Classroom environment factors - play, development levels, and diversity in the classroom
The classroom environment was crowded and this limited the children's ability to fully enjoy their play time. They still took part in various activities, but it was difficult to monitor each child's behavior because of a large number of children. The children exhibited an above average development level for the majority of the class. A few boys were unable to carry out some of the activities. The classroom had a majority of pupils from one dominant demographic group and a few from one minority group. The activities organized were neutral, and both groups of students were able to participate without difficulty (Reis et al., 2014).
How classroom environment factors impact learning for all children
The classroom environment determines a child's comfort level. An ideal classroom makes a child feel safe to interact and work with others. This classroom allowed interaction during play time. The teacher also randomly rearranged the seating plan so that the students were not distracted by group dynamics. This arrangement encouraged socialization and reduced incidents of generalized misbehavior. This also taught the students to adjust to a shorter time frame. The teacher provided a positive environment that enhanced the students' ability to learn. A positive classroom experience makes a child more receptive to learning.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Classroom dynamics – student to student interactions and teacher to student interactions
However, too much time was allocated to the activities, which left the teacher with little time to express herself through the lesson plan. This disadvantaged the slower learners who were not able to keep up with the accelerated speed. However, the teacher's reshuffling was aimed at collecting groups of students according to their absorption of the new information. The teacher then gave follow up assignments according to the level of knowledge absorbed. The teacher then used the results of the assignment to determine what reorganization would follow. The student to student interactions was acceptable, and no bias was observed. Overall, the students were able to interact with their teacher at a good level (Reis et al., 2014).
How classroom dynamics impact learning for all children
Classroom dynamics make learning more appealing. Constant changes which keep the child engaged in worthwhile activities ensure that the child is not bored and they concentrate on their learning. The students stay motivated as they take part in new tasks that keep them inquisitive and curious about what will come next. Different activities are received in various ways because the students each have a different learning style. Diversity guarantees that each learning styles are accommodated every other time. Activities also boost the health of children who do not have to stay dormant and seated all day long (Mastropieri & Scruggs, 2017).
Specific strategies that are used to meet the needs of exceptional learners
Exceptional learners may be gifted students or special needs children. Both these types of children need extra attention that is not given to the regular classroom population. Exceptional learners should be graded according to their capacity. This means that the gifted child will be expected to score higher than others and to absorb information at a faster rate. The learner with special needs will perform poorly for subjects related to their disability. Tests scores should also not be used as the final determinant of intelligence. Simplify instructions so that all the students have a fair starting point (Reis et al., 2014).
What dynamics most affect the learning environment for exceptional learners?
The practice of different activities is the most important for exceptional learners because it enables all those learners who thrive with different learning styles to benefit from their respective styles. The use of technology also advantages students who can transition into different fields easily. The technology also creates awareness about the possibilities in the world(Mastropieri & Scruggs, 2017).
What factors do you consider when setting up your classroom for exceptional learners?
The availability of teaching aids such as charts, word blocks, molding clay and other educational toys are essential for the assistance of exceptional learners. Easy access to all classroom equipment by arranging the furniture well will improve accessibility and enable interaction. Preparation for emergency care should also be considered.
What challenges have you encountered when working with exceptional learners?
Disruption of learning to deal with non-educational issues such as tantrums or convulsions. Lack of cooperation from parents in enforcing discipline sometimes hinders progress. The lack of awareness also prevents most adults in the child's life from making the right decisions. It is also difficult to correctly diagnose learning difficulties and to determine the learning rates of different students (Mastropieri & Scruggs, 2017).
What challenges impact building a sensitive and caring classroom culture with exceptional learners?
Lack of awareness from educators, parents and other stakeholders. This reduces their understanding of the situation and delays development. Financial limitations also prevent the implementation of some beneficial structures and policies. The lack of policy to support these initiatives is also limiting (Sowle et al., 2016).
How did you establish daily routines and transitions with considerations for exceptional learners?
The days' activities are planned. Each activity is allocated some time and half an hour is left to allow 5-10 minutes between activities, for transition time. A board is then put up with a list of the day's activities. There is a bell that rings after each activity to alert the class of the change. Each day is planned in the evening (Mastropieri & Scruggs, 2017).
What instructional strategies do you use and why?
Scheduling short activities that have simple instructions make it easy to achieve more. Frequent monitoring and immediate feedback are also some of the strategies used.
How do you differentiate instruction based on the needs of your students?
Students sit in groups of five to six in tables that are classified according to learning styles. The content is then structured into the style that is suitable for each group. The groups are then readjusted to cater for any child who may be struggling (Mastropieri & Scruggs, 2017).
What resources and technology do you use and why?
Computer learning games that are accessible through Google Document fill idle time constructively. The student made video tutorials also encourage absorption of information. Overall technology enables accelerated learning and reinforcement.
How do you communicate with families, including those of exceptional learners? Newsletters and online correspondence on email are used for general information. Personal progress reports are given on the phone or through online conferencing. Non-instructional concerns are expressed in person (Sowle et al., 2016). Components of the classroom environment and dynamics that benefited learners with exceptional needs
Dividing the classroom into tables into smaller groups is the most significant benefit. These groups allow individualized attention and the teacher can attend to students according to their learning style and learning rates. It is also easier to give feedback (Sowle et al., 2016).
The effectiveness of strategies used to support learning in any children with exceptional needs
Strategies that support children with exceptional needs include any activity, program or environment that supports differentiated instruction. They include the use of technology such as videos and presentations. Creating individualized learning plans and embracing flexibility is also helpful.
Specific strategies you would consider implementing to support the learning of children with exceptional needs
Changing the classroom environment to allow more interactive learning would be recommendable. This could mean reducing the class sizes or getting bigger and more spacious rooms. The creation of a play area for maximum interaction is also essential. Increasing the safety measures will also result in better outcomes (Sowle et al., 2016).
What you learned from the interview responses
From the interview, I strongly believe that implementing plans is much harder than just generating them. For example, a lot of policies are in place to improve the classroom area. However, the plans do not coincide with the budgetary allocations. Apparently, they are frequently put aside for more urgent needs. It will also not be untrue to state that teaching any class is not as easy as the world perceives it. How what you learned will affect your future classroom The information above will help with arising issues as interact with the students as well as the school administrators. It will further boost my experience as I strive to bring out the best from my students. A conducive classroom environment is critical to every child. The experience will therefore, equip me with the essential skills, knowledge and strategies that are required for creating the best possible classroom environment. (Sowle et al., 2016).
References
Reis, S. M., Baum, S. M., & Burke, E. (2014). An operational definition of twice-exceptional learners: Implications and applications. Gifted Child Quarterly, 58 (3), 217-230. Mastropieri, M. A., & Scruggs, T. E. (2017). The inclusive classroom: Strategies for effective differentiated instruction. Pearson. Sowle, C. L., Joy, B., Harper, K., Robinson, Z., Hale, S., & Barbaro, T. (2016). The Effects Of Classroom Environment on Student Success.
