Creating a positive classroom culture

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I have certainly learnt much from the department meeting and staff contact time sharing and it made me reflect about my journey thus far in creating a positive classroom culture for my students.

 3 key takeaways

  • What is unsaid may tell more than what is said. During the training by Ada, we did a role play on how to counsel a troubled student. This activity reminded me on the importance of being sensitive and observant during conservations with students as oftentimes non verbal cues and information that is withheld may give greater insights into the struggles that students are facing. 
  • Every teacher and every class if different, there is no one size fit all method. Be yourself and find your own style and identity. In my early teaching years, I had focused on building good rapport with students but some were treating me more as a friend and kindness was taken for granted. My mentor back then asked me to put on a stern face and pretend to be angry whenever I enter a class. Although it helped in classroom management, I struggled as it wasn't my personality. Along the years I found my own style of being sincere, kind but firm by setting clear expectations and following through with consequences. As I listen to the sharing by Denise, Nabs and Feline, it really resonated with me and my journey in finding my teacher identity and style for different classes. 
  • What we do and say can have a lasting impact on our students. Students may not remember all the academic knowledge we have taught them but oftentimes they will remember how we made them feel. From the various anecdotes shared by fellow colleagues it served as a reminder to be mindful in our interactions with the students especially in the words used in our conversations. 

2 things to work on

  • Getting to know my form class better and building a strong rapport with them. As I joined the class rather late in term 4, there are still much that I need to learn about them and would want to make an effort to forge a positive classroom culture. Am planning to start with a few simple  initiatives such as writing birthday cards for the students and having 1 to 1 conversations during FT time. 
  • Empower the students. Give the class committee more opportunities to take up various roles and responsibilities. Get students who are disengaged to help with simple tasks like distributing worksheets etc. Focus on greater student ownership in learning with resources made readily available online.

1 thing to share

  • Keep calm and carry on. This is also a note to myself in the new school year as there will be good days but there may also be crazy days. Teaching is a journey and learning process, to have the courage to try again when things don’t work out. To be calm and listen without judging as everyone has a story. 
  • Would also like to share this infographic that I found reader friendly and useful on classroom management


Wishing everyone a blessed new year 💕

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