Wouldn't it be nice to be happy all of the time? As much as I like being happy it sounds a bit exhausting personally. Even if we aren't always bouncing off of the walls with excitement, like a littler ball of energy, it is important that we keep our classroom environment very positive.
Carol Ann Tomlinson related several factors that help in maintaining and creating this positive environment. They inlcude:
- study students' cultures
- convey status
- make room for all kinds of learners
- help students know about one another
- celebrate success
How important this is in having an effective classroom. Besides creating a positive environment we learn about our students which enables us in helping them become successful through various avenues. We can offer them the support that some of them so desperately need.
Support systems are key in a successful classroom. Tomlinson states, "The job of the teacher is two-fold. First, the teacher must continually ensure that work undertaken by an individual student is a bit beyond that student's reach. Second, the teacher must ensure the presence of support systems that guide the student to success. Once the student can succeed at a new level of proficiency, the process begins again.
I recently blogged about the importance of support systems. Visit that post here.
When we get down to the basics we all need support. As strong willed as we all like to think we are, without support, we will eventually fail. Lets not let this happen.
See ya later,
Laurel (like Carl)
Happy, happy, joy- joy- joy! 5 pts.
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