As a student, the classrooms that I remember enjoying the most, were the ones where I had strong relationships with my teacher’s and peers. Due to this, I focus on the rapport that I have with my students because I think that everyone should feel safe, happy, and respected in my classroom. I find that greeting students every day when they enter the classroom, is an important way to start the day with a positive attitude. My ideal classroom environment is a place where students can take risks and be encouraged by myself and their peers. I always encourage my students to take risks because sometimes you can make a mistake that helps you learn something you might not have originally. As a teacher, I am always changing my instructional strategies to make sure that I am meeting every student’s needs, as well as focusing on child-centered learning.
For many students, as well as myself, structure is a very important part of the school day because it helps children know what to expect from me, as well as what I expect from them. I make sure to communicate directions clearly and repeat them, so that students are able to know what they need to do and complete it successfully. With the use of structure throughout the day, students become aware of the routines. I often try to find ways for my students to collaborate because I feel as though being able to work in a team is a very important life skill. Behavior expectations are reinforced, whether it be moving a student to an area where they are not a distraction to other learners, or giving students a reward for showing good behavior.
