Goal 14 – Rose Gardens have Thorns

I read this challenge relating to classroom culture before going to school this morning and thought it about during the day. There were examples today of what is good about our clasroom culture and the necessary evils that come with it.

Since the classroom is designed as a learning center, there is a relaxed atmposphere. Kids do get up and move around, a certain amount of talking is acceptable because students can help each other or work together. It is actually easier with the students who are deaf as they aren’t bothered by the converstions going on in different corners. Some hard of hearing students talk very loudly (because then they hear themselves) and that sometimes bothers the hard of hearing students.The classroom is also much more decorated than your average high-school classroom (at least here!). I’ll post pics soon!

Overall I know the students like the atmosphere because they often want to” hang out” in the English room when they don’t have a lesson (I only let them do that when there aren’t many pupils or when they’ve come to volunteer). It’s often a pleasure to see them working together!

However, roses have thorns. Pupils talk to each other , they don’t sit facing the teacher, communicating through her.  Sometimes, like today, kids start arguing following a remark made by a student. Another pupil’s schedule was changed and he came at a different hour. We don’t “save seats” and he couldn’t  sit where he used to sit in previous lessons. He got very upset – in other lessons he gets the same seat! About twice a year actual physical fighting breaks out between boys with behavorial issues. SIGH…

Some teachers see me as soft on discipline beause of this. But in their lessons students are supposed to sit facing the teacher and all interaction is controlled!

I feel that the advantages of this system are greater and I’m sticking with it. But there are problems…

4 thoughts on “Goal 14 – Rose Gardens have Thorns”

  1. I love the sound of your classroom… please do post some pictures 🙂

    I reckon the increased interaction is worth the occasional fight. I’d rather have the rose with it’s thorns than no rose at all! Not that I have to deal with this kind of thing as I am lucky enough to teach adults. It sounds like you’re doing an amazing job 🙂

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