“What to Look for in a Classroom”
I believe this
approach is important because it helps students feel like they truly belong.
When students are respected, heard, and given responsibility, they are more
likely to engage and feel comfortable taking risks in their learning. A
classroom built on community rather than competition allows students to support
one another and build confidence.
Kohn supports this
idea by emphasizing that good classrooms are places where students are not just
compliant but actively engaged in meaningful learning, noting that we should
look for environments where students are “thinking, talking, and making sense
of ideas.” This highlights that belonging comes from participation and being
valued, not just following directions.
Having a decorated
classroom that clearly showcases student work is a powerful way to build the
kind of environment that Kohn describes. In my classroom, I would intentionally
fill the walls with student-created projects, writing, and artwork so that the
space reflects their thinking rather than just teacher-made materials. This
helps shift the classroom from a place students have to be, to a place they
feel proud to belong in.
This approach fosters
a sense of ownership because students can see themselves represented in the
room every day. When their work is valued and displayed, it sends the message
that their ideas matter. As a result, students are more likely to feel comfortable
participating, taking risks, and engaging in meaningful learning.
Below is a picture of the school I am working in. The open concept allows for multiple classes to come together to learn together.
Hi Corey! I like the point you made about displaying student work shifting classrooms from "have to be" places to "belonging" places. It's interesting that you work in an open concept school -- my school growing up was open concept and I really enjoyed it. How can we move past decorating and actually address the power dynamics and 'hidden rules' that Delpit discusses -- how do open-concept spaces impact that?
ReplyDeleteHi Corey, I loved your post! I also connected the graphic and video to how I want to organize my classroom in the future. I really do think that classroom setups play a role in success of students. I really love your idea to decorate the classroom student's work and projects, this is a great way to foster creativity and encourage students!
ReplyDeleteHi Corey, I really appreciate how you connected Kohn’s ideas to the way you want your future classroom to feel. Your focus on belonging and student voice really stood out to me. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHello Corey - I appreciate you including photos from the school you are volunteering at. Seeing real-time classroom examples is always interesting to me. My favorite line from your blog is "belonging comes from participation and being valued, not just following directions." I learned quickly as a cadet teacher years ago and now a sub and a classroom volunteer that spending time with a student to show you value them is critically important, especially with younger students.
ReplyDeleteHello Corey! I truly appreciate how you've integrated Kohn's ideas into your vision of a classroom that values collaboration, choice, and a sense of community. I haven't yet had the experience of teaching a classroom myself, but my observations have given me some insights, and integrating these ideas into a classroom setting would be incredibly beneficial. Your description of the shift from conformity to engagement perfectly captures the essence of meaningful learning. I also like the importance you place on displaying student work; it's a very effective way to foster a sense of belonging and ownership. The open learning space seems fantastic and perfectly aligns with your goal of encouraging interaction and connections among students.
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