Creating a positive classroom atmosphere

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Creating a positive classroom atmosphere

• What do you need to do ??
• shapiroaviva_at_gmail.com

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Classroom Management

• In order to be an effective teacher .. You need
  to manage your classroom.. And believe it or
  not.. It all begins with YOU.. So.. Here are some
  .. Simple ideas.. To make your classroom a place
  of learning.. And to ensure a postive atmosphere.

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Its all in your attitude !!

• The greatest discovery of all time is that a
  person can change his future by merely changing
  his attitude .
• Oprah Winfrey

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BUT first..

• The remarkable thing is, we have a choice
  everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace
  for that day.
• Charles R. Swindoll

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More Attitude ..

• We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we
  hold toward them.
• Elbert Hubbard

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So change your attitude

• Adopting the right attitude can convert a
  negative stress into a positive one
• Hans Selye

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Ten Tips for creating a positive atmosphere.

• Always have a genuine purpose for your lesson and
  a clear agenda.
• Always try to engage your learners with
  meaningful material.
• Allow your learners to direct their own learning.
  
• Let your pupils know what to expect from you.
• Be passionate about what you are teaching

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More Tips

• Encourage all the pupils efforts.
• Support them along the way with positive feedback
  and a SMILE !
• Listen to them and respect their ideas and
  opinions even if you dont agree with them.
• Be a role model.
• Make success about their learning and not your
  teaching.

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AND when things go wrong..

• Re-examine your approach.
• Dont give up
• Dont take a bad lesson or day too hard.

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Student Self Assessment

• Taking Responsibility for their learning

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Getting Feedback from Students

• Students need feedback to learn and get better at
  what they are doing learning.
• By asking students to evaluate their own learning
  you are teaching them to take responsibility for
  the process of learning.
• There are many ways to get feedback from students
  on where they are and if they are satisfied with
  where they are.

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Ways to get Feedback

• Instant feedback by asking questions , a show
  of hands.. Etc..
• Ongoing journals/ logs etc..
• Written feedback pages formative/ summative

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Feedback as a way to Reflect..
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Feedback pages

• Use FEEDBACK pages to get the kids to stop and
  think where they are, and why they are there.

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Formative Feedback

• This type of feedback should be done during a
  lesson , a unit or a semester to find out what is
  going on and be able to make a change .
• .

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Take a moment to reflect

• I found the material in the unit interesting
• I completed the work my teacher asked me to.
• I took the work seriously
• I learned something new
• I improved my vocabulary
• I did my best
• I am satisfied with my progress
• I need to work harder/ make more of an effort.

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Summative Feedback Pages

• There are other forms of feedback which are
  summative . These can be used at the end of the
  semester. They should allow the kids to relate
  to the teacher, the class , the material taught
  and himself as a learner.

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Sample questions for end of the Year Feedback

• Part ONE The lessons
• 1. were interesting always, often, sometimes,
  not often
• Part TWO ME as a pupil, I.
• 1. made an effort always, often, sometimes,
  not often
• 2. did my homework- always, often, sometimes, not
  often
• PART THREE THE teacher
• 1. was supportive of me always, often,
  sometimes, not often
• 2. came prepared to class always, often
  sometimes , not often
• 3. treated me fairly always, often, sometimes,
  not often

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Setting Goals

• Goals are powerful tools than can produce great
  returns in most areas of a students life.
• By setting goals the student chooses where s/he
  wants to go and what they want to achieve.
• They can then concentrate on how to improve in
  the areas that they choose.

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By setting goals

• Students
• Improve their performance
• Increase their motivation
• Increase pride and satisfaction
• Improve their self- confidence
• Suffer less from stress

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Remember

• Goals can be set on a weekly basis, a monthly
  basis or each semester.
• Teachers need to provide the students with ample
  opportunities to set goals and help them monitor
  the progress.

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Reflection Journals

• A method to help the teacher teach
  responsibility, self assessment and develop
  critical thinking in students.

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Because learning in schools is traditionally
dominated and controlled by adults, students
seldom make decisions about their own learning
(Goodlad, 1984).

• Why Reflect ?

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Using Reflections Journals in English class are
useful because they ..

• Encourage students to take responsibility for
  their learning
• Encourage students to think
• Encourage students to set goals
• Encourage natural writing in English
• Encourage a real dialogue between teacher and
  student

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Reflection is Thinking
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What Research says..

• When we help students develop an awareness about
  their own thinking and learning processes, we are
  helping them think about the effectiveness of the
  strategies they use in reaching the goals they
  have set. Essentially, they are "thinking about
  thinking," a process known as metacognition.
  .....monitoring our progress, and evaluating the
  results is an effective way of helping students
  take more control of their own thought and
  feeling processes (Barell, 1985).

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Reflection JournalsWhat are they ?

• A journal is different from a diary. Diaries keep
  track of what's going on around you. Journals
  help you reflect on what's going on within you.
  Keeping a journal is like carrying on a
  continuing conversation with yourself.

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How to start

• Explain what you want the students to do
• Set aside time once a week in class for the
  students to use for writing
• Have the students bring in small notebooks
• Provide the students with prompts to get
  started..
• Encourage all of them to write..- Make it part of
  the class requirement !

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Possible prompts..

• Write about one positive and one negative thing
  that happened in English class this week.
• Write a list of what you remember learning this
  week and explain why you remember it .
• Explain what or who helped you learn in class
  this week.
• Write about your feelings while doing the test,
  the unseen, writing the essay , doing your
  homework etc..

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Questions to reflect on..

• How did the teacher relate to me this week ?
• How did I participate in class this week?
• What did we learn in class this week that was
  useful to me? Why ?
• What was especially enjoyable to me this week.
• In what areas do I feel I have improved ?
• What areas do I need to do to improve in..
• ( writing, reading strategies, listening
  skills..etc..) and how will I do this??

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Why feedback is so important..

• LISTENING to your pupils will build an atmosphere
  of trust and respect and encourage the students
  to share with you what they feel.
• It will foster positive classroom behavior
• It will create a classroom culture of success
• It will make both you and the pupils aware of
  their progress

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THE END .. Or The Beginning..

• Thank you.. For listening,, for taking part and
  for reflecting with us.. AND Remember..
• To effectively communicate, we must realize that
  we are all different in the way we perceive the
  world and use this understanding as a guide to
  our communication with others.
• Anthony Robbins