The classroom Environment and how it Effects Students.

The environment of the classroom can affect students both in the way they learn and in the way they feel in the classroom.  It is important to have a good atmosphere that isn't cluttered, and is free from chaos.  There needs to be ample supplies to stimulate creativity, it needs to form a line of communication between students, teachers, parents, and any other visitors to the class, and be a messenger of learning.

The classroom environment can set the overall feeling of community in the classroom.  In order to build community in the classroom students need to have opportunities to share with each other about their interests.  One way to do this is through morning meetings.  Another way is through interest groups.  Students can work together on projects that interest them like reading the same book, or doing word jars, or Question boxes.  Having students share and work with each other gives them the opportunity to get to know each other and find commonalities.

It is also important to celebrate successes no matter how small.  I love seeing students celebrated.  I have seen a student that has struggled with many assignments.  When he completed an assignment independently the teacher rewarded him and praised him.  The student was so very happy at the reaction of the teacher that he strives to do this more frequently.

One way to make sure students can be successful in their classroom is to give clear and precises directions.  This is one thing that I am working on.  I need to remember that second graders are not mind readers, and that they can not know each detail of the instructions with out me giving them.  The further that I progressed in field the better it got, but I will still be working on this goal as a student teacher in the fall.

Some other things that can effect the environment of the classroom are:

• Providing a support system for the classroom.  The teacher is the first person to support the classroom, but parent helpers are an additional way to provide some support, and also any support from additional staff at the school and at home.
• Use visual cues to help students manage behavior during lessons.
• Use goal cards so that students are aware of the objective of the lesson.
• Use smooth transitions for less disruption between activities.

It is important to build a community in your classroom in-order for things to run smoothly.  Students will preform better when they know what we expect from them, and when they feel like the classroom is an inviting place.