One of the most important ways we can help our students to learn better is by ensuring that they are in a classroom where they feel safe learning. During my time team-teaching in sixth grade math, I learned a lot about creating a culture for learning. My teaching partner stressed the importance of creating a strong culture for learning. She encourages the students to struggle and enforces the idea that being wrong is not a bad thing. This makes the students feel much more comfortable participating in math because they are comfortable with their mistakes, because we will work through them together. I think this is important because it helps the students feel more confident in themselves and helps them take ownership of their learning. In my own classroom, no matter the grade or ability level, I will strive to maintain these same ideals.
Managing Student Behavior
Throughout my student teaching I have had the opportunity to be a part of and witness multiple behavior management techniques. In the third grade classroom I observed in, we used a clip system to try to prevent poor behavior. In the middle school we process students for SRC, which is the Student Responsibility Center (a type of in school suspension). Each behavior management plan has its own benefits and draw backs. However, I have found that once you choose a method, the best way to implement it is to use it consistently. Consistency is the only way to make a plan work. Otherwise, students will try to push the envelope and get away with things. In addition, starting strict, and then becoming more laid back throughout the time I was with the students seemed to work very well for me because they knew my boundaries. Overall, as long as a system is used consistently, then it should have least decent success.