Classroom Culture
Classroom Environment
The environment and culture of the classroom is an important factor in student learning and growth. Students are not going to learn in an environment where they are uncomfortable and especially once where they feel unsafe. I want my classroom to be a brave and safe space where all students can learn and grow and be comfortable while they do so. That feeling of belong starts with the physical environment. I want my students to feel seen in my classroom through the displays I use, from the pictures I share, and the stories I tell. If I only use images that perpetrate white, Euro-centric privilege, then my students begin to associate academic success with being white. I want my classroom to welcome diversity, so it is important that my classroom physically reflects the students that are in and the world they are living in. My students and their families should feel valued in my classroom.
My classroom needs to be a collaborative space and a great way to do that is to build community. Every student needs to feel that they are a vital member of the class and has a voice to share and be respected. As a teacher, I can build that community by confronting instances of discrimination and teaching about the different forms of biases that students will face (Powell, 2011). My classroom will be a supportive space where we can have difficult conversations that shows that every student has the space to contribute (Powell, 2011). Students need to have the tools available to communicate their thoughts and feelings. I want my students to feel comfortable sharing their voice, however they choose to do so.
I want my classroom to be a space where my students can express their creativity and explore their curiosity. I can affirm to my students that my classroom is a place where they belong by giving them the room and the opportunities they need to be creative and curious. While teaching the content is important, we often underestimate how important it is that our class environments allow creativity and curiosity and their role in student success (Powell, 2011). Part of that goes into building a community where students feel comfortable doing so.
References
Powell, R. (2011). Introduction. In R. Powell & E. Rightmyer (Eds), Literacy for all students: An instructional framework for closing the gap (pp. 1-10). Routledge.
Powell, R. (2011). Classroom climate/physical environment: Creating an inclusive classroom. In R. Powell & E. Rightmyer (Eds), Literacy for all students: An instructional framework for closing the gap (pp. 35-53). Routledge.