Classroom community is well developed within Mrs. Jenness’ classroom; however, community within the actual school is not as obvious. Mrs. Jenness does extremely well with holding her class to a “community standard”. She has a sense of control over her classroom which does not seem to be a hard control but more of a respect standard. Each student within this classroom will take, up to a certain point of course, responsibility for their fellow students. Amongst the school, however, there is less of a community setting. One reason could be the school is a brand new building and the grades are still getting adjusted to the change of setting.
Mrs. Jenness’ classroom involves all of her students. She makes points to include in child in every conversation and discussion. She has rules on her wall that the students developed and agreed to at the beginning of the year. She says the children don’t have any problems going by these rules and she likes to refer to them as classroom standards that their classmates will remind other classmates of. Respect is obvious and well defined amongst these children. They know how to approach Mrs. Jenness and how not to approach Mrs. Jenness. Yes ma’am and no ma’am are commonly heard of a day to day basis. Classroom achievement is displayed on the walls. The latest achievement talk is the Ice Cream Sunday each child gets to build on after mastering a multiplication number fact. The students in this classroom are extremely well behaved and do a good job of learning what works in this classroom setting and what does not work. Mrs. Jenness is also very caring and considerate towards her students. She displays every piece of artwork any student in that classroom has ever made her that year. She shares stories of praise when good praise of students is to be shared. These kids are so happy and pleased with the classroom and classmates they have, their favorite reward is “Pick a Friend and Have Lunch with Mrs. Jenness”!
The school community however is a different story. The principal, although well liked by the teachers, rarely shows his face in the classroom. The children of each class keep to themselves more than anything else. The only school wide activity I have seen since attending this school, is a box top competition between each classroom. One good thing about the morning announcements is each week and different classroom gets to pick five students to do announcements each day of the week, so at least the students get to hear different students’ voices.
I liked how this classroom had the reward for an academic performance. I think this is a good way to use rewards because it encourages the academia in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI also liked how this post spoke of the artwork on the walls. I feel the class I am in is missing student work and artwork on the walls.
I think the absent principle this post talked about is sadly a common theme but hopefully it is only because we are only in the schools a minimum about every week and in reality the principals are more involved.
I think it is a cool idea for the morning announcements to be done by different students. While I am sure the students like talking to hear themselves on the intercom, it is also helping with their communication skills. I can imagine that the students sitting in the classrooms listening are also pleased to be able to hear their fellow classmates on the morning announcements.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that it is a shame that the principal is not present in the classrooms more often. It is unfortunate for the students, first of all, as they are not able to interact with their principal. It is also disheartening to know that the principal does not take more time in his day to get to know his students, the entire reason he is in the position he is.