Evaluate Strategies for creating a positive learning environment and analyse the extent to which Behaviourism and Humanism informs classroom and behaviour management

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Evaluate Strategies for creating a positive learning environment and analyse the extent to which Behaviourism and Humanism informs classroom and behaviour management

In this essay I will consider strategies relating to creating a positive learning environment. It will look at two behaviourists and analyze to which behaviourism and humanism inform classroom and behaviour management. The behaviourist theories will focus on Pavlov, Watson and Skinner, with the humanist approach being looked at from the perspective of Maslow and Rogers. I think that it is essential to establish what actually makes a positive learning environment and what the contributing factors that detract from this environment are. I will be using research from both practical classroom experience and discussing the academic theorists and trying to relate them in to the classroom.

The quality of your planning is an important factor and will have a direct impact on the behaviour in the classroom. Poor planning of lesson plans and lesson activities will make behaviour management of the class an uphill struggle. In my experience of the classroom I have seen examples of poor planning where the class teacher has had little preparation and over relied on the use of handouts. There seemed to be no creativity in her planning and it didn’t take a long time for the children to realise that they were being occupied. If the situation were different perhaps she would have had a better outcome with her learning objectives. Active learning, where children are doing work on their feet and at their desk will certainly stimulate them.

To create a positive learning environment it is essential to ensure that your classroom reflects this. A teacher’s classroom is similar to a retailers shop window, a positive and stimulating classroom will encourage the children to, as a well presented shop window will encourage people to look at the products and potentially buy items from the store. It is important to have your classroom set up so that you are able to get to each pupil quickly when needed without disturbing others. In the classroom that I have observed I did see a designated area on the classroom wall which was used specifically for behaviour management display, The teacher allowed the children to design their own rules on behaviour as this gave the children their own empowerment. It is important to have an emotionally secure classroom, In order to give this, it is important for the teacher to provide them with a strong model for appropriate responses. The children need to feel emotionally secure before they even begin to learn as this uses the rational part of the brain. A positive learning environment gives the children the opportunity to raise their self-esteem. By meeting the children’s emotional needs helps them to become well adjusted. Curry and Johnson (1990:53) believe that “self –esteem is not a trivial pursuit that can be built by pepping children up with empty praise and cheers of support. Such efforts are temporary and deceptive” as educators we need to coach and motivate our children. In the classroom children are establishing relationships with their peers and Teacher. Their self esteem is fed by how much control they have over their lives and will use adult reactions. The classroom should be an extension of a child’s home, where the surroundings are warm, friendly and the children know where everything is. It is also important to understand that not all children come from a stable family background and therefore the environment needs to be accommodated for all children. “The professional relationship that you have with your children needs to involve appreciation, affirmation and affection.” (Rodd: 1996). It is important not to be over familiar with the children it will make you popular with the class but this will do little for your professionalism and authoritarianism. Once you have established a good professional relationship with your class and found the right climate the results will be plentiful.

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 As educators we spend the majority of our time interacting with children in our class and there will be children that receive no individual attention in a given day. We must make sure that each child has been given some attention. After all in some circumstances the child may not get any attention at home either. There are key motivators that promote misbehaviour in the classroom ranging from boredom, prolonged mental effort, and inability to do the work to low self- esteem. There are various strategies for promoting positive behaviour and discouraging undesired behaviour. It is impossible to know all ...

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