Reading the Classroom
“Learning to help your students means learning about your students, period. You have to put yourself in the reversed role.”
Sometimes school can be hard on the staff, students, and teachers. School — whether it be you working and getting paid or working towards education — causes stress. But, even with the stress of working for a school the better the environment you create in the classroom, the better the school year will be.
Teachers have a lot on their plate as teachers. Meetings, parent conferences, grading, protocols, and planning can be a lot. But with it being a lot, when coming to the classroom, you still have to put on for your classroom. There should be an attitude change when coming to the classroom.
As students come into school, some have tough lives at home and that’s what's on their mind. And coming to school with those tough lives, school is their only outlet away from the chaotic world outside those four walls of learning.
With some students, they struggle with school. School isn't easy for everyone, with certain classes the content that is being taught can be hard to grasp.
Going into the classroom in the morning is what could make or break a student's day.
The teacher in the classroom needs to remind themselves of what the student may go through or went through that typical day. But yes, I know what the teachers think, how hard can the life of a student really be? And the answer to this is very hard: tests, negative environments, social challenges, and more.
Then again, I know what else you're probably saying, the students should think about the teachers as well. But even so, the student may not have as much of a thought of what the typical day of a teacher looks like because they are going to school with the mindset of “Let me just get this day done and over with.” Not only that, they know how the classroom environment is 9 times out of 10, most likely on the negative side.
I interviewed some students to see what they had to say about classroom environments. The questions I asked were: How are your experiences in the classroom? Do you feel that the teacher sets the tone of the classroom? Do you think that the teacher’s attitude determines how you show up for class?
I first asked my neighbor who is a student in high school. I asked him my first question which was how are your experiences in the classroom. He explained that his experiences in the classroom aren’t bad. He said it just feels as if sometimes he isn’t heard. He explained that he got sent out for trying to tell a teacher that someone was sitting in his assigned seat and she took it as disrespect because he wasn’t sitting down. After he explained I didn’t go into my last few questions I had planned to ask, instead I asked how does this situation affect how you show up for class. He explained that he still gets his work done. But the way he interacts with the teacher is different from before. He says that he has minimal interactions with her unless it pertains to work. I asked how he feels the classroom environment is now. He tells me that it feels a little tense because of the lack of conversation.
I told him after our conversation was over that I understand how he feels. It’s hard being in an environment with a teacher who doesn’t like you, and it makes you not show up as your best self at times.
I asked another student. I asked my first question which was how are your experiences in the classroom? She feels like her experiences in the classroom are somewhat negative experiences. I asked her my last two questions. Do you think the teacher sets the tone of the classroom and how does the teacher's tone determine how you show up for that class? She said that she feels that the teacher sets how the vibe of the class could go, and when it's negative it affects how she shows up for class the days moving forward.
I asked one last person the questions. Her response to the first question was she finds herself having more negative experiences in the classroom. She explained that the teacher really sets the tone of the classroom.She said that when the teacher has a bad day it affects the way the whole class goes. She therefore explained to me, without even knowing my last question, that the way the teacher shows up for class affects the way she shows up for class at times. She feels less motivated in her classes with unhealthy class energy.
At the end of our interview I explained to her that I completely feel the same way. Positive school environments, and positive classroom environments make learning easier.
Learning to help your students means learning about your students, period. You have to put yourself in the reversed role.
Positive learning environments builds better grades, better relationships, and being classroom settings.
I asked another student who is not in CSH, but is a high school student. I asked my first question to him. His response was he feels he has mostly good experiences in school, and he explains that his teacher show respect towards him and students. At times he has to have an understanding conversation because there may be a little misunderstanding. After the conversation, he feels that his environment in school is good. Sometimes the vibe can be can off but the teacher will take account ability for their actions.
The teacher does set the tone for the class, and the way the class will go. He believes that when his teachers show up in a positive manner, he feels that it makes him feel better going to class. He feels more motivated and happy in a positive environment.
School is what we make, and let’s make it! Positive environments allow us to have motivation and motivation is key. Teachers have goals for students to succeed and students have goals to make themselves be great. If students and teachers come together in support of those goals, the results will be amazing.