2a Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport
I was fortunate to have a first co-op who created a teacher memories book that outlined many of the wonderful memories I shared with my students. The booklet contained pictures of the students giving me hugs, me reading to the students and completing lessons with each child. Additionally, my co-op had the students write about their favorite memories shared with me in the classroom and also write advice for me when I become a teacher. My goal was to become a trusted and well-respected adult with the students while still instilling a love for learning and creativity within each child, and this memory book encapsulates that goal perfectly.
2b Establishing a Culture For Learning
I found that pairing students up in three-person groups with people they usually would not hang out with is an effective way to help students branch out and make new friends. This strategy not only helps students develop new social connections but also encourages collaboration and teamwork. Additionally, I decided to put a high learner, an on-level learner, and a low learner in each group. This approach allowed students to work together and get the type of instruction that best suits each child’s individual needs. I believe that this type of group work not only fosters a positive learning environment but also helps students develop important social and academic skills that are crucial for their overall success.
2c Managing Classroom Procedures
I found that the homework chart pictures I used in my classroom were a great way to communicate with parents about their child’s homework progress. By having a visual aid that showed how each student was doing with their homework, I was able to easily update parents on their child’s progress. Additionally, the chart helped to keep students accountable for their homework by providing a tangible reward system. I found that students were motivated to stay on top of their homework when they knew they could earn a prize from the prize box if they got all of their signatures by the end of the week.
2d Managing Student Behavior
I found that students with more direct needs often required a behavior chart to help them stay on track in the classroom. To address this, I implemented a simple system where students would receive a check mark for following classroom rules throughout the day. If a student received all their check marks, they would get to pick a piece of candy. This system not only helped students stay on task but also served as an excellent way to communicate with parents and was used throughout IEP meetings as well. I found it to be an effective and positive way to support students with specific needs in the classroom.
2e Organizing Physical Space
In the first picture, you can see my first student teaching placement, where my cooperating teacher was very creative with her classroom decorations and had a system for everything in her classroom. Her attention to detail and organization made a significant impact on my teaching philosophy. In contrast, the second picture is from my second student teaching placement, where my cooperating teacher was a little more of a type B person and had only a couple of systems to keep her space organized. As a type A person, I realized that I prefer having a system for everything in my classroom. I learned that it is easiest for me to organize my plans for the upcoming days with sticky notes and binder clips in a way that I can see all of them. Having these systems in place allows me to stay on top of everything, which, in turn, helps me to be a more effective teacher.
