“My studies… indicate that emotional support from close friends during adolescence in more predictive of psychological and academic adjustment than support from parents” – The Hidden Landscape of Boy’s Friendships
Before starting my journey to be a high school teacher, I knew that teaching was complicated and complex, but just not how complicated or complex. Today I sat down with my cooperating teacher for 45 minutes to decide on a new seating chart for one of the classes. Something has been off in the class, and several students have asked if they can be moved. In a language classroom, we frequently work in groups or pairs and having a helpful and friendly deskmate makes all the difference in the world. My CT and I went through the class list, deciding who would make good class “buddies” pairing stronger students with weaker ones, shyer students with more outgoing students, and students with IEPs next to thoughtful and kind students. While doing all this I was mostly concerned with the dynamic of the class. This article however validated the importance of nurturing friendships, or at least healthy partnerships amongst the students in the class. We have found that having a partner that they enjoy working with increases their desire to participate and engage with the material. This article is a reminder that I would like to work on community building more within the class, it is important not just for classroom dynamics, but also for helping our students be healthy, adjusted individuals.
Hi Haley,
As an English teacher in Mexico, community building in the classroom was something I placed a lot of importance on. I worked very hard on a daily basis to help students form a healthy classroom environment, and felt that I did a vey good job at it. Looking back, I see how easy it was compared to where I am now. That is not to say that it is not achievable, but that more thought and effort are required in order for it to be possible where I am now.. Without the type of environment that we are striving for, it is really difficult for learning to happen. I really like that you brought up this topic because a good, healthy, safe environment is important in all classes, but particularly in language classes where students have to be willing to be very vulnerable.
hi Haley,
I agree that teaching is becoming more complex and complicated; the most challenging part is community building in the classroom and teaching by differentiating according their needs and strength. Group works in classroom develop their cognitive understanding more faster and effective way but organizing a group according to their needs, ability, temperament and social habit is challenging. Before last week, we (my CT and special teacher) spent almost 4 hrs. in regrouping them, I found it was little bit difficult to adjust students with disabilities, then I told them to send email to their parents and asked them about their latest development, their feelings about math classroom, are the happy with their present groups or not etc.. Some parents replied immediately and it help us to reorganize more systematic and scientific way.