English Reading Practice - 0002 Creating Environment

Creating an environment in which students feel accepted, secure, and free to explore is crucial to learning, but classroom discipline issues also need to be addressed. The teacher needs to create clear boundaries for permissible behavior, while maintaining a relaxed, open environment for learning to take place. Teachers with easy-going personalities are often good at creating a positive learning environment. However, if they are too lenient, they can have major discipline problems. Young students are always testing to see how much they can get away with, and a teacher trying too hard to be friendly and accommodating will soon find the class completely out of control. Teachers with strict personalities and teaching styles usually have better classroom discipline, but going too far with rules can have negative effects. When students make mistakes, overly strict responses following the letter of the law may create a tense atmosphere which inhibits participation, especially if the teacher embarrasses the student in front of his or her peers.