Movement Artist, Dance Educator.
EdM, BFA, RYT-200
DOMAIN 2: THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
2a. Creating an environment of respect and rapport
-
Teacher interaction with students
-
Student interaction with students
In order to establish a positive classroom environment, teachers must maintain mutual respect and rapport with students. The structure of the classroom as an environment conducive to all students' learning will set both teachers and students up for maximum success. I believe that every student is capable of learning and as an educator, my duty is to maximize and unlock their potential. Below are student testimonials that detail my approach to teaching and delivering to the needs of each learner. Click to expand text.
2b. Establishing a culture for learning
-
Importance of content
-
Expectations for learning and behavior
-
Student pride in work
In a well-structured classroom environment, students must be aware of the behavioral expectations in order to achieve success and pride in their work. In order to cultivate this, a concrete classroom management plan must be established in order to give students a sense of the expectations they are held to when they enter the dance classroom. The plan below is an example of my ideal classroom management plan, in which I distinguish how I can effectively foster and maintain positive relationships with my students.
2c. Managing Classroom Procedures
-
Instructional groups
-
Transitions
-
Materials and Supplies
-
Non-instructional duties
-
Supervision of volunteers and paraprofessionals
The educator acting as a classroom "manager" is an essential duty that also contributes to the success of the learning environment. Below I have included examples of the daily itinerary and procedures in a kindergarten dance class. I found that the usage of visual aids, such as symbols or pictures, next to each activity was conducive to both the age group as well as providing differentiation for bilingual learners. This itinerary helped divide the class activities into manageable chunks that allowed students to stay on track with their learning and provide smooth transitions to the consecutive activities. Furthermore, at the kindergarten level, I found the usage of Poly spots with each child's name to be effective in managing space and giving students ownership over their own kinesphere.
2d. Managing student behavior
-
Expectations
-
Monitoring behavior
-
Response to misbehavior
Effective classroom management relies upon the instructor establishing clear expectations, followed by keeping consistent plans and routines for following through with behavioral consequences. Below is an example of a student-generated "Rules for Dance Class" chart, which used appropriate kindergarten grade-level language and helped students take ownership of their collective expectations for dance. Additionally, I have provided the example of a behavior chart used for a kindergarten student, which used the visual aid of a stoplight and the additional implementation of 3 paper clamps so that the student and teacher could monitor and adjust behavioral levels accordingly.
2e. Organizing Physical Space
-
Safety and accessibility
-
Arrangement of furniture and resources
Given the physical level of participation required in a dance classroom, the physical space of the classroom must be modeled in a way that students feel safe and comfortable to move and also challenge themselves to step outside their comfort zones in the classroom. Over the course of the EdM program, I adapted my teaching to fit lessons for both a high school studio environment, as well as re-organizing the space of a library as a dance classroom for elementary school learners. Below is a site map of the library space and description noting my awareness of potential hazards and outcomes for the re-purposed space.
