Week 1 discussion Clinical Practice Special Education: Positive Learning Environment

Discussion: Positive Learning Environments
Respond to the following prompts by Sunday :
What procedures and structures have you implemented that promote a positive learning environment?
Which specific strategies will you take with you to your RSP (resource special education teacher)future classroom?
***example of an answer below :
What procedures and structures have you implemented that promote a positive learning environment?
Supporting the students in their education is another vital aspect of creating a positive learning environment. Every student must feel supported by all those who are connected to their education. This must include teachers, family, classmates, and coaches. As a special education teacher, I regularly contact their general education teacher concerning their progress in the classroom. I also regularly contact their parents to update their progress on their educational and social goals. Each student has a team consisting of the school administrator, psychological or language speech services, the general education teacher, and the special education teacher. We come together as a team to help each student meet their specific needs and achieve their goals. I have also implemented routines and classroom rules that will help them feel safe. Greeting the students at the door and welcoming them by name also creates a welcoming environment. Establishing learning routines through stations with designated times helps create familiarity in the classroom. In each station, well-established goals and expectations are posted in their workbooks to help the student know what to do and bring clarity on what they will be learning.
Which specific strategies will you take with you to your future classroom?
Another aspect of creating a positive learning environment is engagement. I have been using some of Kagan cooperating learning strategies to develop personalized learning in the classroom. Some of the strategies that I have used is Rally Robin, Timed Pair Share, and Round Robin. I try to use these strategies at least twice a week. This helps students think critically, communicate, and collaborate with each other. It also brings energy, fun, and a renewed focus on what they are learning. Each student also has academic goals that are placed in their folders so that they can take ownership of their education. The Kagan cooperative learning strategies have definitely helped me create a more positive learning environment. It has brought energy into the classroom and it has made learning more fun. I can see it in the student’s demeanor and attitude. The cooperative groups can be both academic and non-academic to help support the students and bring a more positive environment in the classroom.