InTASC Standard 3 discusses the importance of creating healthy learning environments that are beneficial to the academic, social, and emotional well-being of all children in the classroom. An effective teacher must collaborate with coworkers, students, and families, to ensure that her classroom is one where students feel safe, valued, supported, challenged, and confident in their ability to succeed in learning. Quality teachers know that in order to create a classroom culture that is beneficial to all students, they must encourage both individual and collaborative learning.
#1 Morning meeting
I integrate the learning environments standard in my classroom by holding a morning meeting at the beginning of each day. This practice creates a culture where all students are encouraged to share ideas, ask questions, and value each other’s opinions. Students may share journals, answer a simple question, or compliment a classmate. By hosting a morning meeting each morning, students begin the day feeling valued, encouraged, and important. During our morning meetings, students learn to take turns, listen to their classmates, share ideas, and build positive classroom culture.
#2 Weekly behavior focus
After establishing school and classroom behavior expectations, I focus on a different behavior each week to reinforce. By taking a few minutes each morning to discuss how to “stay in their own space” or “keep their space clean”, students can remind themselves and others of the expectations we all have for each other while at school. This creates a proactive environment where positive behaviors are encouraged daily and students are given the tools needed to succeed.
#3 Encouraging teamwork through STEM projects
STEM projects are a fantastic way to implement the learning environments standard in the classroom. By planning group STEM projects, I create a space for students to learn to work together and value the ideas and opinions of others. During a unit on Jamestown, I conducted a lesson where students worked together to rebuild Jamestown using a variety of household objects. Their Jamestown forts had to in the correct shape, and adhere to specific criteria. This lesson encourages collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking while reinforcing history and math concepts.