It's the first day of class, and you want to start off the school year on the right foot. Describe five different strategies that the textbook recommends for establishing a productive classroom—one in which students are working consistently toward achieving your instructional goals and objectives. Describe each of these strategies in a short paragraph, being specific and concrete as to what you

Question

might do.

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Some strategies for establishing and maintaining a productive learning environment include these (the response should describe five specific strategies that reflect at least five of the ideas below, or related ideas):
• Arrange the classroom in a way that minimizes possible distractions (e.g., one that establishes appropriate traffic patterns).
• Arrange furniture to facilitate your interaction with all students.
• Place misbehaving and/or uninvolved students near you.
• Situate yourself where you can see all your students.
• Communicate your care and concern for students.
• Actively work to repair nonproductive teacher–student relationships.
• Maintain a businesslike atmosphere, focusing on students' achievement of instructional goals and objectives.
• Refrain from threatening behaviors.
• Communicate the value of classroom subject matter in students' own lives; focus students' attention on mastery goals rather than performance goals.
• Let students control some aspects of classroom life.
• Minimize competition among students.
• Create a sense of community and belongingness among students.
• Establish a few rules for appropriate classroom behavior at the beginning of the school year.
• Create routines for accomplishing classroom tasks.
• Describe rules and procedures in an informational rather than controlling manner.
• Involve students in decision making about classroom rules and procedures.
• Acknowledge students' feelings about unpleasant tasks.
• Be consistent and equitable in your enforcement of rules.
• Plan classroom activities in advance.
• Keep students productively engaged.
• Choose tasks and assignments appropriate for students' ability levels.
• Begin the school year with easy and familiar tasks; introduce more difficult ones only after a supportive classroom climate has been established.
• Provide some structure for classroom activities.
• Give students something to do during transition times.
• Monitor what students are doing at all times