Thursday, September 21, 2023

#3.5 “What to Look for in a Classroom”, Kohn


Key words from this article that stood out to me include: 
comfortable, open, collaboration, engaged, hum of activity, respectful, 
welcoming, emphasis on thoughtful exploration, “sense of purposeful clutter,” 
appealing atmosphere, students helping. 

Most importantly, a strong indicator of a positive and engaging learning environment is not finding the teacher at the front of the classroom but finding the teacher working with students. 

Here is an article that emphasizes the importance of a positive learning environment:

https://educationwalkthrough.com/what-to-look-for-during-classroom-walkthroughs-and-teacher-observations/#:~:text=Look%20for%20evidence%20of%20effective,of%20engaging%20and%20challenging%20instruction 

In this article about positive observations in a classroom known as "look fors", the ones that were similar to Kohn’s article include, “positive learning environment…effective classroom management,” as well as engaging instruction, student collaboration

Another example that stresses the importance of a learner centered classroom, which is not something I had growing up is described here: https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/what-to-look-for-in-a-classroom
I grew up in primarily teacher centered classrooms but the autonomy and collaboration in learner centered classrooms is more beneficial to student development. 


After watching the video, "Introduction to Culturally Relevant Pedagogy," I recognize that culture influences students inside and outside of the classroom. Culture helps people make sense out of the world we are surrounded by such as music, art, technology but also the intangible aspects such as values and beliefs. Bringing all cultural experiences into the classroom builds on students' experiences and understanding with the world they are in. The students do not just need to adapt to the mainstream but the school needs to adapt to where the students come from as well. Through culturally responsive teaching, schools can eliminate stereotypes and the "one size fits all" mentality when thinking of people from specific cultural backgrounds. 

Here is a link with examples of activities that are inclusive to different cultures: https://youtu.be/bmliju__fpI?feature=shared 

4 comments:

  1. When I was younger, I would usually like a class based on my teacher and a lot of the teachers I liked had a positive environment in their classroom.

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  2. Forgot to include my thoughts/summary on the video:

    The video on diversity, inclusion and equity in education titled, “Math and Culturally Responsive Teaching,” focuses on how to improve and change the way math is taught in school. The teaching model suggested in the video is Zenned Math which emphasizes a community-based method where teachers support students and help them grow as individuals rather than simply focusing on working through content. As a result of the broken education system, not every student receives a high quality learning environment which is detrimental to their experience in school. By increasing awareness and sensitivity toward the work students are given, such as how word problems are structures, and the grades they receive, this evolves the model of teaching from strictly content to see the students as individuals whom teachers are responsible for shaping in school.

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  3. Hi Liv! I agree that a positive teacher does not just stand at the front of the classroom. They are actively working alongside their students and always willing to give support.

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  4. Hey Liv, I also wrote about increasing awareness and how it is a self awareness for teachers also . I like this sentence you used "eliminate stereotypes and the one size fits all".

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#10 Tying It All Together

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