Positive Learning Environment:

Mr. Strycker believes that a positive learning environment begins with effective classroom management
and innovative classroom design. This class will involve many group-work activities with most groups
consisting of students at varying levels of skill and learning preferences. “Flexible grouping gives
teachers the means to balance instructional demands with student needs” (Puckett, 1.2, para. 5).
Classroom rules will be prominently displayed, clearly written, and occasionally reviewed to remind
students of behavioral expectations.

Social and Emotional Support:

Social and emotional support for each student will be met through continuous encouragement from the
teacher and have frequent group work tasks. Diversity in groups is important in order to overcome
potentially unfair biases that have may have been encountered during placement exams (Hochschild,
2003). During instructional exercises mistakes will not be counted against students, but instead, will be
looked at as learning opportunities and perhaps even areas of focused review.

Student Expectations for Classwork and Assignments:

Throughout the course students will be given individual assignments. However, these assignments may
be completed using varying formats that appeal to each students’ learning preference. During group
work each student will be assigned, and responsible for, a particular section of research that contributes
to the overall group.

Opportunities to Succeed:

Students will be continuously encouraged to ask questions throughout this course. Students may pick
and choose the format in which they will complete individual assignments. Group work activities will
allow each group member to provide recommendations and encouragement for the rest. Media and
technology will be incorporated into the classroom to widen the range of opportunities that students
can use. It’s a goal for many teachers to build a learning community where students can help each
other and share in one another’s success (Puckett, 2013).

Assessing Student Work:

Individual student work will be graded on accurateness and effort. Other factors that will be included in
assessing group work are: quality of work, teamwork, and presentation. Students will be given grading
rubrics for assignments as a reference for meeting assignment expectations. Students are encouraged
to ask Mr. Strycker questions anytime regarding their assignments. Some projects will also be
collaborative with other courses where teachers can develop common formative and summative
assessments for the students across subjects. Collaborative planning focuses on high-quality curriculum,
instruction, and assessment which is at the heart of strategic planning (Hedrick, 2012).