No Series: Ready to Learn: Creating a Positive Classroom Culture

Ready to Learn: Creating a Positive Classroom Culture

Lesson Objective: Build a safe and inclusive classroom community
All Grades / All Subjects / Community
2 MIN

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Discussion and Supporting Materials

Thought starters

  1. What strategies does Ms. Saul use to create a helpful class pledge?
  2. How does Ms. Saul communicate her beliefs about learning to her students?
  3. What practices and routines could you institute to build your unique classroom culture?

244 Comments

  • Private message to Bakar Bey

What strategies does Ms. Saul use to create a helpful class pledge?

Helping students feel safe, knowing it's normal to make mistakes, and having conversations with them about different behaviors. 

How does Ms. Saul communicate her beliefs about learning to her students?

She has a serious conversation with students about their ownership and classroom culture, sharing that everyone is responsible for their classroom culture. 

What practices and routines could you institute to build your unique classroom culture?

Making time to involve students in building the classroom culture, and helping them set goals and expectations that they want to achieve. 

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  • Private message to Casey Martin

Creating a classroom culture, she consistently involves students in creating their class culture. This encourages student to take ownership in their learning and how their actions in the classroom affects the learning of others. The class pledge is a great tool  to remind students and teacher of why we are here. Expectations are presented clearly and reinforced as needed. 

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  • Private message to Francesca Meunier Ng Cheong Vee
  1. From what she says, at the beginning of the year, she has a conversation with her students. They talk about their classroom culture, she tells them what is expected of them, and  the students share their thoughts. The pledge is established through their "hope and dreams", as she puts it. 
  2.  From the video, it seems like she discusses a lot with her students. Ms. Saul tries to instill a sense of responsibility for their learning and behavior to the student. She emphasizes that it is normal to make mistakes and that to reach their goals, students should keep on trying. She also tries to establish a  team spirit to motivate the students to reach their goals. Moreover, they read the pledge together, since this pledge is used as a measure for the students' behavior.
  3. In my classroom, I will also involve my students in establishing some of the rules. I will also encourage group work.
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  • Private message to Stephanie Wray

1. She used I statements, and allowed the students to have an input in the pledge. This helps set a tone by her telling them what is expected but also while having the students input it allows them to actually feel like the pledge is theirs. Which creates a sense of belonging.

2. Ms. Saul lets the students know making mistakes are a part of learning, and thats it is okay. This can allow for more participation, and letting the kids know they aren't smart just because they missed something. This allows the students to feel safe to be able to speak up.

3. I would like to continue to have my students have an input in the classroom environment, along with making the space fun and safe to speak up. I do not want my students to ever feel dumb or unsafe in my class.

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  • Private message to Patricia Perry

1. Ms. Saul communicates with her students to get their ideas and input for the pledge, which will make them more aware of the rules and more willing to follow them and accomplish the goals.

2. Encouragement, reinforcement and acknowledgement are all ways that Ms. Saul communicates her beliefs about learning. Creating an environment that positive were mistakes are seen as oppurtunites rather than roadblocks.

3. Some ways that I would create an unique classroom environment would be to have the class gather around and encourage a student who needs more assistance. Giving awards and recognition for growth and willingness to try. Also nicknames would be encouraged as well I feel that creates a sense of family and comfort.

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Transcripts

  • [00:00]
    Interviewer: All right, back in 3, 2, 1.

    Establishing a strong classroom culture is essential because it’s sort of like

    [00:00]
    Interviewer: All right, back in 3, 2, 1.

    Establishing a strong classroom culture is essential because it’s sort of like the bed that you plant the flowers in. You have to have that in order for things to flourish and grow. Students have to feel safe in your classroom. You have to normalize air. They have to know that it’s okay to try and try and try again, that you will actually learn more if you fail often.

    I have a really serious conversation with my students at the beginning of the year about their ownership in our classroom culture, and how each of them is responsible for maintaining our learning environment.

    I believe in myself and my ability to do my best.

    We’ve written a classroom pledge together establishing our hopes and dreams and goals for the year that we then use as a measure for our behavior throughout the rest of the year. If someone’s offending or interrupting or not staying on task, we will actually stop and have a conversation as a class, is this something that’s gonna help us achieve our hopes and dreams or is this something against.

    The students are able to make that judgment and respond to each other. Hearing it from your peer that you’re interrupting my learning is often times more effective than me redirecting. Taking the time to really have students buy into the idea that we’re on a journey, and if we’re all doing the things we’re supposed to do we’re going to get where we need to go.

    I am too focused on my hopes and dreams to waste today. I am college bound.

    [End of Audio]

School Details

East Palo Alto Charter School

Teachers

teachers
Jen Saul
English Language Arts Math Science Social Studies Arts / 3 / Teacher