Creating a Positive Classroom Environment DeAnn Swofford and Jonathan Ferrell

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Creating a Positive Classroom EnvironmentDeAnn
Swofford and Jonathan Ferrell

• While we're waiting to get started ...
• What  does a positive classroom environment look
  and sound like?

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Creating a Positive Classroom Environment DeAnn
Swofford and Jonathan Ferrell
Todays Schedule 100 145 Presentation 145
200 Break / Discussion 200 210 DeAnns Mini
Lesson 210 215 Move to Mr. Ferrells
Room 215 225 Beginning of the Year Ideas 225
230 Questions
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Todays Resources All of the resources used
today are published online at mrferrell.pbworks.
com Feel free to use and edit anything that is
helpful.
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Transitions

• Transitions are important to smoothly move from
  one topic to another or from one class to
  another.
• They allow class time to be used effectively and
  with very little down time.

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Transitions

• Divide class periods into smaller segments to
  increase student engagement.
• 5-10 minutes chunks
• Always try to have the next element of the lesson
  ready to go to ease transitions.
• Use multiple methods to get students attention
  and bring everyone back together.

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Always Plan More than you Need

• Boredom can lead to inappropriate behavior
• Good for students who learn quickly and can
  proceed with something new while you review with
  the others.

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Always Plan More than you Need

• Always have enrichment materials handy
• You always need a plan B in case something comes
  up. Be flexible!

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Always Plan More than you Need

• Technology Plug
• Differentiation and enrichment made easier!
• Multiple links to activities at various skill
  levels.

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Effective ways to hand out resources

• Try to avoid having the entire class getting up
  just to get a specific type of supply.
• Setting up stations
• Assigning jobs
• Totes

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Multi-Task

• This allows better time management.
• While you are taking roll, kids can pass out
  papers, turn in work, finish their assigned task
  from the previous day, etc.

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Multi-Task

• Use each moment of your class time wisely.
• When students are entering the room always have
  instructions or activities projected on the
  board.
• Use those opening minutes!

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Pay Attention to Student Cues

• This helps you decide the pace of the lesson.
• It helps you determine if students are
  overwhelmed or clearly understanding the lesson.
• Chunk material and give time for student
  discussion.

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Pay Attention to Student Cues

• Check often for student comprehension
• White boards
• Hand checks (1-5 scale)
• eInstruction
• Google Forms
• Explain to your partner

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Be prepared

• Prepare and organize as
• much as you can ahead of
• time. Dont waste class time
• constructing something
• unless that is the goal
• of the activity.
• Keep class time sacred.

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Be prepared

• Do your best to know your content through and
  through. Overwhelming at first!
• Plan as far ahead as possible.
• Find reliable people to learn from!

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Practice Rituals

• Go over and Practice your class rituals with your
  students so that they know exactly what is
  expected of them.
• Filling out agendas, taking bathroom breaks,
  sickness, absences
• Routine helps ensure order.

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Post a Weekly Schedule

• Helps absentees know what they missed with very
  little help from you.
• Provides anticipatory set
• Adds cohesiveness
• Know needed supplies

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Post a Weekly Schedule

• Using a class blog or wiki can help facilitate
  sharing your schedule with students and families.

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MOVIES skits Pair and Share JOKESgraphic
organizers Drawing

• Add a variety of learning experiences visual,
  movement, songs, games, etc. and you will reach
  more learning styles
• Intersperse these with independent or written
  activities to assess student learning.
• Students will be more involved in your teaching,
  you will have fewer discipline problems, and they
  will have better understanding of your lessons.

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MOVIES skits Pair and Share JOKESgraphic
organizers Drawing

• Make learning fun!
• We have one of the greatest jobs in the world.
  Enjoy it. Encourage a love of learning among your
  students.

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Create a Safe Learning Environment

• Establish a caring relationship with your
  students.
• Be clear that your room is a safe place to take
  risks without fear of embarrassment maintain
  student dignity.

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Create a Safe Learning Environment

• Do team building activities at the beginning of
  the year to give students a sense of belonging
• Use humor to diffuse tense situations.
• Let students know that you arent perfect either.
• Mistakes are sometimes the best way to learn.

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Have High Expectations

• Expect students to follow rules. Nail down rules
  from the first day and take time to practice if
  they forget.
• Expect 100 effort even if something is hard!

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Have High Expectations

• Expect effective communication skills
• Expect students to be responsible for their own
  choices.
• Students will live up to or down to expectations.

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DeAnns Four Basic Rules

• I will not allow anyone to interfere with my
  teaching or another students learning.
• Homework is my way of communicating with each
  student and it must be completed on time. If it
  is important enough to assign it, it is important
  enough for me to grade it.
• Treat everyone with respect, including the
  teacher.
• Learning is not a spectators sport, so you must
  give 100 everyday.

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Jons Classroom Rules

• Please Be Respectful
• Please Be Responsible
• Please Be Safe

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Creating a Positive Classroom Environment DeAnn
Swofford and Jonathan Ferrell
Break Time! Discussion / Reflection Question How
can you incorporate these ideas into your
classroom?