Thadra Petkus's Blog
Posted by Thadra Petkus
In addition to maintaining a comfortable classroom, I implement a student-centered approach by enhancing the environment with continual positive interactions with students. In my classroom, students respect the fact that once they enter the classroom, they may not yell or treat each other or me with disrespect. I model a friendly tone and the students, for the most part, mirror this tone. When something goes wrong, I laugh at my own mistakes or about things which are out of my control. When something goes well, praise is abundant.
Teacher feedback is significant when it comes to implementing ground rules for academic discussion. For this reason, I often congratulate my students for their insightful remarks; this goes a long way towards inciting positive classroom discussions and fosters creative thinking. Students know they can freely express their ideas and I reinforce the notion that there are many perspectives which can be explored regarding literature. Freedom of expression is valued.
Further, students’ suggestions are considered when I make administrative decisions. Students are given choices about assignments, test dates, and essay topics whenever possible. I like to think that students not only feel comfortable in my class, but they also feel respected and valued as individual members of a community learning environment.
Once a positive tone has been established, it is the teacher's responsibility to maintain this throughout the school year. While this can be challenging, the rewards are manifold.
Posted by Thadra Petkus
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Posted by Thadra Petkus
Dear Students of 6th Period:
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Posted by Thadra Petkus
Teachers should strive to continuously broaden their perspectives of society, education, and their role in each. Just as a teacher never stops learning, she should continue to develop and fine-tune multiple perspectives. While teaching Adult Education ESOL classes, I was bombarded by many cultures, including those from Brasil, Colombia, Haiti, Turkey, Lithuania, and Japan. I was faced with the task of communicating with my students with nonverbal cues and visual aids to clarify class expectations. Early in this experience, I realized the importance of posters, flashcards, hands-on games, real life objects such as telephone books and checkbooks as well as the all-mighty overhead projector to share my endless transparencies.
I engaged my students with laughter and body language. I welcomed students nightly with handshakes and smiles. I endeavored to create a welcoming environment, realizing that attendance for my class was not mandatory: it was up to me to keep them coming back.
I've witnessed that the older an individual is, the more difficult it is to acquire new language skills. Adults work all day and attend nightly classes to improve their English skills so that they can obtain better jobs, assist their children with homework, and truly feel at home in their new environment. Now that I work with children, I realize that many of my students have parents similar to my adult students. In my classes, I have numerous mainstreamed ESOL students. Of these students, most of their parents still have very limited English skills.
I remind myself of these students' struggles and work to maintain a similar level of warmth in my high school classroom. One of the most pro-active, positive and simple ways to accommodate diverse multicultural students is to provide a nurturing environment where students feel like an important and integral part of the learning environment.
Posted by Thadra Petkus
In addition to maintaining a comfortable classroom, the environment is improved with positive interactions. Getting students on your side can only benefit the overall tone of the classroom and enhance learning experiences by encouraging students to take risks, give their opinions, and tackle difficult concepts.
Teachers Model Positive Interactions
Students respect the fact that once they enter the classroom, they may not yell or treat each other or me with disrespect. I model a friendly tone and the students, for the most part, mirror this tone. When something goes wrong, I laugh at my own mistakes or about things which are out of my control. I try to communicate that no one is perfect and that what I expect most out of myself and of others is that we try to do our best each day. Teacher introductions are a great way to establish this practice.
Teachers Provide Encouragment and Share Decision-Making
When something goes well, praise is abundant. I often congratulate my students for their insightful remarks; this goes a long way towards inciting positive classroom discussions and fosters creative thinking. Students know they can freely express their ideas and I reinforce the notion that there are many perspectives which can be explored regarding literature. Also, students’ suggestions are considered when making administrative decisions and they are given choices about assignments and test dates, etc. whenever possible. We make decisions together when appropriate. I like to think that students not only feel comfortable in my class, but they also feel respected and valued as individual members of a community learning environment.
These are just a few ways in which I attempt to be a positive influence on students who enter my classroom, and I have found the rewards to be limitless.
