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Under Construction: Building a Positive Classroom Environment. The Chatter Box A Teacher Support Network Facilitator: Fanita L. McNeal, NBCT. chatter Box Mission Statement.
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Under Construction: Building a Positive Classroom Environment The Chatter Box A Teacher Support Network Facilitator: Fanita L. McNeal, NBCT
chatter Box Mission Statement The mission of the Chatter Box is to provide a support system for educators that offers effective and practical professional development opportunities, mentoring services and resources essential for being a successful teacher.
Earn In-Service Points • Attend monthly meetings. • Complete monthly reflections, readings or other assigned activities. • Sign in and include ID information. • Complete evaluation in May.
Group Norms • Relax and have fun • Share your thoughts and suggestions. • Agree to disagree respectfully. • Make this your meeting. Norman Fell a.k.a Mr. Roper
Goal To reduce the number of out of school suspensions of our economically disadvantaged students by 5 %. • 2008-2009 Data: 80.8% of these students received suspensions. • 30% were for kindergarteners.
A Child’s perspective A little girl had just finished her first week of school. “ I’m just wasting my time,” she said to her mother.“ I can’t read, I can’t write, and they won’t let me talk!”
What does a positive classroom environment look like? • Students are actively engaged • Rules being followed • Mutual respect being demonstrated • Organized and clutter free…
WANTED • What does your ideal student look like? • Design a want ad describing the student’s characteristics.
Clear Expectations • What makes you edgy? • Teach, observe and correct fluently • Be sure of what you need to happen for every lesson. (Teacher directed, seat work, cooperative group work)
Classroom Layout • Does the layout of your classroom influence behavior? • Use your blueprints to draw your classroom design and think about the pros and cons of your design.
Behavior Management • Rules • Consequences/Rewards • Consistency
Hidden Rules of Poverty • Punishment is about penance and forgiveness, not change. • Live in the moment-does not consider future ramifications. • Lack of order/organization • Sense of humor is highly valued • Conversation is participatory
Three Voices • The Child Voice- defensive, victimized, emotional, whining, strongly negative non-verbal. Can also be playful. Ex: You make me sick! • The Parent Voice- Authoritative, directive, judgmental, evaluative, punitive and sometimes threatening. Can also be very loving and supportive. Ex: Life’s not fair. Get busy. • The Adult Voice- Non-judgmental, free of negative non-verbal, factual, often in a question format, attitude of win-win. Ex. What are the choices in this situation?
Behavior Scenarios • Work in groups to address behavior issues. • Identify the behavior that needs to be taught. • State various ways to handle the disruption.
“I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.” HaimGinott
Resources • A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph. D. • CHAMPS, a positive proactive approach to Classroom Management by Dr. Randall Sprick • Power Teaching by Chris Biffle • Teaching on Your Feet & Rita’s Stories by Dr. Rita Pierson