Slavin (2018) Chapter Eleven: Effective Learning Envrionments

Description
Slavin (2018) chapter eleven  discusses how to have effective learning environments.It touches on how to prevent and manage student behavior to refrain from losing instruction time because time is important. Last, how effective learning environments have an effect on intentional teaching.

Analysis
The chapter begins off with discussing what an effective learning environment is. An effective learning environment, is having enough strategies for providing a successful classroom experience. Effective learning environment is often related to good classroom management. According to Slavin (2018), classroom management is "strategies for providing effective learning environments include not only preventing and responding to misbehavior but also, and even more important, using class time well....." (page 272). It is important to get the students engaged, motivated, and participating in organized activities.While keeping the students attention, it is important to have good timing. Slavin (2018) stats, "Engaged time, or time on task, the number of minutes actually spent learning, is the time that is most frequently found to contribute learning...." (page 273). Time should be used to prevent lost of time, late starts and finishes, interruptions, handling routine procedures, maintaining a rapid pace if instruction, and minimizing time spent on discipline. Organization and use of time is very important in a classroom. To have effecting classroom management planning is vital. Some things one can do to have effective classroom management is to start the year off right and set class rules and procedures. When you start the year off right and lay the foundation disciplinary issues can be kept to a minimum. To manage student discipline in order to not lose class time one can use least intervention. Slavin (2018) stated, "In dealing with routine classroom behavior problems, the most important principle is that you should correct misbehaviors by  using the simplest intervention that will work" (page 280). Some things a teacher can use is nonverbal cues, praise of correct behavior that is opposite of bad behavior, praise for other students, verbal reminders, repeated reminders, and consequences. All of these strategies will help save classroom time. Students tend to behave in a negative way when they want the teachers attention or the approval of their peers. Another reason is because they are bored and want to be released. It is important for teachers to use reinforcers that change the behavior. Teachers can use behavior modifications. According to Slavin (2018), a behavior modification is "the systematic application of antecedents and consequences to change behavior" (page 285). Teachers who can accomplish good classroom management are intentional teachers. Intentional teachers are able to handle everything that comes their way. "Intentional teachers are leaders in their classroom who take responsibility for managing time, activities, and behaviors" (Slavin, 2018 page 297).

Reflection
One thing I believe will help me from this chapter is how to manage behavior. I did not know that behavior can be handled in so many different ways. In my classroom, I am quick to kick a student out or call their parents because I do not tolerate the distractions. In the beginning I set my rules and procedures but I still end up with the 1-2 students who are defiant. I will take the strategies from the readings and start to implement them next year. I think this will help me improve on classroom management. The readings from Slavin are filled with effective strategies one can use to improve their instruction, classroom management, planning etc. Chapter eleven, taught me how to have an effective learning environment but other things have to be in play for it to be successful.

  Slavin, R. E. (2018). Educational Psychology: Theory and practice (12th ed.). NY, NY: Pearson.