A supportive learning environment respects students, families, and communities by being welcoming, inclusive, safe, and accepting. Teachers should foster a positive classroom community, emphasizing social cohesiveness and group development.
Ensure that the learning environment convey respect for students, families, and communities.
Is the learning environment welcoming, inclusive, safe, and accepting?
Co-plan the environment with students before learning occurs.
Are students free to interact with the environment in a personally meaningful way?
Are students engaged, included and respected, and can they see themselves reflected in the learning environment?
Stand back and reflect on the learning environment you have created
Fostering a positive classroom community with a focus on
the social cohesiveness and development of the group
Encouraging (and having) a growth mindset
Ability grouping communicates a damaging fixed mindset belief to students
Teacher's mindset = must believe everyone can grow
We can all grow from mistakes; mistakes are important
Use open tasks
Ability and intelligence grow with effort and practice (intelligence is math is NOT fixed)
Positive norms to encourage (Jo Boaler) <--click the hyperlink for a great read
Math is about creativity and making sense
Math class is about learning, not performing
Depth is more important than speed
Math is about connections & communicating
Questions are really important
Mistakes are valuable
Everyone can learn math to the highest levels
Strategies for group work
Encourage students to try, fail, try again
Give students roles
Helps to build confidence in ability
Have students think on their own before engaging in a "team talk" (get students used to this by structuring your lessons to always let them think on their own first); then discuss as whole class (so when students get called on, they've had some experience with the topic)
