Establishing a Positive Classroom Climate
In this reflection, I am going to share my real pictures in creating a safe and caring classroom as well as a positive relationship with students in my second beloved home.
This year, I am teaching Visual Arts for 240 students ranging from 4 to 11 years old, meaning from PreK to Grade 5. The size if my room is about one third comparing with the Upper School Art Classroom. Considering the increased enrollment next year, I may have to move to another larger room during the renovation period which may last three to five year.
Classroom set up is one of my priorities which shows teacher's style and message. Understanding that this is not a homeroom for any particular grade or class, and the setting needs to be suitable for different ages and different activities. Right after getting the confirmation from the school, I spent time to visit the classroom of my predecessor and other colleagues in the same school as well as peeking in some online rooms of other best Art teachers, then came up with a sketch and there was my one week result back in August 2015.
The first impression I would like to leave for all visitors to my classroom is a welcome, inviting, and safe place to be. When entering my classroom on the first day or week of school and on the Back to school night, students and parents got immediate sense about the teacher, about students' space and place in my room. This set up includes what I value and my teaching philosophy, what I will teach or focus based on what standards, where students will meet and work independently or collaboratively, where materials and students' portfolios are placed, what rules need to be respected and consequences.
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| Emergency Exit sign was indicated on the glass window on the right |
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| A set up to allow flexible transition between classes, circulation, individual and group works, and access to materials |
A school standard for this subject was placed artistically on a glass window and the focus of the year was next to the white board.
Standards Focus of the year
As a foreigner who lives and teaches aboard, I truly appreciate the host country, its culture and history. This painting, placed on the second glass window, helps to remind me and students about our connection with where we belong. The bulletin board to appreciate Artists of the month is not for competition purpose but for the inspiration.
Rules and consequences, set at the first week of the year, were visible on a class door. When the entrance door is opened, students will see first my visible mailbox and google site and an encouragement to communicate for any inputs, recommendations, testimonials, ect.
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| Rules |
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| Visible Mailbox and Site |
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| A letter from a 1st grader |
Another important aspect is social and emotional safety climate. Actually, it mostly happens in homeroom or advisory time. However, I highly care and integrate at an appropriate extend in my subject in order to ensure the consistency and the continuity for young learners. One example is about responsibility and the awarding count system. Each job well done and each extraordinary help beyond the expectation will be counted as a little star on this bulletin board and on students' portfolios. Time and patience pay me back. Students who used to be observed with behavioral problems, regardless their genders and ages, turned out to be my true helpers. One day, some of them witnessed me sweeping the floor full of dust brought from their shoes from PE time in the field into my small room. They asked me why I should do this job and were explained that this classroom must be clean for the next classes after them. It was their Aha moment! They not only lent me hands but also called more friends to come and help. They surprised me with their cleaning skills and stories at home. When the video was shared with my big appreciation to this small group, the rest of the class came and offered helps. Gradually, keep classroom and materials clean and in order has become our daily habit.
From this story about educating students responsibility, I believe teachers can bring more sensitive topics relating to anti-bullying, cultural and racial differences and make them actionable campaigns to equip students as much as they need, self-awareness, self-preparation, self-control, and a strong sense of self-identity. Likewise, the recent attack in Ivory Coast left us, students and teachers, a huge impact. The school was closed one day for the security reason but the threat has been still in the air. Facing this deadly and threaten situation, teachers in our schools were encouraged to open discussions with students on the day the school resumed. We understood that everyone including children need to learn how to face it and what to prepare for self in case.
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| Character Education |
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| and Counts |
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| Awareness and Self-Preparation for unexpected security issues of the country |
In brief, establishing a positive relationship and a safe and caring environment are keys to success of a teacher. Without these two foundations, I could not teach or lead anyone including young learners. I still have ten more weeks to complete this school year, however, reviewing what I planned to do versus what I have actually done, I could give myself a very high score. There were two extra and unexpected credits as an award for me is firstly one of my students won the AISA Art Challenge and secondly my passion and effort put in my site inspired my colleagues in the specialist team. As its result, another blog was launched in February by a PE teacher who spent two months learning with me. I still see myself to have many things ahead to learn, one important thins is to control my emotion. Yet, it is hard for me to keep cool for what has apparently happened so far in this country and the world.
