Productive Learning Environment

Based on our readings and class discussion, how will you create a learning environment that is conducive to learning? Now consider your CSEL case study. Develop a full continuum of responses for dealing with the misbehavior of your case. 

I really want my classroom to benefit my students' learning.  I want my students to respect me, my students to respect each other, and I need to respect my students.  It should be a safe place where my students are not afraid to talk and know that if they do speak, they will not get made fun of.  This will make learning more productive.  I also want to have an organized classroom.  This will benefit me (so that I don't go crazy because I am slightly OCD) and it will benefit my students' productivity.

This is a good article about creating a conducive learning environment.

Here is my case study for my CSEL:

Elementary Education Case Study

You engage your third grade students in cooperative learning activities at least twice a day, changing heterogeneous group members once every four weeks. You have agreed upon routine procedures that your classroom community uses within their small groups, including the roles and responsibilities of group members. Lately you have noticed that one small group always seems to have difficulty grasping material and completing their project in an acceptable manner.  You observe this group carefully and find that Lisa seems to be the catalyst for their problems.  She gets angry with others if she does not get the job she wants and refuses to do her part in contributing to the group’s learning.  She constantly interrupts others in her group.  She does not pay attention when her group prepares for class presentations.

First to deal with this problem, I would talk with Lisa and her parents about this issue.  It might be something that can be resolved by talking about it and reiterating the rules of respect in my classroom.  If the problem still persists, I would try "circle time" with Lisa and her group members to try to resolve the issues between them so that they can begin to work together effectively.  I would make sure they understand the rules of respect and how to live them out while we are in the classroom (and hopefully they would live them out outside of school as well).  If Lisa still cannot seem to work in a group, I would probably make her work independently and see the guidance counselor to get to the root of the problem.  Hopefully level one of intervention would stop the problem, but if not, I hope that it would be resolved by the end of all intervention.