I feel that creating a community of learners who feel comfortable in a classroom is very important.  In order for a teacher to create this type of climate in his/her classroom, much thought, consideration and preparation must be given to the process.
     Currently I am interning in a fourth grade classroom.  Overall, I feel that the classroom itself does not generate a feeling of community among the learners who enter it.  The majority of wall space is bare and white, and stimulation around the room is limited for the students.  I am not necessarily considering it a “bad” classroom, I just feel that it could be “spruced up” a bit to benefit the students.  That’s not to say that there are no positives around the room because there are; I simply plan to use more in my future classroom.  In my internship classroom, my home-base teacher has posted positive quotes in various places throughout the room.  These quotes say things such as: “A smile happens quickly, but the memory of it lasts a long time;” “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference;” “No one who is a failure keeps on trying;” and “Today is a great day to learn something new.”  Though all of these are encouraging words of wisdom, they tend to be pretty general.  The only other visuals throughout the room consists of one bulletin board with students work, one bulletin board with a picture of a pumpkin patch, one blank bulletin board, the alphabet along top of the chalk board, and a picture identifying each month with the students’ birthdays inscribed on each.
    After looking over the physical, intellectual, and emotional characteristics of fourth graders, I came to the conclusion that the classroom in which I am interning is probably not the most suitable for the average fourth grader.  The article pointed out that the average fourth grader is 4’4, beginning to use logic and improving their writing skills.  It also explained that students at this age have a narrower variety of friends, social support becomes necessary, and they begin to daydream about the futures and careers.  In order to accommodate the new ideas and needs in my own future fourth grade classroom, I would set the room up in a variety of ways.  My first goal is to have a colorful, stimulating climate beginning the moment my students enter the classroom.  I don’t want to clutter the learners’ minds, but I feel visual stimulation increases learning.  I would create visual stimulation through bulletin boards of student work, pictures, posters, quotes, and logic questioning around the room.  Reading and writing centers would be clearly defined with appropriate materials at each.  I plan to display our classroom rules and consequences in plain view so that every student is always aware of them.  Students’ desks will be paired up but assigned seats will be issued.  My desk will be at the back of the room so that it is not the focus, and also because I don’t plan on spending the majority of my time there.  Overall, I hope to set my classroom up in a way that my students and I think of as a learning friendly environment.
Though classroom set up is extremely important to classroom climate, I feel that it is the teacher who sets the mood and creates the community of learners.  My philosophy of teaching begins with me, the teacher!  My attitude and mood will set the tone for my students; therefore, I plan to leave my troubles at the door, as described in Educating Esme.  These students are my responsibility so I plan to always keep their best interest at heart, and this starts with a positive attitude from day one.  My students must gain trust in me, and come to rely on me to teach them the things they need to know.  I must come to the realization that every child has the potential to succeed, and it is my job to find the correct teaching method for each of my students.  I feel that my home-base teacher does a good job of modeling this technique for me.  She finds new ways and different activities to help children at all levels, and tries to accommodate several learning styles.  This is very important in creating a community of learners because students must feel comfortable learning in their classroom environment in order to establish a community of learners.
    A classroom environment and climate truly is important to all students who enter a classroom.  As a teacher, I want my students to feel that they are wanted, as well as expected to learn.  This environment is where students spend the majority of their day, and I personally want my students to enjoy and benefit in a helpful and uplifting climate, that they can use to make their lives better.