I’ve mentioned in my previous blog posts some of the benefits that come to mind by creating a positive community within the classroom, but I’ve been able to observe some new benefits while at my placement. In one of my grade 9 applied French classes, we have a few ESL students. By my mentor teacher creating group activities for the class to get to know each other it’s helped them become more confortable in the class. By my mentor teacher getting to know his students and building a rapport with them, he’s helping to develop a relationship not only between him and the student but between students.
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Student well being is an important component in this community feeling. During a professional learning community (PLC) at my placement school, a teacher mentioned how he likes to know what each of his individual students requires to help with their well being since each student is different; this really stuck with me because it’s so true. We, as teachers, can all sit around a table discussing what we believe would help our students well being, however, without actually talking to our students and asking them what they as an individual need, then how do we actually know? The things we believe might be helpful, might be to some and not be at all to others. By having a community, it would hopefully allow students to come up to the teacher and tell them, “I’m dealing with a lot right now, could you please allow me another day or two for this assignment,” or whatever it may be. In the social science curriculum document, it talks about the role of mental health and well being. It says that well being is influences not only by the absence or problems and risks but by the presence of factors that contribute to healthy growth and development. By teachers nurturing and supporting students strengths and assets, they help promote positive mental health in the classroom and then are able to identify students who may need additional support. I believe that by taking students well being into account when planning instructional approaches can help to establish a strong foundation for learning.
I believe it’s very important for a school to be seen as a mini community for their students. Somewhere, where the students can feel safe to explore their thoughts and ask questions. As a teacher I understand that many controversial topics can be explored and discussed in some courses (eg. World issues). I believe that by providing students with that community feeling, they might be more likely to open up and give their honest opinions. I believe it is especially important to have a community feel within your class/school for grade nine students. This is because often students are no longer in the same classes as their friends or have started a new school without knowing anyone. Essentially, I believe that having a positive environment helps to promote human growth and learning.
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