Learning Environment
Every student deserves the chance to have a learning environment that is conducive to how he/she learns. There are many elements that allow for this. Some important elements are routine and schedules, welcoming environment, and a positive attitude. By combining these, and others, a productive, protective, and positive learning environment can be achieved.
Routine/Schedule
When students come into the classroom they should be able to easily identify the daily schedule as well as the weekly schedule. By making sure these two agendas are easily identifiable, it will also become part of the student schedule to check them. In a flipped history classroom their daily routine consists of just two big tasks. They first come in and see what the daily agenda is. They then must complete their daily lecture quiz on their computers. For seniors it can be a bit different though. They too check the daily agenda, but their first task is to submit any work that is due on Blackboard. Since these two classes are different there are two different boards that tell each class their agenda for the day. They also have access to the unit planner on their Blackboard accounts at their beck and call. When students have these resources they can come into class knowing what is going to happen that day with no surprises, less stress, and knowing that the class is well planned.
Welcoming Environment
Students should always feel welcome in the classroom, even if it is not during class time. When students feel welcome in the classroom then they are more likely to reach out if they need help, and value their educational time as well. Making students feel welcome is a sure way to show that teachers care. Students should see that not only are they cared about but also that they are appreciated. Both of these can be done in small ways, for example asking for past student input on how classes can be changed, or even reveling in their quirky moments. Students can say the darnedest things sometimes. During my student teaching I realized just how funny or bizarre some of the things my students said were. So instead of letting them pass I created a quote board out of the broken smart board. This board quickly became filled with highlights and let students be proud of not only their good work but also helping bring a smile and laugh to the classroom.
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Positive Attitude
High school can be a roller coaster for many students. Emotions and moods can be all over the place. However a teacher with a positive attitude can be a bit of a north star for students. Something as simple as always greeting students with a smile and a warm welcome can help bring up a student’s spirits on a day when they may otherwise feel a bit in the dumps. Another way to convey a positive attitude is in the way feedback on assignments and grades is given. Giving positive feedback even when having to critique work helps students understand how to improve without feeling like they are being scolded or out down. Showing were students can grow, but also making sure to include the tasks/abilities were they shine. Below is in an example of this being down while giving feedback on in class participation.
For more on a productive learning environment please look here.