QTC #4

11.    Based on our readings and class discussion, how will you create a learning environment that is conductive to learning?

a.     Arranging desks and the classroom in a way that encourages learning and participation from all students.  I will make sure that the students face the front, there are little distractions, and the desks allow plenty of room for students to work comfortably.  I will also be sure to arrange the classroom to make interaction between students easy. 

b.    I will communicate actively with the students to develop an overall care and respect for them as people.  Continuing positive relationships is going to be key to having a successful learning environment.

c.     I will have a set of rules that the students will be expected to follow.  These rules will only be to improve the learning environment.  Examples of these rules would be to be respectful of each other, raise your hand to speak, and listen to the teacher. 

d.    I will be a flexible teacher that is able to modify the assignment and lesson to accommodate for all students’ learning styles.

e.    A sense of community is crucial when creating a learning environment that is most conductive to learning.  I will create this sense of community by communicating often with the parents and the children through phone calls, parent conferences, and written letters.
2.    Now consider your CSEL case study.  Develop a full continuum of responses for dealing with the misbehavior or your case.

a.     To deal with the misbehavior of Willard form the CSEL case study, I would use the points above to make my classroom an adequate learning environment for Willard, hoping that this would improve his inability to sit down and concentrate on his work. I will be actively communicating with both Willard and his parents about his behavior in class. I would make it known that my classroom expectations do not allow him to get out of his seat and disrupt the students during class like he does during my class.  I could arrange the desks to where Willard would be able to work with a classmate, and this could lead to him feeling less inclined to walk around the classroom and get into other student's possessions. There are many different techniques that I could try in order to get Willard to stop his inappropriate behavior.