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Kathleen - Welcome to a discussion about Classroom Climate!
Beth Bruno - Welcome to the world's most dynamic profession!
Kristie - I am a first year teacher that has two students that have been retained in my classroom. How can I create a social situation that complements them? As we cover topics, I am hearing, "I did this already!!"
Donna - Have you thought about using them as peer tutors?
Kristie - Donna, can I use them as tutors when they have been retained??
Kristie - The rest of the class knows that they "aren't their age" and I'm worried about their acceptance from peers.
Life - Kristie..I kept back 6...4 in my room now..I talked with them about being leaders...setting examples...no trouble with the "I did this"
Kristie - The children are a delight though, I just want to make them feel as if they are truly 4th grade students.
Kristie - so you have 4 from last year life??
Life - Yes..Kristie..kept 6 out of 14!! but passing is 70 in reading/math
Kathleen - You know, retained students can have an impact upon the climate of a classroom when they are socially out of sync with the other kids. Any opinions on that theory?
Kristie - In a positive or negative way kathleen??
Beth Bruno - For one thing, Kristie, the student can help show you the ropes as a newcomer. That might help.
Kathleen - Kristie, I'm thinking more of when it is a negative, kids who are bigger than the others, and at different stage of emotional maturity.
Beth Bruno - I've always believed in finding ways to get "touchy" subjects out in the open early in the year. Do other teachers do that, too?
Donna - I have always tried to pair those students with less capable
Kristie - You mean those that are retained donna??
Kathleen - Beth, it would depend upon the ages of the students
Beth Bruno - Often kids who are retained are either sullen and uncooperative or very angry. It's touchy at the beginning of the year, but shouldn't last.
Donna - yes, they do have a lot to offer especially at the beginning of the year when they're feeling confident!
Beth Bruno - Nice idea, Donna, to find ways to make the retained student feel important and capable.
Kathleen - Does anyone feel that their classroom has a less than comfortable climate?
Mountainette 4/WV - YES!!!!!!
Kathleen - Is name calling common in the classroom? Beth's article addresses Names Can Really Hurt Us
Beth Bruno - To piggyback on Kathleen's question, and the school climate as a whole?
Kathleen - Mountainette, yes a negative climate?
Mountainette 4/WV - Yes, Kathleen. I am feeling very discouraged
Kathleen - Mountainette, can you describe the issues that are discouraging you?
Beth Bruno - What are the causes of the negative climate, either in your classroom or in the school? In my school there is one whole grade that has personality clashes - no matter how we group them from year to year.
Donna - Frustrated children cause a negative climate
Kathleen - in the classroom, a very loud and aggressive child.
Kathleen - Beth, even when divided between multiple classrooms? As though it was just a bad year?
Beth Bruno - When I think of negative climate I think of kids being ultra competitive and not supportive of each other.
Mountainette 4/WV - I have a couple of students who hurt other peoples feelings and I have several (7 or 8) that just don't pay attention. Out of 26 kids, I have tried to be on top of them all the time and I just can't do it
DahilDosan - I think some students feel frustrated because they are placed in a classroom that they don't belong. For instance students that are placed in a regular classroom and they belong to Bil class
Beth Bruno - And I think of kids trying to be better than the next guy.
Kathleen - with younger students, aggression, causing tension among children and adults
Donna - I teach Academ. Gifted and I see very competitive students and PARENTS for that matter.
Beth Bruno - Yes, often the parents contribute to the cut-throat attitudes of the kids. That attitude really puts a damper on things.
Kathleen - What is the solution for that kind of competitiveness, and meanness among 4th grade children
Donna - I have students who truly don't belong there, they got in because they were privately tested. They are easily frustrated.
Beth Bruno - I think we need to do all we can at every grade to teach student empathy skills.
Mountainette 4/WV - How do we do that Beth?
Beth Bruno - Doing cooperative projects helps - finding a way to volunteer help with younger children or special needs children can help, too.
Mountainette 4/WV - I have taught using the book Chrysanthemum and a paper doll and tearing or ripping "Matilda" and them taping over the "hurts"
Donna - Like Buddy readers?
Kathleen - I think we need specific activities for teaching empathy skills, it can't be effective as a lecture course. Beth, please tell the participants about the programs you mention in your article about Names Can Really Hurt Us
Beth Bruno - The literature we assign can have a huge impact on empathy building. Students learn much from characters they identify with.
Beth Bruno - Names Can Really Hurt Us us is a program developed by the ADL - Anti-Defamation League
Delphi - At my school we have pairing of a junior grade with a primary grade. We regularly do activities together. It is a positive experience for both groups. It makes the younger students feel more comfortable and the older students are more sympathetic.
Kathleen - Mountainette, the tearing of the doll reminds me of the heart tearing activity someone posted in the Lessons Bank http://teachers.net/lessons. Wrinkled Heart http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1254.html
Kathleen - Delphi, that might help the older kids feel protective of the younger ones who might otherwise be picked on .
Beth Bruno - We have a program like that in our schools, too, Delphi. The kids really grow within it.
Beth Bruno - The ADL program is administered by The World of Difference Institute. You may have one in your state. Parents or teachers can become trainers to help students share their experiences with being picked on. After they share in writing and small groups, they share at an all school assembly- powerful! Students begin making personal commitments to stop putting each other down and to respect each other's differences and unique qualities.
Mountainette 4/WV - We call our paper person Matilda and we all have the opportunity to say hurtful things to her and as we do, we rip a piece of her or crumble her up. Then we apologize and smooth her out or tape her tears. Shows hurtful things still show up but because we say we are sorry, it helps a little
Beth Bruno - Is it a point of the lesson that kids learn to stop themselves from saying the hurtful things in the first place?
Delphi - Mountainette 4WW that sound like a concrete way to show an abstract idea. It must work even with very young children.
Mountainette 4/WV - yes, beth
Beth Bruno - What does your principal do to build a positive school climate?
Kathleen - Principals often plan events outside of school hours in an effort to make everyone feel like a big happy family
Beth Bruno - Also, do parents take an active role in your school? I'm stuck on the idea of a true school community.
Delphi - We have a good manners program at our school. Every week the students focus on a different aspect. It begins with very simple things like saying please and thank you. It has worked well.
Kathleen - So many parents work that it's a lot to "ask" them to sit with child for homework or story!
goldielocks - Our school has a program sponsored by LionsQuest and uses the Fight Free philosophy
Kathleen - Does the Character Counts program foster a positive school climate?
Delphi - The parents in our school are very involved. We have an active parent council and we regularly see parent volunteers in the school. It is wonderful! You have to be careful to direct them to specific task.
goldielocks - We have a parent volunteer coordinator to help train parents to work in our school
Beth Bruno - Tell us more about the LionsQuest and Character Counts programs.
gato - I read that article earlier and it is excellent. In a middle school, with blossoming adolescents so conscious of themselves, name calling can be very damaging.
Delphi - What a wonderful idea Goldilocks! Last year I had a parent come in every day for the full day. It drove me nuts. She didn't really want to help she was just there.
gato - Middle schoolers are very cruel to one another. We have established a mediator program in our school where students attempt to help one another solve problems.
Kathleen - gato, I would imagine name calling is still THE major tactic for harassment in middle school, it would be nice to change that.
goldielocks - LionsQuest is a series of lessons which foster an atmosphere of community in the classroom, teaches ways to handle personal conflict, and encourages students to be involved in service activities. It is sponsored and published by the Lions Club.
Beth Bruno - It's true that parent volunteers can be a wonderful support system, especially when there is someone identified to coordinate their efforts.
gato - Unfortunately, there is the "popular" crowd and then everyone else. Very few have the confidence to be themselves.
Kathleen - Character Counts is one of those pillars programs, a certain number of characteristics, examined one a week, something of that sort
Beth Bruno - Do Lions Club members run it or is it a program the teachers learn about and teach?
gato - There is so much pressure to look like, speak like, be like the "in" crowd.
Beth Bruno - It takes a lot of work, but I think teachers can contribute a lot to finding the unique, positive talents in each student and foster them.
Ben - Parents volunteers are quite active in our school and carry out many useful functions in all grades.
gato - We try very hard to have students be kind to one another, but it is difficult. Also, there are several "ethnic" factions. This also creates for a negative atmosphere.
goldielocks - There is a wonderful book titled something like Raising a Thinking Child which goes through short lessons or games to teach kids how to express themselves. The book is for parents. But It's wonderful for use in the classroom.
Kathleen - I think schools have to do a better job targeting the kids who need help-either in the way they treat others, or how they can handle or deflect the meanness
Beth Bruno - It's so important for us to set the example on that.
goldielocks - The Lions Club sponsors the program. Teachers attend training and implement the program with a program guide in their classroom
gato - And, it is hard for me to admit this, but some teachers favor the popular kids and neglect the peripheral ones.
gato - Basically, I believe as teachers we have to begin setting the atmosphere for tolerance in our individual classrooms.
Kathleen - gato, I agree that some teachers neglect the peripheral kids
Beth Bruno - Someone mentioned peer mediation (students helping each other resolve conflict). Do you all have peer mediation programs in your schools?
gato - Make every child feel lovable and capable. Make no class distinctions, no social distinctions, no academic distinctions.
Kathleen - Do you think it is as important to help those who are becoming victimized as it is to focus on those who inflict social pain?
goldielocks - peer mediation can be part of the Fight Free program..but we have not used it in our elementary school
Beth Bruno - I can't think of a single child I've ever met who didn't have some unique, special qualities that I could encourage and celebrate.
gato - Yes, we do, Beth. It is a very successful program. Students receive special training. The students are chosen by their peers for being fair and open and discreet.
Kathleen - gato, do you think school uniforms can equalize some of those "classes"?
Ben - I disagree we must not only set the example we must not allow others to show disrespect to another person, be it student or adult. All students and parents must know and treat all with respect and consequences must be instituted which enforce it.
Beth Bruno - We need to confront kids who inflict pain, confront them about making restitution for the trouble they cause.
gato - Absolutely, Kathleen. And many schools in California have gone to this.
Beth Bruno - And we also need to equip students who are victimized with ways to protect and defend themselves.
gato - It is unbelievable how children are victimized for not wearing the proper labels!
Ben - Right on Beth, search out the good in all students. It's there you just have to look harder to see it sometimes!
goldielocks - but that can sometimes be a problem..getting adults and parents to treat each other with respect in front of the children. Sometimes it seems like it more do what i say not what i do
Beth Bruno - The idea of restitution is important, because once a child has done something to make up for the trouble he or she has caused, the incident can be put behind him.
gato - Do you all think that a good working relationship among the staff will help in establishing a good school climate. Do the teachers get along?????
Beth Bruno - It's true, Goldilocks. I've heard some adults use nasty tone of voice and really put kids down.
Beth Bruno - If we're treating each other poorly, or putting kids down, we're guilty of the same thing the kids are.
goldielocks - if the staff don't get along the kids pick up on it. It's just like when the parents are fighting and the kids know how to play both sides off each other. If the staff work together and respect each other and the parents they're more likely to respect the students and vice versa
gato - Happy Teachers Happy Kids Happy Environment
Kathleen - gato, I'm sure it helps, but most classrooms are little worlds unto themselves and how the adults interact probably doesn't impact the kids. (Might be different at your level where classrooms are not self-contained) what do you think?
gato - It is different at my level, Kathleen. We "share" kids. My 150 do not "belong" to me. There has to be a unity among staff and an agreement to treat one another and children respectfully, fairly, with understanding and when needed, compassion.
goldielocks - I disagree. we're not little worlds anymore. there are too many pressures from society and state and federal education leaders for students to be accountable
Kathleen - yes, gato, your situation is very different then.
gato - On the other hand, If I am out of sorts, the next teacher may make up for my failing and so the climate remains positive. This is the kind of support among staff that I mean. This creates a positive climate all around.
Kathleen - goldie, I meant that many of us are isolated in our classrooms, that interpersonal relationships with other faculty members might not impact on our students
Beth Bruno - I think developing that full school atmosphere of respect is crucial, whether the kids intermingle a lot or not.
gato - And that is the basic premise, is it not Beth? Mutual Respect?
gato - Respect Yourself; Respect Your School; Respect One Another.
Kathleen - How much impact can people at gato's level have on kids whose attitudes have been formed for 12-13 years?
Beth Bruno - We almost never have social events just for teachers at our school. I think we need more of them - like an occasional evening of playing cards, or making crafts, or other fun events.
gato - Kathleen, the greatest impact at this age is from peers.
goldielocks - Kathleen..all I know is...I have worked where the staff were barely speaking to each other..and where they help each other..the latter is a better climate
Beth Bruno - Or maybe even taking over a morning or afternoon in a colleague's class (uh-oh) :-)
Kathleen - goldie, positive people would likely have a more positive atmosphere in their classrooms, I agree.
gato - We try to make a difference, but usually the impact does not settle in until later. High schoolers come back and thank us. It takes a little maturity.
Beth Bruno - As a school psychologist, I've given lessons at several different grade levels. It's quite an eye-opener!
Beth Bruno - Gato - that happens so often in my work - I wonder if I'm making any headway, only to find out what helped much later in the year or in later years.
Kathleen - Perhaps kids need lots of opportunities to communicate privately or anonymously about how they feel victimized?
Kathleen - Well, hopefully with all of the attention now on school climate, we'll see kinder gentler atmospheres developing
Kathleen - Next month with Beth Bruno: Why Teach? We'll discuss what lured us into the profession :-)
Beth Bruno - Should be lots of great stories that night!
Kathleen - Goodnight and thanks again, Beth!
