4 Core Values for a Thriving Classroom
Teachers play an instrumental role in setting the classroom environment. They primarily dictate the way students interact with each other and the work in front of them. Creating a positive class environment is invaluable for building trust and getting results.
COVID19 has made navigating remote and in-person learning while setting a positive classroom culture harder than ever.
So which values, mindsets, and people skills do you want to encourage?
4 Core Values for a Thriving Classroom
If you can settle on three to four core values to consistently model and reinforce in your classroom, you’re likely to end up with the environment you want.
We have outlined four of the most popular core values, along with ideas on how to make them part of your class culture.
Team Work
In or out of the classroom, your students will need to work in teams throughout their lives. Getting them invested in teamwork will pay off. If students see the value in supporting one another, there will be plenty of hands to help a struggling student—even when you aren’t available.
One great way to build teamwork when using Typing.com is to give students a typing buddy. Pairs of students can be responsible for checking in with each other every week to find out how their partner is progressing on their typing goals, what lesson s/he is working on, and any frustrations they may be facing. By working in teams, students build social and collaboration skills. And, when your students can’t be in the classroom, they still have the opportunity to connect.
Problem Solving
Encourage autonomous problem-solving. Learning and life are filled with problems that we must conceptualize and overcome, so for little learners this is a crucial skill to enable them in the future.
For example, you can teach your students basic computer troubleshooting. Create a checklist of potential problems and solutions. Then, make sure students review the list and try to fix any issues on their own before coming to you for help. 2020 was a big year for students’ technological independence. With a little more work, you can help take these skills students learned and build on them for the future.
Perseverance
Perseverance may be one of the most challenging and most important values to instill in students. It’s all about continuing to work, even in the face of actual or perceived failure. Don’t we all know a little about that after this year?
So how can you teach your kids not to give up, even when things seem impossible? One way to start is by celebrating those who take (safe) risks, make mistakes, and keep trying.
In Typing.com, you might have a student that is having a hard time improving their WPM, but they stick with the lessons and finish. Share their achievement with the class, and recognize the student for their stick-with-it-ness!
Optimism
Sometimes, attitude is everything. When thinking about the attitude students should bring into the classroom, what could be better than optimism? What’s more, optimism is contagious. Optimistic students also tend to show increased academic achievement and engagement with educational content and mastering skills.
So what’s the best way to promote optimism? Model it. If you are cheerful and bright in the face of a difficult task, your students will see how that positivity helps bring about success (and makes the task at hand seem not so scary).
For typing, a great way to promote positivity is through goal setting. By rallying students around what you know they can accomplish, everyone is more likely to keep their heads up and smile. Set individual and class goals to help motivate and keep things fun.
What about you? What are the most important values in your classroom? What do you do to reinforce them?