Domain E – Artifact Review 1

Domain E – Artifact Review

Kimberlie Ramirez

National University
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Abstract

In this essay I will explain the importance of a safe social environment in a class. I will be

explaining different types of activities that can be done in class that will help students understand

the content better and will still be fun. I will also be talking about fun community building

activities.
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Domain E – Artifact Review

While in a classroom the content and meeting state standards are important, there is one thing

that reigns above that, the classrooms’ social environment. Per Cal TPE 11: Social Environment,

teachers “create a positive climate for learning” (Cal TPE). What this means is a place where

students can be “physically, socially and emotionally safe” and are free to learn and be

themselves (Cal TPE). The most important part stated by the TPE is that the teachers develop

and maintain “clear expectations for academic and social behavior” (Cal TPE). This is essential

in every classroom because in order for students to be engaged in the lesson and want to attend

class, they need to feel happy and safe in the environment in which they are in.

The last two artifacts that I added to my PDQP are images of students working on activities

together both inside and outside the classroom. The first one, the students are working on a

poster for Peace One Day. Peace One Day is an organization that is used to promote peace for

one day amongst all people. The purpose of the organization is to bring harmony and unity to the

world and the countries involved for that day. The students at our school wanted to join in on this

and decided to create posters that would be displayed promoting Peace One Day. In the image

you will see students working on one poster together and smiling while creating the artwork.

This is a demonstration of camaraderie and how students feel safe in a class to work together in

one assignment and come to an agreement to demonstrate the importance of a movement.

The second image is an image of students working on a hopscotch outside in the school

hallways. This was an activity done to create class competition and again build community with

the students. The area was closed off and they were able to create them as big or as small as they

chose, as long as they met all the hopscotch requirements. Once they colored the hopscotch on

the floor, they began playing with their teammates and eventually got to visit others and jump on
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theirs too. While this activity was not linked to any specific subject or lesson, it was meant and

built to help the students work together and get along. After the lesson many students said they

felt happy they got to play with their classmates.

In conclusion, not all activates done in class need to be tied into a specific movement, lesson or

standard. It is okay to take some time in class to build community and build that safe

environment for students. However, it is important that through all the fun “candidates know

how to write and implement classroom management that is fair and transparent to students and is

aligned with school discipline policies” (Cal TPE). One phrase that I like is serious fun, but

serious. Meaning that everyone knows we can have fun, be safe, have a good social environment,

but always keeping in mind the class and school rules.

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Resources

Commission on Teacher Credentialing (2013, March). California Teaching Performance

Expectations. Retrieved from https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/educator-

prep/standards/adopted-tpes-

2013.pdf?TSPD_101_R0=084e6f7cb6ab20004be28235b693a6b7c6bbd6d051d9426ddd1

5fe954e869283ca7e03a9a1c19b3208fc1a12ed143000f48f50c5ae5245aa2997ed6a6b5711

457b9277e57cdb8f3e51c8a626ef13894cec8dee816e9fce686f089cc20e0ca77e