Fall 2021

Goal

The environment students learn in remains to be, as I believe the most important part of the learning process. Teachers can foster learning by providing a safe, warm, comfortable and accommodated learning space for students. It is truly remarkable how much the environment can affect mood, attitude and work flow. As teachers we should be creating an environment that students can flourish in. This could include different types of seating, colours, fidget toys, carpets and so much more. Thinking back to when I was in elementary or junior high, the classrooms my teachers had affected me deeply. I wanted to learn in a bright, warm and accommodated classroom. I can still remember those teachers and classrooms to this day. My goal this semester is to evaluate my practicum classroom and further explore why my mentor teacher has it set up the way it is. Upon further review, if we need to change anything we could determine what else we could do. I want to use students opinion as well and they are also a large part of the learning process.

The artifact I chose for this section of teaching competencies was my school tours assignment from winter 2020. I found this assignment very important and useful to compare different educational settings. There are many similarities and differences between their environments. I was able to see what an effective environment looked like and how thus transferred through the students. Some program outcomes of this are 2,3 and 4. (E 2,3,4). This means that the classroom is physically, emotionally and culturally secure and invites learning. It should be a safe space where students and teachers feel they can flourish. Routines should also be in place to create a sense of stability and will ensure positive behaviour. An environment that favours learning will allow high-level thinking and give students the space to succeed. In my school tours assignment, I spoke about the strength and weaknesses of each school and how this affects students. Whether it is the flexible seating or amount of desks in class it all takes effect of students. Managing this properly and making this space as comforting as possible. My mentor teacher always made sure the environment was clean and organized to promote learning and I saw how it was helpful to the students.

Fall 2020

The artifact I chose for the environment teaching competencies is a document I created called mentor teacher conversations. It is a document containing all of the real-time notes about topics and conversations I had with my mentor teacher. My mentor teacher is a grade 3 elementary school teacher and a part of the CBE. These conversations were integrated into our education class curriculum and contained topics that directly related to our in-class discussions and academic content. It was very beneficial to have direct access to a teacher in a position that I want to be in a few years and have them give me advice on so many different topics. This year is challenging not being able to be in the actual classroom with them but she made sure to give us as much quality learning as we can get. Of course, it is not going to be the same as being in the classroom with the students and in the environment but we are adapting. Most conversations we had were around the idea of a classroom environment and how to maintain respect while having fun. We talked about the need to adapt to ever-changing situations and also being constantly innovative. Creating boundaries and set rules for students can create a respectful and positive environment for everyone. Making sure classroom diversity is also upheld is important. We discussed many positive things but also talked about challenges in the classroom. Not everything is easy, especially when it comes to teaching but as my mentor said, knowing how to control things that are in your hands and let go of things that aren't is the key. Some things we spoke about that create a positive environment include diverse classroom libraries, flexible seating and technology. All of these things add to a positive experience in a classroom and can make learning that much better for students. One of the biggest things we spoke about was having great role models to look up to when teaching. All teachers teach differently but having them as a resource to use for lessons or classroom setting is important. A goal I have for my future self is knowing how to effectively set up my classroom in a way that encourages learning and provides students with stability. I want to have a fun, vibrant, cheerful but educational classroom that promotes diversity and learning. As we continue through our courses I hope to learn much more from my mentor teacher and with hope to return to classrooms about the environment and how this directly affects students.

Winter 2021

An artifact that represents an environment for learning as a teacher is my classroom management assignment. The classroom management assignment examines a video of a teacher and her classroom and notes of all behavioral observations. The classroom environment is such an essential aspect of learning that learning would cease to happen without it. As teachers, it is our responsibility to create a positive and inclusive classroom that leads to authentic learning. This management assignment showed me how to "create and manage effective classroom routines and procedures to ensure positive student behavior" (IE3). The observations made from this video showed both positive and negative behavior in a classroom, and I have learned many beneficial things about both students and teachers. I have learned to "plan a classroom environment that is physically, socially, culturally and psychologically secure" (IE2). Trust between teachers and students is crucial and something we have been exploring throughout our entire degree. When teachers know their students well, they can vary instruction to tailor to everyone's needs. This creates a community of diverse learners and a respectful environment. This assignment allowed me to further analyze many important psychological education terms like affective or cognitive domain, encouraging engagement, discipline, and more.

My goal for myself within this specific teaching competency is to better focus on the approaches to learning and how this affects the classroom environment. Because the environment is so important, being as knowledgeable as possible about this topic is beneficial as a student-teacher. A community where both teachers and students can learn and engage in positive relationships creates authentic learning experiences for all.