Learning Episode 5: Creating an Appropriate Learning Environment

The classroom climate that is conducive for learning is one that is non-threatening yet
business-like. It is a classroom where, when creating audio-visual presentations, the following
are observed:

 Specific classroom rules and procedures are clear.

 Classroom rules and procedures are discussed within the first few days of the school.
 Students are involved in the design of rules and procedures.
 Techniques to acknowledge and reinforce acceptable behavior are employed.
 Clear limits for unacceptable behavior are established and negative consequences for
such are communicated.
 Classroom processes are democratic
OBSERVE

Observe and use the observation sheet provided for you to document tour observations.
1. As you observe the class, look into the characteristics of the learners. Note their ages.
2. How many boys are there? How many girls?
3. Focus on their behavior. Are they able to manage their own behavior?
4. Can the learners already work independently?
5. Describe their span of attention.
ANALYZE

Analyze and answer these questions on observed classroom management practices. It is also
good to ask the teacher for additional information, so you can validate your observation. Write
your notes below; then organize your data in the Table that follows.
1. Are the areas in the classroom for specific purposes (storage of teaching aids, books,
students’ belongings, supplies, etc.) describe the areas. Will it make a difference if these
areas for specific purposes are not present?
2. Are there rules and procedures posted in the room? List them down. Do these rules
reinforce positive behavior?
3. Did the students participate in making the classroom rules? If the resource teacher is
available, ask him/her to describe the process. What’s the effect of students’
participation in rule-making on students’ behavior?
4. What are the daily routines done by the Resource Teacher? (Prayer, Attendance,
Assignment of monitors, Warm-Up Activities, etc.) How are they done
5. Is there a seating arrangement? What is the basis of this arrangement? Does this help in
managing the class.
6. Observe the noise level in the Classroom. How is this managed?
7. If a learner is not following instruction or is off-task, what does the Resource Teacher
do? Describe the behavior strategy used.
8. What does the Resource Teacher do to reinforce positive behaviors? (behavior
strategies)

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MATRIX

 Aspects of Classroom Management
1. Specific Areas in the Classroom
2. Classroom Rules
3. Classroom Procedures
4. Daily Routines
5. Seating Arrangements
6. Handling misbehavior/off-task behavior
7. Reinforcement of Positive Behavior
ANALYZE

1. How did the classroom organization and routines affect the learner’s behavior?
2. What should the teacher have in mind when she/he designs the classroom organization
and routines? What theories and principles should you have in mind?
3. Which behavior strategies were effective in managing the behavior of the learners? In
motivating students? Why were they effective?

REFLECT
1. Imagine yourself organizing your classroom in the future. In what grade level do you see
yourself? What routines and procedures would you consider for this level why?
2. Make a list of the rules you are likely to implement in this level. Why would you choose
these rules?
3. Should learners be involved in making the class rules? Why?

What is Creating an Appropriate Learning Environment?

Creating an appropriate learning environment refers to the process of designing a physical and
emotional space that fosters effective learning for students. This involves creating a classroom
atmosphere that is conducive to learning, encouraging student engagement, and promoting a
positive learning experience. Some key elements of an appropriate learning environment
include:

1. Clear expectations: Teachers should establish clear rules and routines for the classroom, as
well as clear expectations for student behavior and academic performance.

2. Positive relationships: Teachers should build positive relationships with their students,
creating a supportive and nurturing learning environment.

3. Active learning: Teachers should incorporate active learning strategies, such as group work,
discussions, and hands-on activities, to promote student engagement and understanding.

4. Differentiation: Teachers should differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of their
students, providing individualized support and challenges as needed.

5. Use of technology: Teachers should integrate technology into their teaching in meaningful
ways, using it to enhance learning and provide new opportunities for student exploration and
collaboration.

6. Feedback: Teachers should provide regular feedback to their students, helping them to
identify areas of strength and weakness and offering suggestions for improvement.
7. Collaboration: Teachers should encourage collaboration among their students, fostering a
sense of community and supporting the development of social skills as well as academic skills.

8. Professional development: Teachers should engage in ongoing professional development to

stay up-to-date with best practices in teaching and learning, as well as to learn new strategies
for creating an appropriate learning environment.

Importance of Creating an appropriate learning environment

Creating an appropriate learning environment is crucial for promoting student success and
achieving academic outcomes. Here are some reasons why:

1. Enhances student engagement: An appropriate learning environment promotes student

engagement by creating a space that is conducive to learning. This can include factors such as
clear expectations, active learning strategies, and positive relationships between students and
teachers.

2. Promotes academic achievement: When students are engaged in the learning process, they
are more likely to achieve academic success. An appropriate learning environment helps to
foster a love of learning, which can lead to higher levels of academic achievement over time.

3. Encourages social and emotional development: An appropriate learning environment

supports the social and emotional development of students by fostering a sense of community,
encouraging collaboration, and promoting positive relationships between students and
teachers.

4. Reduces stress and anxiety: When students feel safe, supported, and valued in their
learning environment, they are less likely to experience stress and anxiety. This can help to
promote a positive learning experience and reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes such as
dropout or academic underachievement.

5. Supports differentiation: An appropriate learning environment supports differentiation by

providing individualized support and challenges for students with diverse needs. This can help
to ensure that all students are able to achieve their full potential, regardless of their background
or abilities.

6. Promotes lifelong learning: By creating an appropriate learning environment that fosters a

love of learning, teachers can help to promote lifelong learning habits in their students. This can
have long-lasting benefits for students' academic and personal success in the future.

Link Theory to Practice

Direction: Read the items given below and encircle the correct answer.

1. Focusing on natural consequences of students’ behavior develops more self-regulation in the

students. Which of the following teacher statements demonstrates focusing on natural
consequences?
D. If you get grade of 95mor higher in the first two assignment, you will be exempted
from the third assignment
2. Learners are more likely to internalize and follow classroom rules when______.
 A. The learners participate in the rule-making process

3. For a teacher to establish and maintain consistent standards of learners’

behavior, they should do all EXCEPT ____________________________.
B. Be open to exceptions each time a learner misbehaves in class

Learning Episode 6: Classroom Management and Classroom Routines

Routines are the backbone of daily classroom life. They facilitate teaching and learning Routines
don’t just make the life of the teacher easier. They save valuable classroom time. Efficient
routines make it easier for students to learn and achieve more.

Establishing routines early in the school year:

 Enable you to run your daily activities run smoothly;

 Ensure you to manage time effectively;
 Helps you maintain order in the classroom;
 Makes you more focused in the teaching because you spend less time in giving
directions/instructions; and
 Enables you to explain to the learners what are expected of them.

Classroom Routines

1. Movement into the classroom

2. Transition in classroom activities

3. Movement out of the classroom

4. Use of lavatories / comfort room / washrooms

5. Passing of papers

6. Passing of books

7. Working with pairs/groups

8. Tardy students

9. Absent students

10. Submission/Collection of Materials

11. Submission of Projects

12. Asking questions during lessons

13. Asking for assistance

14. Joining classroom activities

15. Lining up

16. Walking in line

17. Fire drill / emergencies

18. Movement between classroom activities
19. Use of classroom supplies 20. Checking of assignments

What is Classroom Management and Classroom Routines

Classroom management refers to the strategies and techniques that teachers use to
create a positive learning environment, maintain order and discipline, and promote student
engagement and academic achievement. Effective classroom management involves establishing
clear expectations, routines, and procedures for students, as well as addressing behavioral
issues in a proactive and consistent manner.

Classroom routines refer to the predictable patterns of behavior that occur in a classroom on a
regular basis. These routines can include things like entering and exiting the classroom,
transitioning between activities, and completing assignments. By establishing clear routines,
teachers can help to reduce confusion and minimize disruptions, allowing students to focus on
learning.

Some key elements of effective classroom management and routines include:

1. Clear expectations: Teachers should establish clear expectations for student behavior and
academic performance, communicating these expectations in a consistent and explicit manner.

2. Consistency: Teachers should be consistent in their application of classroom rules and

procedures, enforcing them fairly and consistently across all students.

3. Positive reinforcement: Teachers should use positive reinforcement to acknowledge and

reward student behavior that meets or exceeds expectations, helping to build a sense of trust
and respect between students and teachers.

4. Proactive intervention: Teachers should address behavioral issues proactively, intervening

early to prevent minor infractions from escalating into larger problems.

5. Collaborative problem-solving: Teachers should involve students in the process of

developing solutions to behavioral issues, empowering them to take ownership of their learning
environment.

6. Ongoing assessment: Teachers should regularly assess the effectiveness of their classroom
management strategies, making adjustments as needed to improve outcomes for students.

Importance of Classroom Management and Classroom Routines

The importance of classroom management and classroom routines in education cannot be
overstated. Here are some reasons why:
1. Promotes student learning: Effective classroom management and routines help to create a
positive learning environment that promotes student engagement, reduces distractions, and
fosters academic achievement.

2. Reduces behavioral issues: By establishing clear expectations and procedures, teachers can
reduce the incidence of behavioral issues in the classroom, helping to create a more productive
and focused learning environment.

3. Builds student responsibility: By involving students in the development of classroom

routines and expectations, teachers can help to build student responsibility and ownership of
their learning environment.

4. Promotes student independence: By providing students with clear routines and

procedures, teachers can help to promote student independence and self-regulation, allowing
students to take ownership of their learning and develop important life skills.

5. Reduces teacher stress: By implementing effective classroom management strategies,

teachers can reduce their own stress levels, allowing them to focus on teaching and supporting
their students' academic success.

6. Promotes a positive school culture: By creating a positive learning environment that

promotes student engagement, academic achievement, and social-emotional development,
teachers can contribute to a positive school culture that supports student success both inside
and outside the classroom.

Link Theory to Practice

1. What term applies to the established ways of managing a classroom into a more organized
and systematic structure?

A. Classroom routine

2. When is the best time to establish classroom routines?

A. At the start of the year

3. What is the primary reason for the establishment of classroom routine?

A. To ensure order

4. To ensure order in the transition activities, what must be done?

D. Set the rules before the activity.

5. What routine must be set to guarantee the safety of the students?

D. Set the do’s and don’ts in every activity

Learning Episode 4: Learner Diversity: The Community and Home Environment

1. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model presents the learner within the context of
layers of relationship systems that make up the learner’s environment. The layers are:

Microsystem- Mesosystem- Exosystem- Macrosystem- Chronosystem-

Includes the The connection The bigger social Outermost The element of
structure such between the system which layer which time, patterns of
as one’s family, structures in the includes the city includes stability and
school and microsystem government, the cultural values, pacing of the
neighborhood workplace and the customs and child’s everyday
mass media laws life.

The model helps the teacher look into every aspect in the learner’s environment to
understand his behavior. The teacher’s important role is not to replace what is missing at home
(if any), but to work so that the school becomes an environment that welcomes and nurtures
families. The teacher works to create a partnership with the family and the community to bring
out the best in every learner.
2. Baumrind’s Parenting Styles

Authoritarianz Parents are very firm with their children and except
unwavering and unquestioning obedience. Rules are set by parents and misbehavior is
met with withdrawal of affection, physical punishment or threats.
Permissive. Parents are not firm or controlling. They have few expectations.
Maybe warm and caring but appear to be involved and uninterested.
Rejecting-Neglecting. Parents are disengaged from children. Neither
demanding nor responsive to children. Provide no structure, supervision, support or
guidance.
Authoritative. Parents achieve a good blend. They are firm yet loving. Have
clear and reasonable expectations and limits for their children. Treat children with
respect and warmth. Make children understand consequence of their behavior.

Children of:
Authoritarian Parents: are often unhappy, fearful, withdrawn, inhibited,
hostile, and aggressive. They have low self-esteem and difficulty with peers.
Permisive Parents: believe that their parents do not care for them. They are
often impulsive, aggressive and lack self-control; may they have low levels of
independence and responsibility.
Rejecting-Neglecting Parents: are found to be least competent in their over-all
functioning and adjustment.
Authoritative Parents: are socially competent, self-reliant, and have greater
ability to show self-control. They have higher self-esteem and are better adjusted.
-Based on Child Development by Santrock, 2004.
Physical Development: Physical development refers to the growth and maturation of a child's
body, including their gross motor skills (such as running, jumping, and climbing), fine motor
skills (such as grasping and manipulating objects), and overall physical health and well-being.

Social Development: Social development refers to the way children learn to interact with
others, including their ability to form relationships, communicate effectively, understand social
norms and expectations, and develop a sense of community and belonging.

Emotional-Moral Development: Emotional-moral development refers to the way children

learn to manage their emotions, develop a sense of empathy and compassion for others,
understand right from wrong, and develop a strong moral compass that guides their behavior.

Cognitive Development: Cognitive development refers to the way children learn to think,
reason, problem-solve and make sense of the world around them. This includes their ability to
understand cause and effect relationships, categorize objects, remember information, and use
language to communicate their thoughts and ideas.