Domain B
Creating an Environment for Student Learning
This portion of my portfolio focuses mainly on the human interactions in my classroom, specifically the connections between myself and the students, and the connections between the students themselves. This is a presentation of the learning "environment" in the most literal sense--the physical setting in which teaching and learning take place.
Criterion B-1: Creating a climate that promotes fairness.
In this photograph I am working with a student who has had trouble speaking in front of the other children. For this particular assignment I felt it would be fairer to him to allow him to present his material just to me instead of to the entire class. In this situation, what was fair for him might not have necessarily been fair for the entire class, but I chose to look at his situation as a special case.
Criterion B-2: Establishing and maintaining rapport with students.
In this photograph I am meeting with students on the Power of the Pen team that I coach. They were preparing to compete at the district level and were very nervous. I found that by "hanging out" with them and putting them at ease beforehand made them feel much more relaxed before the competition. This type of rapport is easy to establish when you are able to work with students in an area outside of the classroom.
Criterion B-3: Communicating challenging learning expectations to each student.
This is a photograph of the writing process that I keep on my wall during the entire school year. By having my expectations visible, the students know what they are to produce without asking. The writing process becomes internalized and they always know what I expect.
Criterion B-4: Establishing and maintaining consistent standards of classroom behavior.
This is a photograph of the discipline plan I have implemented in my classroom this year. The students are to carry this form with them always and they know the consequences for negative behavior. The key to the success of this discipline plan is the consistency among students. I must maintain this consistency with each student in order to promote fairness.
Criterion B-5: Making the physical environment as safe and conducive to learning as possible.
This photograph shows some of the modifications I have implemented for my students who have physical handicaps. I have placed a desk near the door for the student who walks with crutches so he does not have to maneuver around desks. I have placed another desk near the board for the vision impaired student so she can see clearly. These are very critical parts of my classroom arrangement plan.