Standard 4 - Learning Environment – The competent teacher structures a safe and healthy learning environment that facilitates cultural and linguistic responsiveness, emotional well-being, self-efficacy, positive social interaction, mutual respect, active engagement, academic risk-taking, self-motivation, and personal goal-setting.

Classroom Website Rational:

My website artifact was created Spring of 2020 as I attended Trinity Christian College. It was created to be used as a method of contact as well as information for parents and guardians as well as students. Upon its creation it was important to me that parents could find information about my classroom expectations, my teaching style, classroom procedures, and the most important piece; provide an open line of communication to me for my students and their families.

As I continue in my educational process, learning and researching for best practices for educators; I believe to challenge a student in accordance with their grade level I hope I build on their prior knowledge using experience. It is my intention to create a space student can learn by doing. The best way to create connection and information retention is to create an opportunity for students to experience things for themselves. I created my website to mirror my thoughts on the importance of individual work as well as collaborative group work. Mastering both, helps the student learn to critically think and problem solve for themselves and with others.

As I created my website I wanted to drive home the importance of inclusion, diversity, and communication; having an open door policy. Research has proved that students learn better when they feel as if the are safe, accepted and wanted. All of which are the goals of my instruction style and thought of as I created my classroom rules. It is my hope that when students are in my classroom they feel as if they can be themselves. Ideally students will strive to learn the importance of self confidence, respect for themselves, me and their peers.