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What is classtime or class time and what are the benefits of it for students and teachers
Classroom time involves the joint participation of a teacher and students. It is a structured, formal, and collaborative approach to learning that is pleasurable for all participants. Teachers attain intuitive insight into the needs of their students and can easily customize lessons for each student or group. The collaborative nature of classroom time engages all stakeholders in the process of teaching, learning, and schooling, which allows teachers to establish relationships with parents that deepen understanding about how children learn and what supports them. The collaborative nature of classroom time also provides students with the opportunity to create a meaningful and productive relationship with their teacher. The classroom as a place becomes an extension of the home, and students feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts, experiences, and joys. As a consequence teachers facilitate learning in students who are reluctant or non-participatory in traditional classrooms.
Classroom time also provides teachers with a window into the lives of their students outside of school, allowing them to establish a more meaningful and intimate relationship with their students. In this way teachers can provide support and encouragement for those who may be struggling in other areas.
The time spent during classroom time ensures that teachers are more prepared for each lesson and have structured the classroom in a manner that facilitates learning. Teachers are more autonomous in their ability to manage the learning environment, and can take time to address issues that arise within the classroom.
How can classtime be used in the classroom to improve student learning
Students and teachers spend time in the classroom engaging in collaborative dialogue, and collaboratively engaging with ideas, concepts, and materials. Classroom time offers a “place” where students can safely share their thoughts and feelings without fear that they will be punished physically or verbally or have their thoughts or feelings ridiculed. Classroom time offers students a safe and supportive environment in which they are encouraged to express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Classroom time affords teachers opportunities to observe their students as well as build partnerships with parents. Teachers who have a collaborative classroom can easily gauge the level of support that they receive from parents. The collaborative nature of class time enables teachers and parents to work together on problem-solving strategies for students who are in need of reinforcement or remediation in the classroom. Class time allows teachers to explicitly teach their students while they provide the support that they need.
However, the passage of time may be detrimental to some children and adults. A student’s attention span can be short, even when the teacher and student are engaged in a collaborative classroom environment. In addition, many students perform better and understand more material when engaged in activities that are not located in a classroom setting. Sharing ideas with others and collaborating away from the class could enhance student learning as well as improve teacher effectiveness.
How can classtime be used in the classroom to improve student learning?
What tips can teachers use to make sure that classtime is effective and beneficial for all students
Classroom time offers students many opportunities for academic achievement, and students who are highly motivated have greater success in achieving content mastery. Some students have particular learning styles that teachers need to recognize and respect. Teachers can foster the love of learning among children by showing them appropriate ways to express their ideas. By giving children opportunities to speak, question, and express themselves teachers can help them develop feelings of self-worth and gain a sense of competence that enhances academic accomplishment. The teacher’s role is to create a supportive environment that enables all students to feel accepted and safe, and then encourage them to take delight in the process of discovery. [END OF ARTICLE]
This question was answered by Dr. Kathryn C. O’Connor, Ph.D and can be found in the BBS Archive Search Engine with the key words “classtime or class time”, under the title “What tips can teachers use to make sure that classtime is effective and beneficial for all students?”:
http://www.bbsonline.org/archive/SearchResultsDB.asp?SearchType=Keyword&SearchValue=classtime%20or%20class%20time&SearchRoutine=Search+This+Database
This knowledge base article was written by -Angela M. Hill, Ph.D and can be found in the BBS Archive Search Engine with the key words “classtime or class time”, under the title “What tips can teachers use to make sure that classtime is effective and beneficial for all students?”:
http://www.bbsonline.org/archive/SearchResultsDB.asp?SearchType=Keyword&SearchValue=classtime%20or%20class%20time&SearchRoutine=Search+This+Database
Are there any challenges associated with implementing classtime in the classroom
The challenges of implementing class time are to balance the individual needs of all students while maintaining a safe and supportive setting in which relationships are fostered, trust is established, and students feel free to express themselves. For collaborative teaching to be successful all members of the learning community need to have a voice. Teachers must be able to listen to students and students should feel they can safely share their thoughts and feelings without fear of retribution. Teachers who use classroom time in an effective manner are able to recognize students’ learning styles and act accordingly. Teachers and parents must work together in order to establish clear expectations, programs, and activities that will help students master content knowledge. Teachers will need to develop a collaborative relationship with all stakeholders involved in their classrooms including administration, parents, and students. Teachers should also be aware of the impact their teaching methods have on the learning process. Teachers should discuss the possibility of implementing classtime with administration.
In a traditional classroom setting, teachers observe all students and give each one individual attention in order to meet their needs (Peck, 2005). However, this method wastes valuable class time and prevents teachers from scaffolding student learning by using various strategies to address various learning styles in different ways. For this reason, many teachers implement group work in order to meet the needs of more students at a time. However, this approach often results in students’ not getting individual attention when they need it. Because of these challenges, some teachers are now turning to collaborative teaching methods (Cambone & Asbury, 2004).
What are some ways that parents can help their children make the most of classtime
As parents we can support our children by 1) encouraging them to take charge of their own education and learning, 2) communicating with teachers about classroom issues, 3) establishing trust in the teacher as well as trust among family members and friends, 4) allowing children to make mistakes and learn from their mistakes, 5) helping our children build self-esteem and self-confidence.
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3. The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) initiative: History of the “One Parent-Teacher Conference” movement over the last 30+ years: http://www.centerforme.org/Newsletters/PAC_Issues_vol7_no2_2000.htm. Also see: http://www.centerforme.org/newsletter/oct15-16/index3.htm#1-1; http://www.centerforme.org/Newsletters/PAC_Issues_vol8_no1_2001.htm
Another: http://www.pbs.org/parents/nrnews2000.html Also: http://www.centerforme.org/newsletter/jan18-19/index2.htm#1-1 and on the Internet at: http://parentssocialworker.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html.
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