2a: Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport

An essential skill of teaching is that of managing relationships with students and ensuring that relationships among students are positive and supportive. Teachers create an environment of respect and rapport in their classrooms by the ways they interact with students and by the interactions they encourage and cultivate among students. An important aspect of respect and rapport relates to how the teacher responds to students and how students are permitted to treat one another. Patterns of interactions are critical to the overall tone of the class. In a respectful environment, all students feel valued, safe, and comfortable taking intellectual risks. They do not fear put-downs or ridicule from either the teacher or other students.

“Respect” shown to the teacher by students should be distinguished from students complying with standards of conduct and behavior. Caring interactions among teachers and students are the hallmark of component 2a (Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport); while adherence to the established classroom rules characterizes success in component 2d (Managing Student Behavior).

Danielson, C. 2013

Artifact 2a-1

This is a poster that is hanging in my senior practicum class. This has important class rules that the students are expected which it is good to have the class rules posted so the students and look and see what is expected. This helps the students understand the relationship within each other such as student to student and even teacher to student. Some things I love are believe in yourself, be respectful of others, try new things and always be kind. These are some of the rules that should be expected of students. They show us how to have respect toward others and help us have the respect towards ourselves. It creates such a positive and welcoming environment for all those who enter. These are things I hope to implement in my future classroom someday.

Artifact 2a-2

This is the seating arrangement in my senior practicum class. My mentor had the students pick where they would want to be but it had to be a different side of where they were already and by someone else they haven't ever sat by. I think that builds an environment where it builds that respect. The students get to interact with other students and get to know new people every-time they change seats. Changing seats builds a lot of respect for others who they have already sat by. This helps the students build different relationships in the classroom with each other. If I teach older kids, I would try switching seats like this, I think it shows your students too that you can have respect for them and help them feel like they are in charge of their own stuff and place at school that they chose.