My Inquiry Synthesis
Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to work in various classroom environments, which educate students through the traditional methods of learning. Throughout my observations, I have been able to recognize and question various types of routines and classroom structures. My inquiry arises from my curiosity and hopefulness of modifying parts of the classroom environment to better fit the needs of my students. It also arises from my personal schooling experiences where I never felt that my environment was thought of as being a key factor in my success. My inquiry question looks at how the physical environment of the classroom impacts improved behavior and work ethic for the students. It specifically looks at seating arrangements, classroom structure, and organization for better class management.
My past experiences have helped me broaden my scope of how students learn and behave under various circumstances and environments. I feel that being apart of a generation that is so advanced and open to change gives us a great opportunity to implement and try new teaching techniques and strategies. As a teacher candidate, I have been able to observe and actively take part in creating lesson plans, seating arrangements, and modifying the overall organization of activities. My experiences thus far have taught me an immense amount of information and I plan to carry this knowledge forward into my future classroom one day. Through research and observations, I have been able to learn that students have improved behavior and work ethic when they are learning in more organized environments that include seating plans and classroom structure. The physical environment of a classroom means so much more than just a space where learning happens. This space is where students spend a majority of their time; therefore, it should be carefully thought out. I want to be the type of educator that takes every factor into consideration and tries to work towards a healthier environment for my students. I realize that there is no such thing as mastering the art of teaching, but I definitely want to strive to create a physical environment that promotes my students success.
My inquiry has taught me that educating students is a learning process that involves open-ended conversation between teachers and students and also involves being open minded to including new processes into your classroom. The article “The Classroom Physical Environment and Its Relation to Teaching and Learning Comfort Level” by Marzita Puteh, focuses on creating an ideal environment for students to learn. It mentions that “a conducive learning environment creates a comfortable teaching and learning environment while keeping the students focused and interested in the classroom” (Puteh, 237). Going forward I hope to carry this knowledge and create an environment for my students that fosters better learning and an environment that my students are able to succeed in. My plan for implementing and utilizing my research from my inquiry includes getting to know my students and building positive relationships with them in order to figure out what type of learners they are and the environments in which they learn best. I hope to utilize this knowledge in creating a seating arrangement that positions my stronger students with my weaker students so that they can bring each other up and motivate one another. I strive to create an environment that is organized and simple for my students, thus creating a space where my students can locate items and navigate freely throughout the classroom. My goal as a teacher is to modify and implement new strategies into the classroom environment to better suit my students needs. I also want to focus on strategies that I can incorporate to help specific students in my classroom. The article “Alternative Seating for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects on Classroom Behavior” by Denise Schilling looks at getting rid of the simple chair in classrooms and introducing therapy ball seating for students with autism. It looks at a study that indicates substantial improvements in engagement and in behavior when participants were seated on therapy balls. I have been able to learn that every student is different in his or her own ways and that each year I will face new dilemmas. My long-term goals include absorbing as much information as possible and using that knowledge in my future practices. My inquiry has led to me discover many new things about teaching and I hope to continue this process throughout my career. Through continuing research on this inquiry, I hope to gain a better understanding of the various ways educators set up their classrooms to accommodate for each student. I also hope to explore other forms of classroom structure, organization, and arrangement, which would be ideal to incorporate into my classroom in the future.
M, Puteh, et al. “The Classroom Physical Environment and its Relation to Teaching and Learning Comfort Level.” International Journal of Social Science and Humanity 5.3 (2015): 237-40. Web.
Schilling, Denise Lynn, and Ilene S. Schwartz. “Alternative seating for young children with autism spectrum disorder: Effects on classroom behavior.” Journal of autism and developmental disorders 34.4 (2004): 423-432.