Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 1 Classroom Environment: Creating a Safe and Nurturing Place for Learning August 29, 2007 Agenda 1. Anticipation Guide- What are thoughts? 2. Class meetings- Ways to use them to save you time & energy 3. Video: “Doing Morning Meetings” 4. Classroom Environment- Make your space into your saving grace. 5. Wrap-up and Evaluation Presented by your Area 5 ALTs: Michael Smith & Angela Whitehead For more great resources on this topic & many more visit our Area 5 blog at… http://professionallearning.typepad.com/alt5/
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Classroom Environment: Creating a Safe and Nurturing Place for Learning
August 29, 2007Agenda
1. Anticipation Guide- What are thoughts?2. Class meetings- Ways to use them to save you time & energy3. Video: “Doing Morning Meetings”4. Classroom Environment- Make your space into your saving grace.5. Wrap-up and Evaluation
Presented by your Area 5 ALTs:Michael Smith & Angela Whitehead
For more great resources on this topic & many more visit our Area 5 blog at…
How does classroom environment impact student performance?
• Goals: 1. Understand the role of classroom
meetings.2. Foster proactive and reactive ways to
structure classroom management and relationships.
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Anticipation Guide
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Classroom Environment TipsCreating an environment of respect and rapport
Greet students in the morning - stand at the door, walk around to indiv desk, make rounds when students are doing morning procedures
Talk in a calm voice Be aware of your body language Never argue. It takes two people to argue – don’t be the second person. State your
request, clarify understanding, give an if then statement and end the conversation.
• Establishing a culture of learning Communicate high expectations for all students Lighting – lamps can provide softer lighting and be calming - flourescent lamps can be
harsh Music – use it to change the mood in the room – classical, jazz etc for calming
activities – up tempo music for active activities Temperature- keep the room at a comfortable temperature and be sensitive to the fact
that some students are more sensitive to temperature change than others – be flexible – allow jackets, sweaters etc.
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• Managing classroom procedures Post schedules. Let students know in advance when there will be a change. Model, and practice classroom procedures (lining up, walking in the hall, entering the
room, center procedures, transitions) – this will save valuable instructional time later! Gives cues and prompts
• Managing student behavior Use a system that is easy to manage and understand – keep it simple. State your rules clearly and positively Set consequences you can enforce and always follow through Be consistent.
• Organizing physical space Make materials easy for students to access on their own Teach them to organize their materials Give them adequate space to move around and store things. Students should have a place to work quietly and a place for group work
• If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change it!
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Why Have Classroom Meetings?
• To purposely teach students how to:– Be a part of a group– Problem solve effectively– Cooperate with others– See how their actions impact the class and
vice versa
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Class Meeting Procedures
• Create Ground Rules Together• Have an Agenda• Time: 20-30 minutes• Focused/On Task• Record Ideas• Student Led • Takes Practice
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Class Meetings can be:
Proactive- ways to structure the learning environment to prevent problem behaviors
OR
Reactive- attempt to decrease inappropriate and increase appropriate school behavior.