Creating a Climate of Caring and Concern in the Classroom for Students from Diverse Racial and Ethnic Cultural Groups
Creating a Climate of Caring and Concern in the Classroom for Students from Diverse Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Groups
By: Janelle McGee
When teachers can implement positive teacher-student relationships in the classroom, that in turn creates a positive climate in the classroom. When students are comfortable in their environment, they are motivated to learn. From greeting students at the door before they come into class, to making eye contact, smiling, and engaging in appropriate playful behavoirs students benefit from personal engagements with the teacher.
Student's come from many diverse, racial, and ethnic cultural groups. Coming from a different country myself, Trinidad and Tobago, my skin is dark and I am from a different cultural and racial background than my students. It is very important to create a climate of caring and concern. Creating this type of environment decreases bullying and increases academic achievement and psychological well-being all while mitigating the negative effects of soceoeconomic status. When the teacher can give off the image of a team approach in the classroom, students will believe that they and the teacher are all on the same team while leaving cultural, racial, and soceoeconimal differences behind because while in the classroom we are all "one".
Some reccomendations on creating a positive climate of Caring and Concern in the Classroom for Students from Diverse Racial, ethnic, and Cultural Groups include an assessment of the current climate, creating a shared vision, and working together to carry out the shared vision. An example of assessing the current climate in the classroom would be at the beginning of the year with an ice breaker activity. An "All About Me " questionnaire can break the jitters of new students in a classroom as well as break the ice for personal relationships between stude t and teacher. Questions like what did you do over summer break, what is your favorite hobby, and how many brothers and sisters do you have are all questions that can help the teacher learn more about the students outside of the classroom. Creating a shared vision in the classroom means that student and teacher are all on the same team with one goal; learning. Being on the same team eliminates "I'm better than you because my skin color or where I'm from", and puts everyone on the same team. This encourages social interactions, and can develop interpersonal relationships in the classroom when students help students. When working together as a class with one shared vision, there are limitless possibilities of learning that can happen in the classroom.
When creating a positive climate in the classroom, teachers should be aware that issues can always arise. That means if the teacher tries to male a joke, make sure it is appropriate and not racial or degrading. Also the teacher when relating to the students must relate to every student so that one does not feel left out. By doing this and relating to all students rather than just one it can eliminate negative vibes.
In conclusion, it is essential for teachers to create a climate of care and Concern in the Classroom. In my 4th Grade special ed class, I notice less Behavoirs happening when I can relate to my students on a personal level. Student's become motivated to learn in the classroom, and with the use of 21st century technology students become excited to come to school, learn with other classmates, and engage with the teacher.
Resources:
Key Factors in Creating a Positive Classroom Climate. (2017, September 28). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from http://www.cfchildren.org/blog/2012/08/key-factors-in-creating-a-positive-classroom-climate/
How to Create a Positive School Climate. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_create_a_positive_school_climate
By: Janelle McGee
When teachers can implement positive teacher-student relationships in the classroom, that in turn creates a positive climate in the classroom. When students are comfortable in their environment, they are motivated to learn. From greeting students at the door before they come into class, to making eye contact, smiling, and engaging in appropriate playful behavoirs students benefit from personal engagements with the teacher.
Student's come from many diverse, racial, and ethnic cultural groups. Coming from a different country myself, Trinidad and Tobago, my skin is dark and I am from a different cultural and racial background than my students. It is very important to create a climate of caring and concern. Creating this type of environment decreases bullying and increases academic achievement and psychological well-being all while mitigating the negative effects of soceoeconomic status. When the teacher can give off the image of a team approach in the classroom, students will believe that they and the teacher are all on the same team while leaving cultural, racial, and soceoeconimal differences behind because while in the classroom we are all "one".
Some reccomendations on creating a positive climate of Caring and Concern in the Classroom for Students from Diverse Racial, ethnic, and Cultural Groups include an assessment of the current climate, creating a shared vision, and working together to carry out the shared vision. An example of assessing the current climate in the classroom would be at the beginning of the year with an ice breaker activity. An "All About Me " questionnaire can break the jitters of new students in a classroom as well as break the ice for personal relationships between stude t and teacher. Questions like what did you do over summer break, what is your favorite hobby, and how many brothers and sisters do you have are all questions that can help the teacher learn more about the students outside of the classroom. Creating a shared vision in the classroom means that student and teacher are all on the same team with one goal; learning. Being on the same team eliminates "I'm better than you because my skin color or where I'm from", and puts everyone on the same team. This encourages social interactions, and can develop interpersonal relationships in the classroom when students help students. When working together as a class with one shared vision, there are limitless possibilities of learning that can happen in the classroom.
When creating a positive climate in the classroom, teachers should be aware that issues can always arise. That means if the teacher tries to male a joke, make sure it is appropriate and not racial or degrading. Also the teacher when relating to the students must relate to every student so that one does not feel left out. By doing this and relating to all students rather than just one it can eliminate negative vibes.
In conclusion, it is essential for teachers to create a climate of care and Concern in the Classroom. In my 4th Grade special ed class, I notice less Behavoirs happening when I can relate to my students on a personal level. Student's become motivated to learn in the classroom, and with the use of 21st century technology students become excited to come to school, learn with other classmates, and engage with the teacher.
Resources:
Key Factors in Creating a Positive Classroom Climate. (2017, September 28). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from http://www.cfchildren.org/blog/2012/08/key-factors-in-creating-a-positive-classroom-climate/
How to Create a Positive School Climate. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_create_a_positive_school_climate
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