Chapter 11
Creating Productive Learning
Environments
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Characteristics of
Productive Learning Environments
 A focus
on learning
 A focus on learners



Classrooms as learning communities
Emphasis on personal and social
development
A positive classroom climate
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
Classroom as
Learning Communities
 Inclusiveness:
all students participate and
believe they can succeed.
 Respect for others: students respect the
teacher and other students.
 Safety and security: students feel safe and
protected.
 Trust and connectedness: students count
on each other for help and assistance.
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
Elements of Personal Development
 Self-discipline
and motivation to learn
 Organizational skills and goal setting
 Personal and moral responsibility
 Control of personal impulses
 Self-awareness in terms of personal
strengths, needs, and values
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
4
Social Development
 Students’ ability
to interact with and get
along with others
 Perspective taking: the ability to
understand the thoughts and feelings of
others
 Social problem solving: the ability to
resolve conflicts in ways that are beneficial
to all involved
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
5
Social Skills That Develop in
Productive Learning Environments
 Perspective
taking
 Social problem solving
 Respect for others
 Working cooperatively with classmates
 Empathy and compassion
 Appreciation of diversity
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
6
Essential Human Elements of
Productive Learning Environments
 Caring
 Personal
teaching efficacy
 Positive expectations
 Modeling and enthusiasm
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
7
Communicating Caring






Learning students’ names quickly and calling on
students by their first name
Greeting students daily and getting to know
them as individuals
Using effective nonverbal communication such
as making eye contact and smiling
Using “we” and “our” in reference to class
activities and assignments
Spending time with students
Demonstrating respect for students as
individuals
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
8
Positive Teacher Expectations
 Teachers’ beliefs
in students’ capabilities
to learn
 Ways that teachers communicate positive
expectations




Emotional support
Teacher effort and demands
Interactive questioning
Feedback and evaluation
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
9
Classroom Management Goals
 Developing
learner responsibility
 Creating a positive classroom climate
 Maximizing opportunities for learning
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
10
Dimensions of Classroom Time

Allocated time: amount designated for a
particular topic or subject
 Instructional time: amount left for teaching after
routine management and administrative tasks
are completed
 Engaged time: time students actually spend
actively involved in learning activities
 Academic learning time: amount of time students
are both engaged and successful
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
11
Elements of
Successful Management
 Preventing


problems through planning
Rules
Procedures
 Intervening
effectively
 Handling serious management problems
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
12
Common Classroom Activities
Requiring Procedures
 Entering
and leaving the classroom
 Handing in and returning papers
 Accessing materials such as scissors and
paper
 Sharpening pencils
 Making trips to the bathroom
 Making up work after an absence
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
13
Guidelines for Effective Rules
 State
rules positively.
 Emphasize rationales for rules.
 Minimize the number of rules.
 Monitor rules throughout the school year.
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
14
Guidelines for
Effective Interventions
 Intervene
immediately.
 Direct the intervention at the correct
student(s).
 Use the least intrusive intervention.
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
15
Serious Management Problems:
Violence and Aggression

Most management problems are minor and
involve day-to-day logistical and cooperation
issues.
 Steps to follow when serious problems arise



Stop the incident
Protect the victim
Get help

Teachers are legally required to intervene when
problems occur.
 Seek the advice of administrators and veteran
teachers.
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
16
Assertive Discipline

A comprehensive approach to classroom
management that clearly specifies both
teachers’ and students’ rights and
responsibilities
 Successful but controversial
 Advocates claim it



Works
Clearly specifies both teacher and student actions
Is fairly easy to learn and apply
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
17
Assertive Discipline (continued)
 Critics



claim it
Emphasizes control and obedience at the
expense of personal development
Focuses on behaviors instead of the reasons
for rules
Treats symptoms (e.g., talking) versus
possible causes (e.g., boring or ineffective
instruction)
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
18
Effective Classroom Management
in Urban Schools
 More
challenging because of student
diversity and large class sizes
 Essential components for effective
management:




Caring and supportive teachers
Clear standards for acceptable behavior
Structure
Effective instruction
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
19
Benefits of Involving Parents
 Greater
willingness to do homework
 Higher long-term achievement
 More positive attitudes and behaviors
 Better attendance and graduation rates
 Greater enrollment in postsecondary
education
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
20
Strategies for Involving Parents
 Start
at the beginning of the school year
with a letter.
 Maintain communication by sending home
frequent and periodic packets of work,
descriptions of new units of study, and
other information about the class.
 Use e-mails, newsletters, and individual
notes to emphasize positive student
accomplishments.
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
21
Communicating with Parents
from Diverse Backgrounds
 Cultural
diversity, SES, and caregivers for
whom English is not the first language all
pose communication challenges.
 Effective teachers make a special effort to
reach out to these parents.
 Sending home homework guidelines and
suggestions are effective in involving
parents in their children’s education.
Kauchak and Eggen, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, 3rd Ed.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
22