He has explained to the students that after their assignment is done, and after they finish any current and missing work, they can choose to read, draw, write a story, or play a math game on the computers if they're available.
What clear routines are established in the classroom? How do they support a productive learning environment?
When they first come into the classroom in the morning, they're supposed to sit down, take out their math supplies, and quietly listen as he starts the math lesson. This routine allows them to immediately start learning, rather than having to wait for everyone to get their materials out and quiet down.
What does the cooperative teacher do to encourage a positive classroom community?
His number one rule is to be respectful. This rule might not work as well in a very young classroom, but in a 5th-grade classroom, it works really well.
He also asks the students to "popcorn", or raise their hand and quickly put it back down, to check understanding. This helps him check understanding without other students having a chance to look around and see how many hands are raised and feel bad for not understanding. It also prevents students from seeing a specific other student's hand not raised and making them feel bad about it.
His other rule is "hands and feet to ourselves". He explained to me that some students, especially boys, will roughhouse with their friends and accidentally hurt them, hurting their feelings and their friendship in the process. Having the rule to not touch each other helps that to not happen.
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