CLASSROOM CULTURE

PART 1: Overview Questions

Instructional Context Overview
Please tell us a little bit about the educational environment you were observing to
complete this micro-credential.

Type of school/program and the grade/subject configuration

(single grade, YMCA afterschool program, etc.)

Public school, single grade classroom

Grade Age Level Number of Students

Kindergarten 5-6 18

Course

Writing, Reading, and Math

How long have you been working with this class in an educator role prior to the
featured lesson(s) examined in the micro-credential submission?

15 days

Briefly and specifically describe relevant:

State or district mandates that impact the featured lesson

Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Kindergarten

Type of community
 Suburban public school

Access to current technology

The classroom I am observing has a smart board in the front of the room. The class has a set of iPads
that the children will occasionally use for math games and activities.

Your relationship with the teacher you observed

I have a good relationship with the teacher I am observing because she was my
kindergarten teacher. She is such a great teacher to have as a mentor because she
has so much experience so I learn a lot from her.

Any other information you believe would be important for scorers to know to
understand your micro-credential submission

My observations were made through a course I am enrolled in at school, Called

elementary field experience. This class allows me to help out and observe in a
kindergarten class, three times a week.

My Perspective Essay
Describe two past experiences you have had as a learner in which your teacher succeeded in
facilitating a sustainable, equitable classroom culture. Describe specific strategies the teacher
implemented to do this and what that meant for you and your peers. Use the ​Teaching
Tolerance f​ ive critical components of classroom culture as a guide for framing the experiences
the teacher facilitated.

Essay

In my experiences as a learner, I have many examples to reflect on where my teacher

succeeded in facilitating a sustainable, equitable classroom culture. But the 2
experiences that specifically come ro my mind right away is my kindergarten teacher
implementing classroom culture and my 12th grade English teacher implementing
classroom culture. From what I can remember my kindergarten teacher did an
amazing job and setting up classroom culture. She would encourage parents at the
beginning of the school year to gather pictures of their family, family pets, the child's
favorite toys, whatever they thought was important to the child. Then on the first day
of school, she would let each child talk a little about their pictures if they wanted to
before hanging them up on a board. As the year progresses, if the child really
 wanted to add more pictures to the bored, they could. She believed having a place
where children can see some familiar things when they are having a rough day can
really help. She would also encourage families to come in to the classroom on
occasion for “mystery reader”. Every week, a certain childs family member would
come in and surprise the students and read a book to them. These examples really
show that my kindergarten teacher practices thoughtful classroom culture especially
honoring student experiences. My 12th grade english teacher also did an equally
great job at facilitating classroom culture for her students. She would have a time
and place where students can talk about their lives and receive support from peers
and teachers. She would also have us share our journals everyday, which made
students feel safe and more inclined to open up to her about their lives. She would
use simple gestures to learn about her students and show her appreciation for them
on a daily basis.​ ​ ​500-word maximum

PART 2: Artifacts
Observation Notes
Use the spaces on this form to type up the notes that you wrote while conducting observations
during your visits to the learning spaces. Your notes should relate directly to the critical
components in each section.

Tips to make your note-taking most effective:

● Focus on the critical components of classroom culture​. It's impossible to document
everything you observe! Stay focused on what matters, and avoid cluttering your notes
with information that isn’t relevant to examples of how the classroom culture is
developed or maintained.
● Be specific and descriptive​. Use descriptive words to document what you observe.
You can even include quotes from the teacher or students that bring these concepts
to life.
● Make note of your insights and thoughts as you observe. ​As you observe, jot down
why you are making note of each activity, quote, classroom set-up, etc. You could simply
write “ex. of honoring student experience.” This will help you remember the importance
of the event when you write your notes or essays later.

Observation Notes: Visit #1

Date of Observation

February 2019

Honoring Student Experience

 Mrs. Pacifico encourages parents at the beginning of the school year to gather
pictures of their family, family pets, the child's favorite toys, whatever they thought
was important to the child. Then on the first day of school, she would let each child
talk a little about their pictures if they wanted to before hanging them up on a board.
As the year progresses, if the child really wanted to add more pictures to the bored,
they could.

Thoughtful Classroom Setup and Structure

Mrs. Pacifico arranges the desks in clusters of four with students facing one another.
The teacher’s desk is in the back corner of the room. On the floor if the morning
meeting carpet with a big rocking chair for the teacher. Cubbies are in the corner.
Students classworks is hanging on the walls and books and posters are displayed
around the room

Shared Inquiry and Dialogue

She really listens to what the children say and to the feelings, experiences and
wisdom behind what they say. Mrs. Pacifico builds a safe space to explore new
ideas and work through conflicts, controversy and painful moments that may arise
when talking about issues of injustice and oppression.She has the children practice
active listening

Social and Emotional Safety

She actively teaches social-emotional skills and she pays attention to creating
positive relationships, she has bullying prevention and community building in place,
and she focuses on understanding and appreciating differences, Meaningful conflict
resolution.

Values Based Behavior Management

Mrs. Pacifico involves students in classroom discipline policies. The children work on
the policies as a class, and the teacher also works individually with students who
need extra support, especially reading support.

Other Notes on Visit #1

none

Observation Notes: Visit #2

 Date of Observation

March 2019

Honoring Student Experience

Mrs. Pacifico does a great job at providing a safe space where students are
seen, valued, cared for and respected. She takes the time to learn the
proper pronunciation of every student’s name and gets to know every
child's families. She chooses books that reflect classroom demographics
and then follows up the readings with craftivities.

Thoughtful Classroom Setup and Structure

Shared Inquiry and Dialogue

Social and Emotional Safety

Values Based Behavior Management

Other Notes on Visit #2

None

PART 3: Reflection
My Reflection Essay
Respond in a fully developed essay to the following guiding questions to reflect on classroom
culture:
● In what specific ways did the learning space you observed succeed as maintaining an
equitable classroom culture? In what specific ways did it fall short?
● What are your recommendations to strengthen the classroom culture in the learning
space you observed?
● What are your specific plans to prepare yourself to implement and sustain an equitable
classroom culture in the future when you have the main responsibility for a learning
space?

Essay

When I think of a teacher that sets up the perfect example of classroom culture, the teacher I
observed automatically comes to mind. She implements Honoring Student Experience,
Thoughtful Classroom Setup and Structure, Shared Inquiry and Dialogue, Social and
Emotional Safety, and Values Based Behavior Management.