TeachingEnglish
Let's have a look at our classrooms
Submitted by Victoria Kamchatka on 30 January, 2012 - 07:49
Physical atmosphere can add to our students' motivation. How do they behave if we create a "democratic" classroom? There are some good signs to look for in the classroom:
- The walls are covered with students' projects, signs, exhibits, lists created by Ss, not by their teacher
- Comfortable areas for learning, multiple activity/learning centres
- Chairs around tables to facilitate Ss' communication
- Open space for gathering
- The teacher works with Ss so it takes a few seconds to find her
- Teacher's voice is respectful, genuine, not saccharine-sweet
- Ideas being echanged, "healthy noise"
- Room overflowing with good books, art supplies, plants, computer facilities
- Little Reading Library with graded readers
- Activities are frquently completed by pairs or groups of Ss
- Friendly atmosphere: a place where students want to spend time
- Ss often address one another directly
I think our children deserve all this respect and creative atmosphere. What would you add to this list?
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Comments
Hello Victoria,
I agree with all itmes on your list and I loved "healthy noise" because I believe that students should work in colloboration and MUCH HARDER than the teachers. I would add "giving students choices" regarding material to e exploited. Cheers.
Exactly! Giving students choices!
I will cite the McGarry quote to confirm this: "Students who are encouraged to take responsibility for their own work, by being given some control over what, how and when they learn, are more likely to be able to set realistic goals, plan programs of work, develop strategies for coping with new and unforeseen situations, evaluate and assess their own work and, generally, to learn how to learn from their own successes and failures in ways which help them to be more efficient learners in the future." (McGarry, 1995)
The McGarry quote is cited in the following article link where the full citation is listed in the article references: http://iteslj.org/Techniques/McCarthy-Autonomy.html
Thanks for taking us to the classrooms :) I think of a great learning atmosphere :)
Happy blogging !
You are welcome! Enjoy! Democracy comes first!
I would add that the classroom should be clean and be ready for the students (tables, chairs, and stationary should be organised).
Dear Victoria,
Thank you for the great list. Who wouldn't want to teach in a class like this? Thinking about today's children and teenagers, I have some doubts about their reponses to this wonderful atmosphere, because they are usually dissatisfied with everything. All in all, it is the teacher who should take the attraction and make them enjoy the facilities, activities and so on.
Then, I'm adding this to the list: An enthusiastic teacher who loves his / her job very much.
Victoria,thanks for your post..I like your sentence: I think our children deserve all this respect and creative atmosphere. They really deserve everything ;)You have already known my post about Englşsh Corner ;) It reminds me this way is your English Corner Victoria...Keep blogging ;)Many thanks for your sharing nice ideas ;)
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/blogs/lemanulas/english-corner
I am nodding now! 95% is teacher' work as an educator and an example. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your feedback, Miss Leman! English Corner Victoria, wow, I love this!
Hi, Victoria,
I admire, your great ideas. I think everything is our best.
Yes, our children deserve all this respect and creative atmosphere. They really deserve everything .
"the future is for youngs"
happy bloggings...