Secondary Smorgasbord: Creating a Positive Classroom Culture
The first bell rings, signaling the start of a new school year. For the next nine months, our classroom will be my students' home away from home. Creating a positive classroom culture shows them that this is a safe place to learn and grow. Here's how I do it... After their " free-range seats " are chosen, we begin with a lot of exploration - of the classroom, of each other, of ourselves. Each year, I give each student a journal for their warmups . The first few pages become a reflection of themselves as learners, along with a plan for what they'd like to accomplish this year. To get an idea about how they see themselves, I jump right in with these questions. Take a moment to respond in your journals: What do you want me to know about you, as a learner? What do you consider to be your greatest talent or trait? Who, in this classroom, do you consider to be friend? Who, in this classroom, would you like to get to know better?...