Week Six: Chapter 4

I really enjoyed the part in my reading where it says "By accepting every student's need for affirmation, contribution, power, purpose, and challenge, the teacher intends to provide invitation and opportunity for each student through investment, persistence, and reflection." How true is this? I remember being in some grade school classrooms growing up where I don't think this was the case. Yes, the teacher would say good job, or lovely work. But they would never really make me feel like I was contributing or had a real power or purpose. Now I contrast that with my first and second grade teacher who happened to be the same teacher. Her name was Ms. Sutton. She was wonderful!!! She made me feel like I could do anything and always challenged me and made me feel like I had a part in the classroom and she valued the part I played. I want to do this for my students. I want them to feel, no matter what level they are on, they are a key part of the classroom and can do more than they think. I think this is where the environment of the classroom comes into play.

"From the first day of a class until the last, environment will quietly but potently form a line of communication from teacher to student, student to student, and student to teacher." I agree with this completely. I love how it creates a full circle. If the students are listening to the teacher, then to each other, and if the teacher is listening to them, everyone can be one the same page. This creates fluidity throughout the classroom and helps everyone become each others friend.

From the book it says classroom communication helps with,

• Building a group identity
• Ensuring that the teacher has ways of getting to know students better. 
• Enabling the teacher to share his or her thinking about teaching. 
• Providing a shorthand for quick communication among members of the classroom community. 

I think all these bullet points will be covered if morning meetings are implemented. Now that's not saying morning meetings are the only time these things will be encouraged, but it sure is a good way to 'start' them. I've always thought communication with students was very important and this chapter solidified it for me.