In the classroom that I am visiting there is not a lot of negativity, verbal or nonverbal. When the teacher feels that it is necessary to calm down the class she calls to everyone’s attention those who are doing what they are supposed to be doing. For example, “Haylie is sitting there quietly, Jimmy is following directions, who else is?” She builds self-esteem whenever possible by congratulating on good work, good behavior, or drawing smiley faces on their completed worksheets. Also, she displays their class work in the class and out in the hallway, which I am sure, builds pride in their work. Although a lot of her comments explicitly tell the students how she feels about him, she also uses nonverbal behavior such as the way she listens when the children are talking and giving them affection when situations are fitting. I think that she builds self-confidence in her students by listening to all their stories that do not apply to what they are talking about and just take up time. You can tell by facial expressions and encouragers that she is actually listening to them, that what they have to say is important. Not even counting the student’s work hanging on the walls, she has done a wonderful job of decorating the walls of the classrooms. She has posters of topics they are learning about all over the walls, bulletin boards, and cabinets. This makes the classroom look friendlier and shows the students that she values what they are learning about. Everything that I have observed my teacher do in this topic I like except that there are two areas in the room that kids can be hidden behind. One is the computer area and the other is the main center area. Both of these are not visible from where the teacher sits. Even if she walks around the class there are always places that she cannot see.

     I did my ideal classroom to fit for a Kindergarten or First grade because I feel that I would use centers in both of these grade levels. I have set up four centers that I think would be basic in any of these grade levels: Reading, Math, Science, and Miscellaneous. I would use the miscellaneous center for whatever current topic we would be on that would not fit in any of the other three. For example, Health, Weather, or Social Studies. I have arranged the twenty desks into five groups of four. This way there will already be groups formed when it comes to group time. I would have specific students that have learning styles or levels in common to be in each group. The students would be faced towards the front so that they would all be able to see the board and me when it is time for all class instructions. I have my desk in the corner where I feel that I will be able to see the children no matter where they are in the classroom. I also have set up a carpet area to use when I am reading to the class or when discussing a new topic to the whole class that does not need to be done in formal lecture style. This area could also be used when holding small groups or for the children to sit at during center time. The only other things that I have in my classroom that I feel needs explaining are the two bulletin boards. One I would use as a word wall to display all the new words that the kids learn throughout the year. The other I would use as a manipulative bulletin board, which would be used with whatever current topic, we are talking about in class. It would be manipulative so that the students could use it during center time to help them learn about the current topic of discussion. Can go along with Miscellaneous center but does not have to.

     I believe that students should have plenty of hands on activities to help them make concrete the ideas that we discuss during “class time”. This is why I would make sure that I have centers set up in my class that are up to date with what we are learning about during lecture time.  Also, I believe that there are times in the day when instruction needs to be less formal. This is why I feel that I would use the carpet area for much more than a reading area and why I will make room for it in my class. I also do not believe in harsh discipline in my classroom. Because of this I will use positive statements to get the students on task and where they need to be. I would probably use something like the red, yellow, green cards that the children would move themselves when they are not on task and following directions. If their behavior improves they may move it back to green but if it continues to decrease the move to red. This makes the student take responsibility for his or her own actions. There would be consequences and rewards at the end of the day and week depending on what color day they had.

     The fact that I know that children in Kindergarten and First grades respect authority and seek adult approval led my in what I feel I will choose as my disciple style. They will need to know to respect me so that they will try to behave. Also, it is set up so that they are rewarded for good behavior or improvement will help them receive adult approval. I also know that kids at these age levels like to know the rules and like to have set routines. I am like this too, so I plan to have the rules set up in a way that all students will know them. We will have routines for each day that can vary when necessary but that we will try to stick to whenever possible so that the kids don’t feel lost.

     I will begin to develop and build the learning community that I want in my class room by making sure that all of my students know that they are loved and safe in my class. This will have to be established in time with the way that I communicate verbally and nonverbal. I will phrase instructions positively whether they are being called down or just told how to do the next activity. This can be as simple as saying, “Walk” and not “Don’t Run”.  The way that I interact with my students in all other ways will show them that I care and am interested in them and what they have to say. When my students are talking to me for any reason my facial expressions will show that I am interested in what they are saying and that I care and am happy they are in my classroom.