Chapter 3: Classroom Community/ Connecting With Families

Due to my experience in the education field as a toddler teacher in a daycare facility, I get to experience this concept of a classroom community closely. I think it is a very important factor in which one has to lead to a successfully run classroom. Parents need to feel comfortable with their child’s teacher, know they can ask questions, and feel as if there child is in a happy safe and fun-filled environment.

Chapter 3: Classroom Community/Connecting With Families

“The processes involved in literary understanding are as important as the instructional environments.” (pg30)

This quote is expressing that the instruction activities and assignments taught in a classroom are important, but the environment of the classroom is also very crucial to the success of it. Students need to feel comfortable and safe with their teachers and their classmates.

Teacher’s use of language and technology contributes to the improvement or creation of a classroom community.

Language is important throughout the classroom community.

·       Teacher Talk: communication between student and teacher.

·       How teachers ask questions in this environment shapes the amount of knowledge the child is able to take in.

·       Teachers should shape their questions of a lesson or an activity around its purpose. What is being learned?

A Digital environment is also very important when developing a classroom community.

Digital Story Telling: Provides opportunity for students to bring their culture into a classroom. This could be used in many ways. It could be an introductory project in which students are telling their classmates and teacher a little about themselves. A way to get to know one another, teach your community about your culture, what is important to you, and who “YOU” really are.

IRT LESSON: Younger Students:

Phase 1: Teacher Modeling, plan the lesson.

·       Choose a digital story telling app(Voicethread)

·       Decide what photograph students should bring in

·       Show students what you expect through creating your own story telling

Step 2: You as the teacher want to introduce the lesson and its purpose, and also show your students how to navigate and use the digital story telling app.

Step 3: Allow your students to jump into the project and beginning working on it independently. Be there for assistance when needed.

IRT LESSON: Older Students

Step 1: Plan the lesson.

·       Choose story telling app

·       Determine a time frame of when this needs to be finished and number of pictures each student needs

·       Create own story telling for an example

·       Decide what students will be required to use throughout the program

Step 2: Introduce the lesson and its purpose, and then model the activity.

Step 3: students will work independently on this project.

Overall Thoughts: I think it is vitally as future teachers that we make it an important factor in order to create a successful classroom, that one has a successful classroom community. Making sure the kids feel comfortable in their learning environment is going to improve their learning/intake greatly. I also find it very important that parents understand the openness of the community. Knowing they can express concerns about their child’s growth, ask questions, see their child’s growth, etc. Open communication between both the parents and teacher and the child and the teacher will lead to a safe and successful learning community.