What is a supportive learning environment?

Differentiation Differentiation Non-NegotiablesNon-Negotiables

Supportive learning environmentContinuous assessmentHigh-quality curriculumRespectful tasksFlexible grouping

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a supportive learning supportive learning environment brainstormenvironment brainstorm

Planned community building activities

Time devoted to teaching relationship skills

Time for reflection on needs and objectives

Positive interdependence

Shared goals, expectations, values

Shared responsibility

Community chosen tasks and projects

Strong sense of loyalty

Characteristics of aCharacteristics of aPositive Classroom CulturePositive Classroom Culture

Seven Traits for Optimal Seven Traits for Optimal Learning in a Positive Learning in a Positive Classroom CultureClassroom Culture

Self-evaluationResiliencyAdaptabilityResponsibilityTeamworkCompetencyExpectation

5 Basic Needs5 Basic Needs

To connect To be competent To make choices To have fun To be safe

Sullo, 2007

According to William Schutz, an According to William Schutz, an academic expert on groups, academic expert on groups, what three things does every what three things does every group member need?group member need?

AffectAffectControlControlInclusionInclusion

AFFECTAFFECT

Need to establish & maintain satisfactory relation with respect to love & affection

Need to feel self is loveableNeed for affection relating to being close or far

“Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.”

(C. S. Lewis)

Caring and supportCaring and supportQuestions students ask themselvesQuestions students ask themselvesIs this teacher my friend or enemy?Will I be embarrassed or feel

stupid?What will my classmates think?Can I do this work?Where is my connection to this

task?Am I valued?

Gregory

AFFECTAFFECT

In years to come, your students may forget what you taught them. But, they will always remember how you made them feel.

Author Unknown

CONTROLCONTROL

Need to establish & maintain satisfactory relation with respect to control & power

Need to feel self is competent & responsible

“If a person does not feel included, he/she will create his/her own inclusion by grabbing influence, attracting attention, creating a controversy, demanding power or taking control.”

Jeanne GibbsTribes (1987)

INCLUSIONINCLUSION

Need to establish & maintain satisfactory relation with respect to interaction & association

Need to feel self is significant & worthwhile

Need for inclusion relating to being in or out

The yearning for deep connection describes a quality of relationship that is profoundly caring, is resonant with meaning, and involves feelings of belonging, or of being truly seen and known

Rachael Kessler (2000)

Seven Strategies for Building Seven Strategies for Building Positive ClassroomsPositive ClassroomsMake learning relevantCreate a classroom code of

conductTeach positive actionsInstill intrinsic motivationReinforce positive behaviorsEngage positive role modelsAlways be positive

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept08/vol66/num01/Seven-Strategies-for-Building-Positive-Classrooms.aspx

Positive Actions for…Positive Actions for…a healthy bodythe intellectself-managementgetting along with othersbeing honest with yourself and

othersimproving yourself continually

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept08/vol66/num01/Seven-Strategies-for-Building-Positive-Classrooms.aspx

Reflect on ways you Reflect on ways you intentionally build AFFECT, intentionally build AFFECT, CONTROL, and INCLUSION CONTROL, and INCLUSION into your classroom learning into your classroom learning environment.environment.