices_0.pdf