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Domain 2: Classroom Environment

A classroom environment is a vital piece to make students feel welcomed and safe within their

school environment. My classroom environment will be a reflection of that to make sure that

students feel safe as well as represented by the world around them. This will be done not only by

representation of others based on their culture, gender, religion, etc but also by encouraging

learning outside of norm but in a respectful caring way. To have the students not only respect me

but also each other and their ideas will begin by having a loving safe classroom environment for

all students. Some ways I plan on implementing this is by hanging inclusive pictures of all

students' backgrounds, having encouraging posters, having the norms and schedules postes, as

well as greeting the students at the door calling them by their preferred name/ nickname. We will

start the school year getting to know each other and encouraging a safe environment within the

classroom. Though we may have rough patches it will be vital to stay consistent on what

environment I want within the classroom.

2a: Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport

In order to create a safe environment students need to feel seen and respected. In order to do that

students need to feel as though they can trust both teachers and peers. I plan on having students

engage with both me and their peers in an organic way to foster relationships. One way I plan on

doing this is by modeling appropriate behavior and care for the students. As stated in Danielson’s

Framework (1996), “Teachers not only model and teach students how to engage in respectful

interactions with one another but also acknowledge such interactions.” (pg.33). Students also
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will need to feel a part of the classroom one way or another. I plan on making a community with

the students by using social emotional teaching practices common within the classroom.

2b: Establishing a Culture for Learning

Students will learn where they feel confident in their ability to put themselves in the best possible

outcome for learning. This starts with a warm welcoming environment that promotes learning by

having encouraging posters on the wall along with students' work. As the student's teacher it is

my responsibility to ensure that I give them engaging fun lessons but also rigorous ones that

challenge them to their best abilities. In A Breakthrough in Social Emotional Learning, the

teacher states “When they feel cared about not only by the adults in the school but by other

students in the school they can do their best” (2010). Students need to feel safe within their

school environment by not only their peers but also the teachers. As a classroom teacher I will

encourage my students to not only cheer for themselves but also their classmates as well.

2c: Managing Classroom Procedures

Classroom procedures are evident within the classroom to help things run smoothly. The students

are aware of the schedule and know when it is time for them to transition. Students know to

come into the classroom and begin working on their do now and whenever they have idle time

they know what to do to stay productive and on task. The agenda slides are posted on the smart

board so that students can know the sequence of the day along with timers for various activities

so students can manage their time. As I work on things such as attendance, working one on one

with the students, and other things, very little instructional time is lost due to things being

organized in the classroom that best serve the students. Since we will have different types of
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groups and centers students will ensure that they know what to do in these situations and how to

act appropriately.

2d: Managing Student Behavior

Students will have times where they will have desirable and less than desirable behaviors within

the classroom. To ensure that students are displaying appropriate classroom behavior we will

make the norms together as a class and explicitly teach them. One thing I will do as the teacher is

teach proper social skills. The teacher states in “Breakthrough in Social Emotional Learning

(2010) video, “It’s not a learning loss because we are teaching the skills up front and so when it

is time for learning for academics we are learning and not stopping at various times”. By

explicitly teaching what behaviors are appropriate and what is not it will truly help the students

on what they need to learn to be socially with their peers and be able to express themselves when

things are not going their way. Another thing that I plan on implementing is having restorative

justice circles like in the Colorado high school replaces punishment with 'talking circles. Many

times students may have less than desirable behaviors but need to learn how to effectively work

with others. The teacher states in “Colorado high school replaces punishment with talking

circles'' “When we have problems in this school we come together and talk about it..restorative

you restore the relationship”(2014). By using restorative circles I hope that students will learn

how to communicate and get to the bottom of their problems. As well as using this to uphold the

values of the classroom.

2e: Organizing Physical Space

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The room set up should be conducive to learning for all students. I plan on having flexible

seating and centers. By having the classroom set up this way the students will know exactly

where to go for certain activities and lessons as well as know the norms for the specific areas.

Having flexible seating will help students who struggle with staying still in traditional classroom

desk seating. With the option of flexible seating it will empower students to choose the best and

most appropriate seating arrangement for them to blossom in their learning. Both materials and

technology are labeled within the classroom and students know explicitly how to use them along

with when.
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Works Cited

Danielson, C. (2013). Danielson’s Framework: Enhancing professional practice: A

Framework for Teaching. Alexandria, Va: Association for Supervision and

Curriculum Development. Retrieved from

https://danielsongroup.org/downloads/framework-teaching-evaluation-instrument?downl

oad

Edutopia. (January 8, 2010). A Breakthrough in Social Emotional Learning.

https://youtu.be/zXy2V1JmJUs

PBS News Hour. (February 20, 2014) Colorado High School replaces punishment with

talking circles.

https://youtu.be/g8_94O4ExSA