This week's readings dealt with classroom management.
I think teaming can help with certain aspects of developmental responsiveness. One way to promote developmental responsiveness is to place children in groups who are on the same level and let them work together. Implementing teaming in this situation could help meet the individual needs of the students. The teaming group could be broken apart and each one could be assigned as a mentor for each group. In addition, teaming can help teachers solve problems that they may encounter with lessons or with certain students. Teaming offers up different points of views and can help teachers learn different methods and ways to teach and reach their students.
Making a classroom enjoyable, inviting, and a good learning environment for students can be a challenge. The room needs to be inviting and fun. One way to do this would be to use warm and bright colors throughout the room. Dull and monotonous colors are not inviting, nor do they stimulate interest. I think the teacher should not place herself behind the desk or podium, but she should move among the students so that she seems approachable. Also the teacher needs to portray an attitude of openness, the teacher needs to seem like she cares and that she is willing to be there to listen to her students. Furthermore, I think a classroom should have vibrant fun signs that say things other than welcome, they should have neat sayings about learning or school in general.
I remember my 12th grade English teacher, Mrs. S, she had great classroom management. She was a wonderful teacher and I loved the way she managed her classroom. Mrs. S. was more lenient on us and did not force rules upon us, I think she adopted this attitude towards us because we were older students. When Mrs. S. saw we were doing something detrimental to our learning she would not tell us to quit, or call anyone out, she would simply ask, "Is everyone on task?" This simple question was enough to get everyone to do what they were supposed to be doing. Also she was very open with us, we would spend the first couple minutes of every class period just talking to her about things not related to her class and she would listen and encourage us. I think the attitude she portrayed made us as students not want to cause any problems or go against her rules because we related to her.
I love your teacher Mrs. S even though I never had her class. Its good that as a 12th grade teacher she did not treat you as children. I love her take on getting everyone back on task with a simple question. That could be very beneficial for other grades also like 6-12 because they feel as though they are older and do not want to be treated like babies.
ReplyDeleteSeveral people focused a lot on colors and I think that is a really good point that I did not address. Having vibrant, bright colors can really make a difference depending on the class and teacher. While I think there can be a time and place to be behind a podium, I agree that the teacher should be moving throughout the class for the most part.
ReplyDeleteMrs S's classroom style can be very successful. I had several teachers like that. It kind of depends on what grades and subjects are being taught, but that can be a great approach. I think students will always learn more from someone they connect with.