Growing up, I spent
the summers at my grandparents’ cottage on a lake in Northern Michigan. We’d
eat oatmeal for breakfast, picnic at the beach for lunch, and spend our
evenings watching Jeopardy or playing board games. The days were hot, but night
time called for a sweatshirt…my favorite weather! Sitting on the porch early in
the day, you’d hear the hum of boat engines, even though you couldn’t see them
from our spot on the hill. No smart phones, no internet, no friends to play
with. This wasn’t a fancy place, but it sure was good. The simple routines
created a safe and fun environment that, as an adult, I am so thankful
for.
Creating a safe and
fun environment is also important in our classrooms. It doesn’t have to be
extravagant, but it does require intentionality. Routines, procedures, and
celebrations are the foundational elements of classroom culture. The beginning
of a school year is the ideal time to examine the routines, procedures, and
celebrations we have it place. Consider the following:
- What classroom systems have you
established that work really well?
- What is something new you want to try?
- How might your experience be different if
a new procedure is implemented for a usually challenging experience in
your classroom?" How do you explicitly teach your classroom
expectations? What verbal and visual cues to you regularly use?
- What do you celebrate in your classroom?
And what does any of
this have to do with math? The classroom environment sets the stage for how
students understand content. We want our students to personally, specifically,
and actively experience math. In his book, “How the Brain Learns”, David A.
Sousa writes, “Emotional climate is directly related to classroom climate,
which is regulated by the teacher.” As the teacher, you have the power to
create routines, procedures, and celebrations to guide your classroom culture
and facilitate student success. Routines and procedures create safety and
minimize distractions. Celebrations are a way to positively reinforce the
values you want to define your classroom culture. None of these things happen
by accident. Take time to reflect on your current systems. Make a plan for
implementation. And celebrate along the way!
