Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1476161
Derek Dokter BUSINESS PROFESSOR Mt. San Antonio College Faculty Association Make students feel welcome. Greet them in the hallways. Hand out small gifts like healthy snacks. I give students a tent card to put on their desk. On the side facing out is their name and their preference for what they wish to be called. On the other side – for them to look at – are their personal and career goals. The more you see your goals every day in front of your face the more likely you are to meet them. Connect with the school community. Be an advi- sor to a student club. Encourage students to join clubs. I teach in the business department, so I encourage my students to join a business club of some kind, which will foster connections to other students and even networking for jobs. Also, consider mentoring. It fosters personal and professional growth and offers encouragement and motivation to peers. Getting involved beyond the classroom makes you feel like you belong to some- thing that is important and special. Darren Shimasaki HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER Santa Ana Educators Association Create a comfortable environment. Setting the right mood is important for students to get comfort- able enough to learn. Remove outside distractions by putting curtains on windows, if possible, which allows students to focus on what's in front of them rather than distractions outside. Also, try turning off some of the lights. This will allow students to relax and get in the proper headspace to begin work- ing on classwork. Encourage a clean class- room. Let students know that part of creating a good environment is keeping the classroom clean, because nobody wants to work in a dirty classroom. Place trash cans around the room, maybe one in each corner. As you walk around, offer to take students' trash for them, which reinforces hav- ing a clean workspace for students and the teacher 's dedication to keeping the class clean. " Try turning off some of the lights, to allow students to relax and get in the proper headspace to work on classwork." "Getting involved beyond the classroom makes you feel like you belong to something that is important and special." 18 cta.org