Mary Redden

Domain 2 Reflection  

The Classroom Environment

Year 2

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​I believe in a well-organized positive classroom environment with procedures and systems in place which help maximize the potential for learning and promote independence and self-advocacy.  The teacher is the model for the class and that job should be taken seriously.  Nothing should be asked of the students that the teacher doesn't do themselves.  

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All rules and systems are discussed at length at the start of the school year, and reinforced as the year goes on.  Rewards are implemented always and often, verbally and tangibly. Emails to parents (negative and positive) are essential to student progress when necessary.  And positive emails are as important if not more so than negative ones for certain students.  If a student increases . his or her perseverance, hard work, good behavior I believe a quick email to mom or dad can do amazing things.  I also give out points toward quizzes for attending extra help and showing good organization.  Also, as independent rewards are important, consequences are necessary as well.  In addition to discrete individual discussions and warnings, I like to implement a whole class, "response-cost" system in the class, too.  Points are given and subtracted for appropriate behavior as a group.  This has proven to be very effective with secondary students as peer pressure is highly reinforcing at this age level.  

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Dr Stabile and I have done a good job of creating a predictable routine for the students of this ICT classroom.  I believe that for this level of student, predictability and reinforcement can do wonders.  A lot of the students in these classes have ADHD and do well in this class over others con their schedule because of this predictability.  They know what's expected of them all the time, and as they become acclimated to the routine, they settle in and really shine.  Also, the amount of quizzes is more than other classes, but because of this the students are never able to get lazy with their topics of study.  They have no opportunity to slack, and this prepares them best for the regents at the end of the year.

 

Also, we believe in the constant positive reinforcement for all students.  Any student can turn themselves around and do better the next time.  And I make every opportunity I have to allow students who struggle to give them one-t-one instruction on their off periods.  When they see their grades go up the following quiz, 90 percent of the time their effort continues to improve.  The constant assessments never allows for students to put so much on any one grade.  They have another chance next week.  It can seem monotonous but it works so well with students in ICT.