YR 1 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

SEMESTER 2 WEEK 10

Teaching and Learning Inside the Classroom

[The learning environment – Display and Layout]

Phil Beadle as The Guardian’s teacher of the year 2005 quoted intellectual Linda Powell:

If the environment in which a child learns is shoddy or in disrepair, then a child’s sense of themselves is undermined. Devalue the school buildings, devalue the child.”

What are your views? Now consider what Phil discovered…

It was the same person who told me my classroom should be "an Aladdin's cave of learning". I found this difficult to achieve, though I respected the idea. Display was not something that came together particularly easily in my first years of teaching. I am a boy and a retired Goth. I don't go much for pretty colours.

But, under advice, I took a trip to a local primary school. This, to my surprise, revealed fresh vistas of wonder. This place was riven - I mean, literally overflowing, floor to ceiling - with cultural artefacts: washing-lines hung across classrooms festooned with kids' work, dresses stuck to walls, papier-mâché severed heads, macramé weapons and, in one instance, a Bedouin tent in the corner of the classroom.

Here there seemed to be an ethos, a belief system, around the fripperies on the walls; a genuine sense that an exciting environment makes for an excited child. You could tell that the children loved, and felt loved by, the place in which they learned, and this affected how well they learned the stuff they were meant to learn, and how happy they were doing so.

Look what I can do, mum Colourful displays of work in the classroom make for happy and valued pupils Philip Beadle guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 12 April 2005 02.11 BST

Display – What’s it For?

Consider the following points:• Will the same reasons apply to displays in: public areas e.g. the hall, the school entrance?• How might class displays differ for the different ages of the pupils?• What features might be incorporated to include pupils with special educational needs?

Teachers create displays to:

CelebrateStimulateInformA visual means of focusing on specific

learning outcomes, which form part of the current curriculum. (Hughes, P. 2008)

The following slide shows two primary classrooms.

With the person next to you identify the key features of this as an environment for teaching and learning in the primary phase.

A well thought-out and organised classroom environment can greatly enhance children’s learning.

What do you think the main rationale was for the teacher organising the classroom in this way?

Group Seating….

is well suited to Small Group Teaching and Group Collaboration ..which are infrequently used

is ill-suited to Individual Tasks and Whole Class Teaching ..which are frequently used.

makes much classroom learning unnecessarily difficult for many and immensely difficult for some

seems likely to affect attainment and progression adversely when mismatched to task

Classroom Layouts

Arrangement of tables can impact upon the behaviour and motivation of the children.

What are the advantages / disadvantages for learning in the following arrangements?

Arrangement for “Small Group” work

Arrangement for “Large Group” work

Arrangement for “Quiet Work” (individual, paired or whole class work)

OHP

RED AREA CORRIDOR

BRADLEY Red Area ( Year 5)

On a practical note …

Will the space I have created support the learning and teaching I have planned?

Will it send appropriate signals to the children, creating positive expectations?

Will it support positive behaviour?Are different learning styles catered for?Will children’s social needs be addressed?Will it support inclusion?

Video Debate

Identify the key points from this clip:What are the educational reasons cited for different

displays?http://archive.teachfind.com/ttv/www.teachers.tv/videos/positive-learning-environment-primary.htmlClassroom environment

What are your views? You may wish to refer to Phil Beadles views at the beginning of the session.

Independent Study Task

Read (in Reading Pack) Hastings and Chantry (2002) – Does classroom organisation matter?

In your Reflective Journal:- Consider your views: What kind of classroom would

you like?- On SE observe the way in which the layout of the

classroom supports learning.- Visit other classrooms – how does organisation

differ? Why might this be?