Lesson 3 - Fostering a Learning Environment Despite Obstacles

Teaching can be a difficult job.  There are so many students for every teacher and often times teachers are pulled so many different directions at once.  Despite this, teachers have a huge responsibility to ensure that they are effectively teaching every single student in the classroom.  There are times when students have obstacles that keep them from learning.  We need to recognize these barriers to learning in order to provide proper intervention.

As a teacher, I will make an intentional effort to be conscientious of all students and their behaviors. When students suffer from emotional lows, it effects their ability to learn.  It may be that my interaction with students is the only positive experience they have in their day. I want to make my classroom fun, interaction and safe for all students to encourage learning, even for those students who don't have that experiences at home.  I desire to be the teacher that has intuition to know when something is not right, and approachable to my students for guidance and direction.  I want to pay particular attention to students interaction with each other and with me.  I will smile and laugh often as a teacher and watch for reciprocation from students.

When I am in the front of the classroom providing a lesson,  I will make eye contact with each student to identify who may not be paying attention, and take note of negative patterns among students. When students are struggling academically, I will brainstorm to identify the root of the problem. I will watch for warning signs that may indicate that their may be a bigger problem and I will not let that student fall through the cracks or write them off.  I will push through to help them receive proper intervention, however that needs to happen.