Classroom Environment

The organization of my classroom will be heavily impacted by my philosophy.  Since I have such a big emphasis on class discussion, the layout of desks will be in a U-shape.  In most cases, I plan on being inside the U in order to act as a facilitator.  I also want to make sure my classroom has an appropriate amount of books and shelves. 

                The motivation factor of my classroom will really come into play in two ways.  First, I hope that I will generate motivation by becoming closely connected to my students.  Also, I want my students to be able to effectively motivate themselves.

                The content of my classroom will be based mainly on class discussions.  This way, students will get the chance to ask questions and expand on their understanding.  I also hope that I will get the opportunity to incorporate films into my curriculum.  Movies tend to really grab the attention of students and cause them to think about a topic in a new way.

                The assessments that I will use in my classroom will almost entirely consist of project based learning and service learning.  I really love the idea of having students go out and research an issue that interests them.  It would be even more beneficial if they could actually help whatever cause they want.

                I hope that the emphasis on choice and sharing ideas will generate a positive classroom climate.  A lot of government and civics classes are focused on political issues, so it is also important that I just listen to student arguments rather than choosing a side.

                The learning focus of my classroom will really be on creating leaders and preparing my students for the future.  This will mean that a big part of my class will be oriented to topics that my students want to cover. 

                I’m not a huge fan of technology integration, but I do see how it is becoming more necessary in the classroom.  Personally, I prefer simplified assignments that students can hand-in and get feedback quickly on, over assignments submitted electronically that may not even send properly.

                My leadership style will properly be very similar to Joel’s style in Teach.  I think that the strongest attribute I have is my own ability to connect with students, so I want to use that as much as possible.  Also, I’m not a big believer in detentions, so I may adopt a style that is similar to Discipline With Dignity for my classroom.