To assume that any two classrooms are similar is an incredible misjudgement. Even in the same classroom, a teacher may experience different vibes on different days irrespective of how long they have taught the class and their experience in teaching. Nevertheless, there are classroom practices that enhance learning despite the glaring differences. One of such practices is clarity. Ambiguity can lead to confusion amongst students as to what is expected of them, which in turn makes it much more difficult for them to actually meet those expectations. Additionally, if students willfully break guidelines, it is in your best interest to be able to easily prove they were aware of the expectations in place. When a teacher begins a new unit of study or project with students, she/he should clarify the purpose, real life relevance and learning goals, as well as provide explicit criteria on how students will be evaluated. It’s ideal to also present models or examples to students so they can see what the end product looks like. Closely related to clarity is authentic assessment. When students are engaged in activities that are authentic in nature, they are more motivated to learn. Real-world assessment for learning provides student-centered classroom teachers with the challenge of moving away from paper and pen/pencil exams. As teachers begin to provide meaningful assessment for their students, their instructional activities will begin to fold into and overlap with intended assessment. This way, students and teachers will be encouraged to monitor their teaching and learning and make necessary adjustments to their actions. Another good practice is student engagement through various meta-cognitive and collaborative activities including classroom discussions. Teachers need to frequently step offstage and facilitate collaborative learning using structured groups. This allows students to learn from each other and is a great opportunity for teachers to formatively assess (through observation) how well students are grasping new content and concepts. When we provide students with time and space to be aware of their own knowledge and their own thinking, student ownership increases. If anything, best practice is characterised by an instructional approach based on modelling, demonstration, and mentoring as opposed to just telling or giving information. Further still, timely feedback is another practice that enhances learning. How do learners know they are moving forward without steady and consistent feedback? They often won’t. Along with individual feedback (written or verbal), teachers need to provide whole-group feedback on patterns they see in the collective class’ growth and areas of need. Students also need to be given opportunities to provide feedback to the teacher so that he/she can adjust the learning process, materials, and instruction accordingly. Finally, motivate students as much as is necessary. Positive reinforcement is key in instilling a sense of confidence, self-worth, and motivation in children. This makes it critical that the classroom always be a safe and encouraging environment for students. Without any encouraging words, a learner is likely to shut down from their entire educational experience. By using positive feedback, teachers can be the oasis in the desert for their students. This is not to say expectations should be lowered simply to ensure students will be successful. Instead, maintain high standards for your students and challenge them to achieve difficult goals, but encourage them the whole way. While students differ and classroom environments are both varied and complex, clarity, authentic assessments, student engagement, timely feedback and motivation are practices that will help you successfully navigate the intricacy of a modern classroom.
