Blog #3 - Importance of Classroom Aspects

 There were lots of things the teachers did to establish a positive classroom community. The first thing I saw was in the morning when the students had just sat down on the rug she had the students turn to each other and tell them a fun thing they are going to do this weekend. This helps to create friendships and helps classmates learn to listen to each other. This teacher also encouraged service and helping others. The other teacher I observed had the students do quizlet live, which made them talk to each other and work with each other to find the right answers. Doing things like this and making the students work together creates a positive classroom community. 

There were many ways the teachers showed how they establish a positive relationship with their students. The very first thing I noticed when I got there in the morning was when the teacher was showing me around the school and the kids were playing outside waiting for the morning bell to ring, she would say hi to every kid that we passed and she asked them how they were doing. She also had the students talk about what they did wrong and made them own it and then she would tell them its okay and tell them something that they did good. I talked to the teacher about this and she said that it is very important to always find something to praise about the students. Correct their mistakes, but also tell them what they did good so they balance each other out and so that the bad doesn't outweigh the good. This relationship is so important. 

I saw a lot of routines that were established in the classroom and they were very easy to point out. In the 2nd grade classroom, right when the students got in for the morning they went and sat at their desks and pulled out some papers that they called "self start." It was some work that they always do to start their day right when they get to class. They knew to pull it out and start working on it right away. The 2nd grade teacher also had a lot of little jingles and saying that she would start to say and that the kids would have to finish in order to get their attention. They knew all of the responses to them and they had already established that routine. 

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