4. Learning Environment

Artifact 1: Seating layout

Rationale:

Knowledge indicator 4C, "understands how to help students work cooperatively and productively in groups." 

Spanish is a very group work orrientend and conversation oriented class. This is a picture of the seating chart that shows how everyone at least has a partner if not a group to work in. All desks can see the front for instruction, but working with others can help you better understand and learn at times so we set the seats up so that the students can not only learn from the teacher but also from each other. I realized how importan this is when in different classrooms with individual desks facing forward. The students often move those desks to facilitate group work, but it really is important as teachers to facilitate that.  

Artifact 2: Introduction slides for the beginning of the semester with expectation

Rationale:

Performance indicator 4J, "creates clear expectations and procedures for communication and behavior and a physical setting conducive to achieving classroom goals." 

This is a general slideshow that I use in my classroom as an introduction at the beginning of each semester or trimester. Slides 2-4 are just an introduction of me and who I am, but slides 5 and 6 is where I lay out the expectations for the semester. We do the same thing every day and the students can know what to expect and I am sure to tell them from day one. This helps the classroom so that we can have those clear expectations to help the class go smoothly. I learned how important this is when I was able to do this with one of my classes for myself. The students really do respond to it and it helps you start off on the right foot.