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Resources for Impact of Room Environment

US Department of Education

ASCD

Pro Solutions

Classroom Direct

Using Environment as a Teaching Tool

In my classroom, I use student work as teaching tools in a few ways. I put up graded essays with rubrics so students can see what's expected and how their work measures up. I organize these essays by class and attach rubric scores for easy comparison. I also display good examples of thesis statements to help students understand what makes a strong argument. For ACE paragraphs (Answer, Cite, Explain), I show examples with clear explanations of what's needed, using rubrics to guide understanding. Alongside student work, I post the assignment details and rubrics so everyone knows what's required. Sometimes, I ask students to take a look at these samples during class to get ideas or help with their own writing struggles. This way, students can see examples, understand expectations, and get support when they need it.

Utilizing student work in the classroom environment enhances learning by providing clear expectations and standards through displayed essays and rubrics. By organizing work by class and including rubric scores, students can easily track their progress and identify areas for improvement. Exemplars of thesis statements and ACE paragraphs offer concrete examples for students to understand and apply writing techniques effectively. Encouraging students to view these samples during class fosters peer learning and collaboration, promoting a supportive and transparent learning atmosphere.