When thinking about my future classroom, I often dream about the posters and bulletin boards that I will have up around my room. I think of the many different ways that I could set up my students desks or tables. Unfortunately, I tend to forget though how truly important the classroom environment is for student success and how many components make up the classroom environment. It is also important to realize that there is more involved with the environment than just the physical layout. Within the classroom environment, there should be consistency, expectations, sequencing with awareness for the length of activities, and an explanation of any changes.
Consistency
Consistency is key in the classroom for many reasons. Without consistency, expectations will not be reinforced and students will not learn them or follow them. Consistency is also key for students who come from an home environment where they are lacking it. They crave the probability of know what will happen in the classroom and having a consistent set of rules and procedures to follow.
Expectations
Having expectations in the classroom is more important than having rules. Rules tell students what they can’t do while expectations tell students what they should be doing. Expectations have a more positive connotation surrounding them, and they do not have a gray area. Students know exactly what they should be doing, and thus it provides them with more structure. However, expectations should not just be posted on the wall, they need to be taught, rehearsed, and reinforced. This will ensure that there is no confusion.
Sequencing and Length of Activities
The length of each activity that is put forth in the classroom should be thought out. Each class period should be planned out and sequenced so that transitions are smooth and students stay engaged. Most middle school students cannot focus and work independently for a whole class period. Activities need to be planned out to retain the students’ interests, which will thus decrease classroom management issues.
Explanation of Changes
Once consistency and probability is established in the classroom, students will resist any changes that are made. If a procedure, routine, expectation, etc. is changed, students will question why it happened and will often push back against it. Teachers must explain why the change occurred and ensure that they are explicitly teaching the new change. Explaining why the change occurred will not completely eliminate resistance, but it will decrease it.
Students crave consistency and probability in the classroom and school environment. Addressing each component of classroom environment provides students with a safe and structured environment for them to succeed and learn.
Miss Wieberg 