Field Experience I. Teachers can make a significant difference in the lives of children when they create a positive and healthy classroom environment. Look for the following components in the classroom and school you visit.

Physical Surroundings: Researchers tell us that bright, colorful, cheerful rooms cause us to believe school is interesting and drab, undecorated spaces cause us to expect dullness and boredom form school. Also, desk arrangement is directly related to the “activity flow” of the classroom.

1. How is the classroom arranged? Where are the desks(students & teachers), chalkboards, windows, doors, etc.

3. What is the overall appearance of the room? Posters on wall, neat, cluttered, etc.

Leadership style is not a reflection on the teacher's ability to teach. Leadership style may or may not be effective in teaching academic subjects, but leadership style does significantly affect the way students feel about school.

Authoritarian teachers believe it is their responsibility to arrange furniture to maintain order in the classroom and plan schedules that seldom vary. They feel the responsibility of the teacher is to make all rules and establish consequences and convey knowledge of subject matter through teacher-centered lectures.

Autocratic teachers have a quiet and orderly leadership style. They have little social interaction in the class and are harsh and unyielding. Students compete for grades and the teacher's attention and tend to conform or revolt. There is rarely a sense of community in the class.

Permissive teachers appear tentative and powerless. They make few rules and are inconsistent in establishing consequences of misbehavior. They accept excuses and are unable to assert authority over academic work or student behavior. The students do not know what to expect or what is expected of them in order to succeed--lots of confusion. Little sense of classroom community as students play one against the other.

Democratic teachers are firm but reasonably consistent about expectations for academic achievement and student behavior. They discuss the need for rules with students and involve them in establishing rules and consequences. There is a periodical reevaluation of rules with update. These teachers assert their power to make decisions but are willing to listen to the students which creates a healthy community.

Click Leadership Power Point on the left to view a leadership style demonstration.

1. What is the climate of the room(noise level)? What is the teachers attitude toward the students and the students toward the teacher?

2. What type of technology is available, also audio-visual equipment and if a science room, lab facilities?

3. How much time does the teacher take to get the class settled and on task? How much actual time is spent with the teacher teaching and the students focused and on task. Is there class time for individual study? Are the students assigned homework?

4. What is the teacher's teaching style, general knowledge of the content and people skills?

5. Look for equity in the text books of females, minorities and physically challenged along with the teacher's attitude and fairness in these areas.