How Do You Foster a Positive Learning Environment? Part 2

Procedures are the expectations you have for the way your classroom runs.  If you have vague procedures, then you will not have the results you desire.  For example, if you want your students to quietly put their papers in the paper tray when they finish their work, you must first consider the other problems that may occur.  Students may stand around the paper tray and talk.  They may rush to shuffle their papers in the tray in differing directions, or they may elbow one another when they turn their papers in because they are in a hurry.  Discuss these potential problems with your students, and ask students how this could cause problems…even model the wrong way to act.  Then tell students your expectations and how you want them to act.  Model how to walk to the paper tray, how to place the paper in the tray, what to do when there is more than one person at the tray, and how to leave the paper tray after the they have turned the paper in.  Being specific about what you expect and reinforcing your expectations will yield a well-managed, positive, classroom environment.