I'm a professor of Developmental psych and I administer a lab school at
Rollins College.
At a preschool related conference this week in Atlanta, I heard a well
known educator (Rebecca/Becky Bailey) discuss the metaphor of
classroom-as-family vs. classroom-as-hierarchy of haves and have nots.
She presented ways of modeling interpersonal cooperation, teamwork and
class "membership" that were really refreshing. Example: when a
student is absent, another student is assigned the role of Welcome Back
person; this student copies her own notes and gets copies of any
handouts, then passes them on to the missing person. Another: all
classes begin with a welcome ritual in which the contributions of class
members to the general discussion or work of the class is acknowledged.
How do these issues relate to motivation for learning?
Does anyone else use ideas along these lines? The longer I teach my
most rigorous classes (11 years now), the more I see that it is
important for me to model and support acceptance, cooperation and
achievement in the classroom, and to be an encourager. Who is it who
said that hey remember a lot of what they learn, but every minute of how
they feel, when they are in classes?
Suggestions?
