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Structure and Classroom Management
“Effective teachers manage their classrooms. Ineffective teachers
discipline their classrooms.”
(Wong, H. & Wong, R. , 1998, The First Days of School, Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.)
A Learner-Centered Environment
Welcome to our second grade classroom!
Here, you may find that teaching and learning look a little different
from what you might expect!
Here, the emphasis is on learning, not teaching. Students work
independently, in pairs, in small groups, and in large groups.
They use technology as well as traditional media for a balance of
routine and novelty.
In this classroom, students are encouraged to learn in ways that are new, interesting, and in sync
with their individual styles.
Physical Environment
The classroom environment is designed to facilitate
experimentation and self expression.
A primary objective is enabling students to feel secure as they listen, discuss, research, ask
questions, and learn.
The Classroom
The classroom is set up to promote ease of learning through
independent study or work in pairs or groups of three or more. As they wish, students can move from one area to another or find quiet spots for reading or study. The classroom arrangement is
flexible and may change according to students’ needs.
Learning Stations
Specific areas are set up as learning stations for independent study and for working on projects in
fields like reading, writing, science, math, and social studies.
Textbooks, computers, calculators, writing materials, cameras, maps, and other instructional items are
maintained in the learning centers.
Scaffolding
You may notice many visual elements, like photos, illustrations, charts, and graphs displayed around the room. These are aids to student learning
and are part of the scaffolding technique utilized by the teacher. Scaffolding supports learning by
helping students to draw connections between new and previously established ideas.
Modeling and metacognitive exercises can be used in
conjunction with scaffolding and are supported through visual
reinforcement, as well. Key words and other vocabulary prompts are present to support
learning and language acquisition. These are particularly
helpful for English language learners.
Emotionally Supportive Environment
Rules and guidelines help students to feel secure in the learning
environment. When students play a part in developing the rules, they have a greater interest
acting in accordance with them. This creates a classroom
characterized by order, rather than chaos.
Rules and Guidelines
Students help to develop the rules during the first days of class.
They work together in creating the classroom rules, then vote, as a class, to accept or reject them.
When the rules have been accepted, they are written down
and displayed prominently so everyone can see them and be reminded of their significance.
Breaking the Rules
Sometimes, for one reason or another, a rule is broken. When this happens, the student is reminded of the rule and its
purpose and together, teacher and student discuss how to avoid future
violations. If a student consistently breaks rules,
that student is referred to another authority (the building principal). This
helps to maintain the secure atmosphere for the remaining students.
Changing the Rules
Classroom rules can be added, changed, or eliminated when
necessary. The class, as a whole, determines the method for
changing the rules.Guidelines regarding issues of
safety are not subject to the approval of the class; however,
students are always made aware of the reasons for the safety
rules.
Community Connections
To develop a sense of community within the classroom, student-to-student and teacher-to-student
connections are established.
The teacher introduces herself or himself by revealing things of interest,
such as pets, hobbies, and favorite season of the year.
The teacher is careful to reveal nothing of an inappropriate nature, while, at the same time, offering students a
glimpse of his or her personality. This sets the stage for establishing communication among the students.
As they become comfortable, students share information about themselves with the rest of the
class. Students are encouraged to share
information about their interests and their hobbies, while not
revealing personal information about their families or disclosing data that could cause distress to
others.
The Learning Environment
Research indicates that students learn best, and retain most, when they are engaged in the learning process; in short, students learn
by doing. In this classroom, students are encouraged to acquire and apply
knowledge through various methods and media.
The emphasis is on understanding of a skill or concept and its
application, not on rote memorization.
Students are encouraged to approach the learning task in different and various ways.
Inquiry and analysis are supported, and critical thinking is
emphasized.
Students gain and share understanding through discussion
and group study.In small and large groups, students
support others by engaging in shared research, asking
questions, and collaborating.Students design art projects and
compose and perform original stories and plays.
Students demonstrate elements of successful teamwork.
They show the ability to cooperate with others, exhibit patience,
maintain focus, take turns with group mates, speak up in support
of ideas, and communicate clearly.
Through cooperative learning, students acquire skills that
enable them to engage in further team-oriented tasks.
At the same time, they understand and support learning styles different from their own.
The Learning Experience
Curriculum and instruction are intertwined, and one directly
impacts the other. Because the instructional
approach for all students is not the same, each student’s
learning experience is different.
The goal in this classroom is to provide the best experience possible for every student,
enabling each one to start on a path of lifelong learning.
ReferencesRodriguez, L. (n.d.) Classroom management.
Retrieved from http://www.4faculty.org/includes/108r2.jsp
Wong, Harry k. & Wong, Rosemary T. (1998). The first days of school. California: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc., as cited in Allen, S., Keiser, L., Navarra, J., Sanders, R., & Shaw, C. (n.d.) Taking teaching & learning seriously. Retrieved from http://www.kennesaw.edu/education/eece/TTLS/pages/articles/ClassroomStructure.htm
Kagan, S. & Kagan, M. (2009). Kagan cooperative learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing.