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Heather
Classroom management is the key approach to a learning environment that is successful. Behavior problems are prevented in my classroom due to the environment I create in setting the tone of the social, safety, learning and procedural climate.
Management
The learning climate of a well-managed classroom is student-centered. I believe that every aspect of learning should be focused on students. As a teacher, I know to adapt my lessons by judging student reactions to my lessons. Student response will guide me in the speed of the lesson. Teaching has changed so much in the last twenty years because students and society have changed. I cannot expect my students to learn the way I was taught or even the way other students the same age learn. Paying attention as a teacher and learning from students is just as important as student growth. This cooperative growth will enable me to make a learning environment that serves the needs of all types of learners.
Learning Climate
The procedural climate of a well-managed classroom is organized. I always want to have a routine for students so they understand the classroom setup and know what to expect. When students know what to expect through the day, they will feel more at home. A board with reminders to students as they walk in, review sessions, demonstrations, and work time is all be part of the daily procedures. With these procedures, it is important to keep transitions minimal and smooth, as to use valuable teaching time to the maximum. Another procedure to make them more comfortable in a classroom is the use of humor by the teacher. Humor can be used as climate control in the classroom by alleviating tension. These procedural elements will enable students to be able to focus and produce quality work without the stress of the unknown.
Procedural Climate
The safety climate of a well-managed classroom makes students feel welcome. I believe that greeting students as they come through the door sets the tone for the classroom. Students should feel welcomed and safe as soon as they enter the art room. Students will feel emotionally safe by respecting each other for our differences and similarities. I will model this respect for my students so they can learn from example. Students will feel mentally safe in my classroom by having a challenging yet, achievable curriculum. Students will be physically safe in my classroom arrangement by keeping harmful classroom supplies and personality clashes out of reach.
Safety Climate
The social climate of a well-managed classroom is designed with a genuine interest in students. Students are the reason why I teach, so all of my decisions will be based on student learning. The majority of discipline is prevented if students are engaged and learning in the classroom. This occurs by effectively teaching students as a group and individually. Knowing the students as individuals and showing sincere care is extremely important in order to meet their needs. Students may feel the teacher does not have interest in their lives when the teacher gives them generic responses. I always give specific and genuine feedback to students. When they have a question, I will first ask students what they think is successful in their art piece because I want to give them feedback that would enhance their work and thought process. By giving students attention for positive reasons, I will build a positive reinforcement for good behavior in the classroom. Building a good rapport with students will lead them to respect me as their teacher. If they can see that I care about them, they will reflect that by being motivated to learn. All of these student-centered techniques will show students that I truly care about their success in and outside of the classroom.
Social Climate
Vander Wilt
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