The Classroom Environment

img_20260212_102253484_ae~23112281568313891174.
Class t-shirt design
img_20260212_102237009_ae~2352348626628775398.
Class t-shirt design
img_20260218_144700923_hdr_ae7468022341908537927
PBIS: Duck Jars!
img_20260218_144902158_ae5881298005581622817
Class currency.
img_20260218_144845308_hdr_ae5343291980674434452
Positive student shout-outs to bring home to parents/ guardians.
img_20260116_072613698_ae129819188702618234
Coffee from the special education coffee cart that supports our special ed students!

I believe that the classroom should be a safe place for students. The classroom should be comfortable and accommodating, with adequate lighting that’s not too harsh, comfortable seating, and desk options for both individual and group work. The classroom should accommodate students who have physical, learning, and intellectual disabilities. It is important to take into account students’ needs and requests, and to speak with parents about potential accommodations for their child. I believe that when students do not feel comfortable and safe in their classroom, it creates another barrier to learning.

A practice in our classroom is through a classroom currency system and PBIS.

Class Currency: Students can earn Diary of A Wimpy Kid dollars to save up for prizes (pencils, colorful pens, stickers, popular snacks, and Play-Doh). Class dollars are pictured above.

  • Students can earn class dollars through improving on a personal or academic goal within the classroom, by showing kindness to their peers and themselves, thoughtful participation during lessons, and for March Madness PSSA prep activities.

PBIS: Students can earn mini plastic ducks to add to their collective class jar. Whichever class has the most ducks at the end of the quarter wins a whole-class prize.

  • Students can earn ducks for their class jar when they work together with integrity, thought, respect, and kindness. Ducks can also be earned through collective class participation during whole-group activities, and in uplifting and encouraging each other in and outside of the classroom. (duck jars pictured above)

Student Shout-Outs: Students can receive individual shout-outs each day for improving in a personal way specific to the student. On these shout-outs, the teacher adds an encouraging note and signs it. Students take this printed shout-out home to a parent or guardian. (pictured in yellow above)

For all classes, we created a collective class poster with unique drawings of ourselves. These unique drawings were pieced together to create a collective poster to then be printed on a class t-shirt.