Learning Environment

Structure in an elementary classroom is necessary for learning and rules help implement structure and balance. The classroom would be chaotic, messy and unsusceptible to learning without rules. As teacher, we must create an environment that promotes learning, prevents stress and enable the teacher to have control during the day. Safety is the most important job of a teacher and rules are necessary in keeping students safe throughout the day.

Rule-making can and should involve the students in the classroom. The students should be able to distinguish between why we have these rules and what they are. In order to accomplish this, the teacher can set up a demonstration of what it’s like to not have rules. Setting up a driving course inside the classroom with no street signs or road lines would allow the students to see what it’s like without rules. The students would pretend they were cars and that they needed to get to a different place. It would be chaotic, painful, and they probably wouldn’t get to their destination. It would show the students how bad it can be without rules. After, the teacher could set up another course that had road lines, street signs and driving rules. They would try to get to the same destination they were before and be able to see how easy it was to get to their destination with rules. Afterwards, lead a discussion about each roadway and which one allowed them to make it to their destination safely. Connect the roadway to the rules in a classroom and explain the purpose of rules. Then, split the students into groups and After they have discussed why rules are important, have the children split into groups and make a set of 6-8 rules. They would list the rules and give reasons why they think each rule is ...

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...would try to reinforce good behavior, which is more likely to give you a desired response. However, there are some situations where punishments are necessary. Punishments could include, detention, indoor suspension, outdoor suspension, chore duty (in some cases for the younger grades, this could actually be a reward), minutes off of recess, minutes after school or a note home.

Keeping the classroom calm and collected with the students following the basic rules is very important. It is much easier for you to teach and for them to learn, if you do not have to worry about reprimanding someone every five seconds. The teacher is more at ease and can get the curriculum across to the students much faster and in a more appropriate manner. I believe that it is more important for the teacher to be knowledgeable of classroom management, than the material they are teaching.