jasleen toor | Ms. Toor's Blog

Positive Reinforcement

Every day brings an opportunity to learn something new. Positive reinforcement has been something that I have struggled with but over the last couple of months I have been able to recognize the importance of this! Instead of always focusing on the negative aspects of student work and behaviour it is important to also recognize the good and acknowledge it whenever you can. This goes beyond the classroom and can be extended into any practice. Even when coaching a team it’s important to acknowledge growth and continue to positively reinforce…read more

Always Learning!

I have been able to learn so much about myself over the past month. I have learnt so many new things, techniques, and skills that I know will be helpful for me down the road. I have also been able to recognize my strengths and weaknesses and have been able to find ways to better myself throughout the process. Being in an environment where I get to use my learnt knowledge and skills first hand has been one of the greatest learning experiences for myself. Coming into this professional development…read more

Buzz Word!

Be Flexible. Over the past 4 weeks, I have had the opportunity to learn and absorb an immense amount of information. I have learnt new techniques on how to effectively manage a classroom environment, how to keep myself organized and remain flexible! All throughout this professional development program we were told that being flexible is a necessity when it comes to teaching young children. However, I undermined how flexible I would need to be when working in a classroom. Flexibility is vital and I observe it daily. Being flexible means…read more

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…read more

Teacher’s Discretion

Seating arrangements within a classroom have generally been left up to the teacher’s discretion. However, the article “Classroom Seating Location, Student Grades and Attitudes” by Llyod Stires looks into a study that shows students who sit near the front and center of a classroom get better grades and like the instructors better than students who sit in the back or at the sides. This article provides a varied approach to my inquiry question because I have mainly focused on which students should sit beside who and so on… however, I never…read more

Successful Learning!

As a teacher candidate, I get the opportunity to observe various strategies and techniques that teachers implement into their classrooms. I also get the opportunity to figure out what practices I prefer over others and which I would like to implement into my own classroom one day. The environment in which students work and study is vital in successful learning. As a future teacher, I strive to absorb all the knowledge and tips around me to create an environment that is inviting, caring, and comfortable for my students. My inquiry…read more

Row- and- Column Seating

The article “Location and Interaction in Row-and-Column Seating Arrangements” by Mele Koneya investigated the effects of verbal behavior, physical locations, and seat preferences of members of large groups in row- and column seating arrangements. This article looks at a study that depicts whether students of “high,” “moderate,” or “low” verbalization rates were affected when being assigned a seating arrangement or when given autonomy to choose their own seats. This article supports my inquiry because it provides results from a study that show students are impacted by where they choose to…read more

Classroom Univerals

Posted by jasleen toor in Inquiry Project, inquiry resource

The article “Classroom Universals to Prevent Problem Behaviors” by Robert Trussell talks about the implementation of universals as being essential within classrooms. Classroom universals are those organizational and teacher instructional practices that are essential in preventing the occurrence of problem behaviors while simultaneously increasing academic achievement. This article goes into depth with the various types of universals that, when applies consistently and collectively, help create safe and effective classrooms. It also provides evidence throughout the article to support my inquiry that the classroom environment does indeed have direct impacts on…read more

Therapy Chairs!

Classrooms generally have a chair and a desk for each student, they may be set up in various ways but the overarching themes of classroom are typically quite similar. 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 seat behavior when participants were seated on therapy balls. As a…read more

Assessment and Environment

The book “Classroom Environment” by Barry J. Fraser looks at how teachers and schools are consistently subjected to judgments of performance based on simple measures of cognitive outcomes. However, this book looks at other factors such as places, typically classrooms, where learning takes place and where the quality of life in the classroom, impacts the type of education you receive. This resource is interesting because it offers a comparative aspect that I can use to justify my inquiry question and its importance in the learning environment. As a teacher candidate,…read more