It's the first week 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—

Question

one in which students are working consistently toward achieving your instructional objectives. Describe each of these strategies in a short paragraph, being specific and concrete as to what you might do.

Answer 1

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):
• Arrange the classroom in a way that minimizes possible distractions (e.g., one that establishes appropriate traffic patterns).
• Arrange furniture to facilitate interaction with all students.
• Situate yourself where you can see all your students.
• Communicate acceptance, caring, and respect for every student.
• Actively work to repair nonproductive teacher-student relationships.
• Create a sense of community and belongingness among students.
• Maintain a goal-oriented, businesslike atmosphere that focuses on students' achievement of instructional goals and objectives.
• Refrain from threatening behaviors.
• Establish a few rules for appropriate classroom behavior.
• Create routines for accomplishing classroom tasks.
• Describe rules and procedures in an informational rather than controlling manner.
• Solicit students' input about classroom rules and procedures.
• Enforce rules consistently and equitably.
• Plan classroom activities in advance.
• Keep students productively engaged in worthwhile tasks.
• Give students something to do during transition times.
• Choose tasks and assignments appropriate for students' ability levels.
• Take students' diverse temperaments into account.
• Begin the school year with easy and familiar tasks; introduce more difficult ones only after a supportive classroom climate has been established.
• Monitor what students are doing at all times (i.e., demonstrate withitness).
• Collaborate with colleagues to create an overall sense of school community.