Meghan Harrison Michelle Vosberg Educational Psych

My Ideal Classroom
I feel that I know how I want my future classroom so that there will be optimal learning. I think that there are four major components to a classroom that will promote a positive learning environment and they are; classroom set up, teacher identity, classroom rules and expectations, and the management of the rules and expectations. In the following paragraphs I will discuss my personal beliefs for each of these components and how they will help my classroom. First, I feel that the most important component of a successful classroom is how the physical objects are set up within the room. As a future teacher, I think that in the very center of the room there should be a large table where I could demonstrate each lesson and supply the class with some of the materials they will need for the lesson. From personal experience I know that having this type of table allows every student to come around it and properly see during the demonstration while allowing easy access to the materials for the lesson. Next, I would like the other art tables to be circles around the demonstration table with chairs around each of them. I like this set up because I can call on students by table to go and get their materials and it is easier to then manage those materials. This type of setup will also make it easier to walk around the room and help my students if needed. I also think that by allowing the students to sit in groups that can talk and gain peer perspective and help with their projects which should decrease come anxiety levels within the class. Furthermore, this would allow student teaching and give some of the responsibility back to them. Though the tables are an important part of my classroom the surrounding environment is just as important due to the possibility of inspiration that can come from it. For that reason in my classroom the walls will be very important learning tool. I would like to have one wall to have a large whiteboard where I can write the days lesson objectives and as well as any other important knowledge like the date or unit theme. Another wall would be filled with examples of famous historical artists work to promote knowledge and hopefully inspire my students. The third wall of my classroom would be just for important posters to

remind my students of content knowledge and the class rules I expect them to know. Finally, the last wall and ceiling (if need be) would be dedicated to my students work. I think this is extremely important because it would increase the chance for art production and maybe students would become intrinsically motivated to produce art. The second component I feel created a successful learning environment is the teachers identity. By this I mean how I plan to dress, act around my students and how I interact with them. Everyday my class will be greeted as the walk in the door in an upbeat manner that will set the mood for the rest of the class period. I will always be dressed in business casual attire, realistically unless told otherwise by the superiors I would like to be in jeans or dress pants and a somewhat nice top and possibly a smock. This is because I plan on getting a little dirty and I do not want my students to think that I am afraid to get dirty because of my expensive clothes and they should worry about theirs too. Art making is all about getting into your art and getting a little messy. I will run my classroom as a student centered learning environment because I want my students to feel a sense of community and responsibility. I feel good manners are very important for my students to learn so I will model them by respecting my students, their property and the classroom. I want to make my students feel safe in my classroom so I will be happy and express a no discrimination policy, as well as an open communication line so they may feel free to talk to me about anything they would like. I will never swear, or embarrass anyone in front of my students. I will never yell, belittle or tell me students to shut up. Furthermore, I feel that in order to create a positive connection with my students they should be aware of the rules and expectations of the classroom. In order for my classroom to have the optimal learning environment my students will know my expectations on the first day of class. Throughout the year there will be posters around the room displaying the rules and expectations of my classroom and of the schools with the consequences for each. A passage I agree with in the book states, class without guidelines for appropriate behaviors is apt to be chaotic and unproductive. Students must learn that certain behaviors simply wont be tolerated (Ormrod, 2012). A few of my expectations will include; classroom behaviors, handling of the material, work time and assessment. Most important to me is how my students will behave in my classroom. As I stated before there will be a no discrimination policy meaning that they will be expected to treat every fellow student and

teacher regardless of gender, religion, race, sexual preference etc. with respect. There will be no harmful words or actions against classmates and an absolutely no violence policy. I will expect my students to show me respect by listening quietly when I talk and follow the guidelines I put forth for every project. They will also show me respect by raising their hand to speak or to ask a question when I am giving a lecture or during the demonstration period in the beginning of class. They will be allowed to talk freely during work time and clean up time. If a student disregards these rules and expectations they will be talked to about what the appropriate behavior is. Depending on the severity of their actions will produce the appropriate punishment. There is s potential for a student to get their project taken away, point reduction, detention, a write up on the IEP or they be will sent to have a meeting with the principal. The second most important expectation I will have in my classroom is that students will handle and care for the art materials as if they were their own. This means they will not intentionally damage, throw away or take my art supplies out of the classroom. Art supplies cost a lot of money and I assume that I will be spending outside money to purchase what they need so they should respect it. If they do not respect the class materials it will be taken away from them. Materials given after the demonstrations period will be used for work time only and will be returned to its appropriate place in the room at the end of every class. During work time the students are allowed to talk to their peers at their tables and talk to other in the room if I see that they are working. If I work in an elementary and they do not work they will be instructed to work without talking or possibly get there project taken away from them for a few minutes. If I teach in a high school setting I will remind the students to work and that their grade it affected by participation and progress on their projects in class. I will not take their projects away because I feel that they are old enough to take ownership of their actions and therefore there grades. A final important expectation I will have is their participation in the assessment of their work and of their peers work. I think that allowing the students to participate in class or group discussions about their work will give them a low anxiety environment. This environment is also conducive to positive feedback. My students will be expected to participate in these discussions or they will be deducted participation points. Another assessment tool I expect them to participate in filling out questionnaires and or exit slips at the end of every project. These questionnaires will include foundations and higher level thinking that will promote learning of

content knowledge and knowledge of their abilities. I also think it is a good way for them to take further responsibility for their work and will decrease the chance of surprise once they get their grades back. I will express to my students that if they do not fill out these and hand them in with their project, five points will be deducted from their project grade. I think it is very important for my students to follow the expectations above as well as any other I deem necessary but I do realize that some students my simply forget the rules so they will be posted throughout the room on the posters I elaborated on in the previous paragraphs. In closing I believe that there are several important components to a classroom and a teacher that will promote a successful learning environment for the students. Some of those components are; classroom setup, teacher identity, class rules and expectations and the management of those rules and expectations. However, there is one other factor that is probably the most important one every teacher should remember, flexibility. I feel that as a teacher, not matter what your ideals and beliefs are there are certain situations that are going to test and possibly change your views. I think there is no way the every ideal and or expectation is no subject to change over time. What makes a good teacher is that you can recognize the need for change and adapt.