Q2. Understand ways to maintain a safe and supportive learning environment.
2.1 It is important to foster a learning environment in which students feel safe, relaxed, secure, confident and valued (Gravells A 2012 pg25) especially for learners who may have had negative experiences in traditional classroom environments. Students often describe supportive learning environments as expanding their sense of family and enhancing their self-esteem, which, when combined with increased literacy skills, help students take more chances in pursuing their goals.
This involves not only the venue, but your attitude and the support you give to your students (Gravells A 2012, pge 24). You must consider your student’s health and safety needs and work
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Memorize the names of all your students within the first week of instruction. Use students’ names frequently.
If your students are English learners, learn a few key phrases in their native languages to model that it is acceptable to struggle with pronunciation and language learning.
Use positive nonverbal communication
Nonverbal messages are an essential component of communication in the teaching process. It is not only what you say to your student that is important but also how you say it. An awareness of nonverbal behaviour will allow you to become a better receiver of students’ messages and a better sender of signals that reinforce learning. Some areas of nonverbal behaviours to explore include:
Eye contact: Teachers who make eye contact open the flow of communication and convey interest, concern, warmth and credibility.
Facial expressions: Smiling is a great way to communicate friendliness and warmth to students.
Gestures: A lively and animated teaching style captures students’ attention, makes the material more interesting, and facilitates learning. Head nods also communicate positive reinforcement to students and indicate that you are listening.
Posture and body orientation: Standing erect, but not rigid, and leaning slightly forward communicates to students that you are approachable, receptive and friendly. Speaking with your back turned or looking at the floor or ceiling should be avoided, as it communicates disinterest.
Proximity: Cultural norms
Communication skills are quite essential in civilized societies. This is due to their numerous conventions in different aspects of life. These skills do not only involve the verbal side but also the nonverbal side. Nonverbal communication importance used to be neglected by individuals in the past. However, in recent years, people are starting to recognize their crucial roles in their daily lives. They are now more interested in the nonverbal phenomenon. Nonverbal communication is dominated by emotions. It is a method of conveying one's feeling including body postures, facial expressions and even physical contact. Although nonverbal communication might be associated with
Non-verbal – body language and eye contact, mimicking the body language of the learner to fall into rapport with them, as well as effective listening.
be subtler, for instance nodding less profusely, as this ensures that your students do not feel patronised and feel comfortable enough to contribute to discussions.
Throughout an entire day we use nonverbal messages as eye contact saying hello without speaking. While in class an instructor can look at your body posture and see if you are listening or understanding what is being discussed. We as listeners have to choose to believe in nonverbal message that a person is showing us feelings. We use nonverbal communication in relationships with a touch that can show love or being introduced to another with a hand shake.
To communicate high expectations for the students, I will always use positivity and encouragement. I will use popsicle sticks with the students name on them to call on each student to answer questions to avoid favoritism and to get the students to participate in the lesson.
Dr. Ivan, use all five of these body language, his posture was standing in a relaxed professional manner, body movement was walking to the other side of the room, hand and arm gestures move conversationally, facial expression look natural and relaxed in animated, and had good eye contract with the audience. When Dr. Ivan open his speech, he using hand expansive gestures. While he was speaking, his hand was moving conversationally, with hands open and palms out. Although, this shows me, he was emphasizing a point in the presentation. Therefore, I feel the hands gesture was expressing, that he is certain about what he talking about. Aa a result, he held my attention as audience, this give me expression that he open and honest about the subject.
The observations that were made fit statements in the textbook regarding nonverbal communication such as the importance of nonverbal skills. It is important to know them so you can read and respond to others nonverbal behavior. Nonverbal communication can easily be taken the wrong way. Each culture is different, what one gesture may mean in a culture can have a totally different meaning in another. My feelings and observations in my culture tell me in my culture we seek distance and personal space. When our personal space is invaded we may feel threatened or uncomfortable. I have also observed that eye contact is a way to show that you are engaged in what is being said, it shows a sign of respect as well. Sharing a simple smile is a kind gesture and speaks a thousand words without any verbal
As discussed in class, non-verbal communication can send stronger relational messages in many cases than verbal messages alone. With every culture having norms relating to non-verbal communication, a lot can be lost or forgotten in translation with many being left solely up to personal interpretation. Some mild examples of non-verbal communication are, smiling or making eye contact, facing a certain way in the elevator, moving or making room when passing someone, smiling apologetically for almost bumping into someone. Why are norms important? Norms are important because it helps to keep people grounded, in such a way so as to use discipline for actions dictated by laws, and social expectancies.
Nonverbal communication can be found within many objects on campus. Even though these objects do not send out direct messages, they still have significant meanings that can be captured by the public.
She would also pace the middle hallway in between the tables, making eye contact with each student, and pointing to them if they answered a question correctly. This style of teaching positively influenced the students’ participation, and helped with memorization. Dr. Sawyer also used large gestures to emphasize the vital details, and told small anecdotes to show students how the lesson could be used in real life scenarios. The class was also open to any questions or discussions they felt necessary. Instead of a quiet lecture, the lesson made students excited and eager to learn about the material. These types of interactions encourage a strong connection between the students and their professor. Not only are the students able to fully comprehend the information taught in the class, but also draw on information from previous lessons to enhance their experience.
The second attribute of an effective teacher is respect. The important thing about this, is that to create a culture of learning the students and teachers must respect each other. The teacher has to understand each home culture. The culture of the student practices at home whether that be similar to their own or different. Each child has a different way of interacting with adults. In some cultures, such as Chinese culture, looking down and not making eye contact actually means respect for elders. In Deaf culture you don 't beat around the bush, if you have something to say just say it. Growing up it was normal for my family to talk with their hands, not sign language but using gestures and
By definition nonverbal communication is generated by the speaker and the environment which communicates a potential message to the listener. The nonverbal message may not be intentional, meaning what is being communicated may not be under control of the sender. Usually these expressions are more pure in nature, and rarely are affected by what a person wants the listener to hear. Nonverbal communication comes from the body language, hand motions, or posture. Although this list is not comprehensive, it provides a general understanding of how complicated nonverbal communication can become. Despite there being countless modes by which people communicate nonverbally it is possible to make sense of the message. It becomes necessary for a speaker to learn how to use these different methods as it is a way to deliver a stronger message and engage their audience. The more methods a speaker uses to communicate a message the stronger the message becomes. A message reinforced by the nonverbal communication, this results in a deeper understanding. Lastly, a speaker needs to be able to read the body language of the audience. Is the audience confused or are they tracking the conversation. Being able to observe and adjust the communication pathway is important as it drives speak to higher understanding.
I will make my class welcoming by decorating the walls. I will have one bulletin board with standards and related curriculum. I will have another bulletin board with student examples. I will decorate my door according to seasons. The class schedule, rules, word wall, and posters will be hung on the wall. According to Wong and Wong (2009), “Readiness is the primary determinant of teacher effectiveness” (p. 92). I will try to greet my students every morning to help my classroom feel more inviting and tell them goodbye daily. I will write important events or
Eye contact is a basic respect and manner. If you look at the other direction while talking to people, they will deem that you have no respect or are telling a lie. Don’t use exaggerate tone of voice while speaking but maintain regular intonation. Speak in short, simple, jargon-free sentences. Pause frequently.
Moreover, by practicing the gestures, the students experience the positive impact of body language and thus, the teacher discovers how to manage the classroom.