Love Is In The Details
Love in the classroom is easier to sense than to see. In this data-driven era, however, folks want to document what is measurable. So what does a loving classroom look like?
It is often the little things that add up to create a sense of trust, security and belief in a classroom
1) Interaction and Involvement. Everyone gets distracted! Everyone gets bored. Everyone gets off-task. Humans are not wired to sit still and stay focused for any length of time. Activities in the classroom that are cognitively, physically and emotionally interactive invite students to become and remain involved, to feel invited to participate and honor the learners' intelligence.
2) A Caring Call to Arms. In other words, the teacher has a method for getting students to be attentive and focused that is positive and interactive. Humans are social creatures and will naturally interact given the slightest opportunity. Aren't our students human? Refocusing our classes with humor, enthusiasm and joy builds rapport and honors their very human need to connect with others from time to time.
3) Provisions for Privacy. There is a system for passing out/collecting papers that is not disruptive and encourages positive interactions among students. (how about handing them in upside-down so students cannot look over their neighbors' papers?) Students do not have to ask to use the rest room in front of the entire class. The teacher does not mention, nor insinuate, that a student is failing/struggling in front of his/her peers. Efforts are made to discipline with a whisper, just within earshot, rather than at a shout from across the room.
4) Apologies Are Accepted. And Offered. Please, Thank You and You're Welcome appear frequently.
5) Questions Are Answered. Without sarcasm. Without frustration. Without rancor. Without eye-rolling.
Seem obvious? Not to everyone.
Seem trivial? Not to your students.
Seem logical? Not everywhere.
Seem easy? Not always.
Worth trying though.
with love,
Laurie
It is often the little things that add up to create a sense of trust, security and belief in a classroom
1) Interaction and Involvement. Everyone gets distracted! Everyone gets bored. Everyone gets off-task. Humans are not wired to sit still and stay focused for any length of time. Activities in the classroom that are cognitively, physically and emotionally interactive invite students to become and remain involved, to feel invited to participate and honor the learners' intelligence.
2) A Caring Call to Arms. In other words, the teacher has a method for getting students to be attentive and focused that is positive and interactive. Humans are social creatures and will naturally interact given the slightest opportunity. Aren't our students human? Refocusing our classes with humor, enthusiasm and joy builds rapport and honors their very human need to connect with others from time to time.
3) Provisions for Privacy. There is a system for passing out/collecting papers that is not disruptive and encourages positive interactions among students. (how about handing them in upside-down so students cannot look over their neighbors' papers?) Students do not have to ask to use the rest room in front of the entire class. The teacher does not mention, nor insinuate, that a student is failing/struggling in front of his/her peers. Efforts are made to discipline with a whisper, just within earshot, rather than at a shout from across the room.
4) Apologies Are Accepted. And Offered. Please, Thank You and You're Welcome appear frequently.
5) Questions Are Answered. Without sarcasm. Without frustration. Without rancor. Without eye-rolling.
Seem obvious? Not to everyone.
Seem trivial? Not to your students.
Seem logical? Not everywhere.
Seem easy? Not always.
Worth trying though.
with love,
Laurie
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