A positive learning environment first and foremost needs to be a place that students feel safe, respected and cared for. This involves establishing clear guidelines and boundaries for everyone to adhere by. Reinforcing these boundaries and keeping everyone accountable by implementing different ways of intervention if clear expectations are not being met. Setting this tone early is crucial towards a cohesive classroom environment; this allows students to understand exactly how they should be treating others, themselves, and their teacher. This could be facilitated by making a set of written ground rules/guidelines created by both the students and the teacher early in the year and posting these in the classroom.

Student learning should be established based on a student-centered learning model. This means a variety of ways to explore and inquire about subject materials. Students should be given more and more autonomy to their learning as their development progresses. Building relationships with the individual is vital in establishing individual learning paths for each student. Constantly working with each student to facilitate his/her inquiry of different materials will be an integral part of allowing them more and more freedom as they develop as learners.

I believe a very powerful element to be used in learning is collaboration with peers. For this reason I like having students in pods. The number in each group would be dependent on class size and composition. This allows for collaborative assignments, as well as peer evaluation and collaboration on individual work as well.