Please answer separately
Part one- Reflect on your time in the classroom as an elementary-age student. Which classes were you most engaged in and why? How did your level of engagement connect to your performance in the course?
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Janteba-Elementary Science class was the most engaging to me. I love learning new things about how science works around us in the real world. The teacher always made the lesson engaging and fun. We always did different experiments and hands-on activities. She would always call on one of us to volunteer in front of the class. Doing this was a smart way to gain our attention along with helping us better understand the lessons being taught. When children have a lack of relevance they can’t see why the lessons are important (Data Works, 2016). Allowing us to be hands-on also kept our attention drawn which caused us to want to learn more as well as giving us the necessary confidence to confront any learning challenges along the way.
Kelly- In elementary school, I enjoyed reading time. Whether it was in small groups or as a whole class, I found it enjoyable. I can recall listening to audio CD’s and being able to hear a narrator read the story. Listening to a narrator read the story allowed me to hear how unfamiliar words were pronounced and I could truly focus on creating an image of what was happening in the story in my head. As I got older in elementary school, I remember taking turns during whole group instruction to read sections of a chapter book. Doing this activity, made me build confidence in reading aloud. The subject of reading always made me eager for book fairs as well. The level of engagement with reading during my elementary years made me a confident reader and helped me learn how to become more fluent at the same time.
Breana- When I reflect on my elementary days, the class or subject I was most engaged in was math. Even today as a sped para my favorite subject to teach is math. Math became my most engaged subject because I was more a hands-on learner, and my teachers would use many manipulatives when teaching math. I remember using ten block frames or the colorful counting blocks to help me assist in solving mathematical problems. Having a teacher who accommodated not only my learning skill but also others in the class, allowed our engagement in the course to show high performance. Throughout many years in elementary school, I have scored higher in math than other subjects from being engaged and eager to learn new skills based on that subject.
Makayla- When i reflect on my childhood in the classroom as an elementary student, I remember loving and being so engaged in science. Everything about science was fascinating to me, from the topics to the materials and the experiments we did. I remember specifically one time in fourth grade we got to create a habitat for crabs. It was really cools because we had to learn about their habitat and what they needed to survive. This was a great way to engage us students in the classroom because it was interactive and very hands on.
Alysun- As an elementary student, I struggled deeply in school. I had undiagnosed ADD and school was a terrible experience for me. I was not hyperactive, just unable to stay in my seat, focus, get tasks completed. My older brother and cousins were model students and top of the class. My family was heavily involved in the school system and my mom was president of the school board. Everyone thought I was just lazy or a goof-off because IQ tests showed I had a very high IQ. I was always respectful and polite, but I was not matched with the same courtesy. I was met with frustration and a lot of privileges being taken away. I felt unmotivated to do well or try. I was not engaged and most engaging activities were ones that I had to sit out because of getting in trouble. I had one teacher that saw me. His name was Mr. Federman. He was engaging. He taught science in a way that made sense to me because it was as hands-on as he could make it. I loved every lesson and did really well in that subject. Engagement was key to my success as a student.
Felicia-Looking back at my time as an elementary age student, my most engaged classroom subject was math. I would say I was most engaged because I more of a hands on learner and I remember having many lessons that had manipulative’s involved. From learning how to build a ten frame to counting money. Anything that was hands on, I could succeed (that’s how my brain worked). Being able to touch it and see if I had taken something physically away, it would show the outcome and that made sense. However, just telling me to write it on paper and do the equation, became a bit more challenging to me. I could see how my other classes like reading and spelling came harder for myself. I had a hard time with reading and never wanted to read out loud in my front of peers. Thank you!
Part two
Please answer separately
How does a well-managed classroom foster respect between the students and the teacher? Provide one example of the teacher’s role and one example of the student role in establishing and maintaining a well-managed classroom.
Please answer separately
Breana-A well-managed classroom fosters mutual respect between students and teachers by creating a structured, positive, and supportive learning environment (Evertson, 2022). When expectations are clear and consistently enforced, students feel safe and valued, leading to respectful interactions. For instance, a teacher demonstrates respect by listening actively to students’ concerns and needs, establishing a culture of mutual trust. Students on the other hand show respect by obeying to the established classroom rules, participating actively, and supporting their peers, thus contributing to a positive and orderly classroom atmosphere (Evertson, 2022). This reciprocal dynamic reinforces a respectful and effective learning environment where both teachers and students thrive.
Mekayla-When i think of well managed classrooms I think it fosters the respect between the teachers and students by building a welcoming environment where students can remain focused and to task but also have conversations and build upon their experiences in the classroom. I think one example of the teachers role would be applying the classrooms rules and constancy of what expectations look like, i feel that that the teachers role shows, discusses and implements the structural technique to allow management in the classroom. One role of a student would to be having team leads at each taable, these are students who are the leaders of the table, making sure they are on task, work is complete , voices are maintains and focused and support their table mates.
Felicia- When asked how a well-managed classroom fosters respect between the students and the classroom teacher, I think about my current classroom and how it flows throughout the day. First, having a well-managed classroom consistent of the teacher having very set, clear classroom rules that should be followed daily, no exceptions. Next, keeping routine consistent, especially with younger grades (I work with kindergartners, and they LOVE routine). This goes along with the teacher’s role in fostering a well-managed class. CONSISTENCY, CLEAR-EXPECTATIONS, and ORGANIZATION are crucial in the classroom. Lastly, we wouldn’t have a classroom without students 🙂 Promoting classroom participation with all students helps guide classroom discussions and further conversations throughout the lesson. As educators, we want to build communication skills and confidences within out students. If a student lacks confidence, that leads to a decrease in engagement from the lesson, which then leads completing the lesson and or understanding the concepts (Curriculum & Curriculum, 2017). Thank you!
Hayley- If there is a disciplined classroom, the students will respect the rules and teacher’s wishes (Smith, 2021). If the teacher continues every day to focus on the same rules in the classroom, then the students will catch on and start to follow them. You must stay consistent, or the students will never catch on. The teacher could have the rules hanging on the wall as a reminder. Or they can give affirmations, as they can go over them at the beginning of each school day. The teacher’s role is to give discipline and to lay down the rules. The teacher must remind and enforce all rules, or the students will never learn. The student’s role is to follow the rules and gain respect from their teacher. For the student to gain respect, the teacher must enforce the rules. If the student is misbehaving, then the teacher must take action to show that they are not messing around. This is how it is going to go and there will be no second chances.
Kelle-A well-managed classroom can foster respect between the students and the teacher by showing that both are valued pupils and have a reason to be in the classroom. This respect helps cater to the learning process of all. A teacher’s role is to lead by example. A positive attitude, communicating appropriately, setting standards, and following through with them will impact the student’s response (Evertson, Emmer, & Poole, 2022). A student’s role is to follow through and model the standards set before them. They are also expected to give feedback to the teacher. This feedback tells the teacher if things are progressing positively or if there is a need for change. When students and teachers work together it creates a positive learning environment.
Brittany- A well-managed classroom can foster respect between the students and the teacher by building a relationship and keeping the students in engaged in their lessons. Positive relationships improve student’s behavior in a classroom as well as students feeling the sense of achievement. Keeping the students engaged in hand-on activities and creating teaching methods.
One example of the teacher roles in establishing and maintaining a well-managed classroom is creating a safe environment where students feel safe and valued. A place where the students can learn and take risk without any other thoughts.
One example of a student role in establishing and maintaining a well-managed classroom is for the student to be aware of the boundaries and rules for their class. When there are set boundaries, everyone can be on the same page and to treat other like they want to be treated.
