Seven Keys to a Positive Learning Environment in Your Classroom

Creating a positive classroom learning environment is a complex but necessary task if a teacher wants to cultivate a new, productive classroom culture. By fully realizing the seven keys the author highlights, teachers can establish clearer expectations, enhance instruction and assessment practices, and foster quality relationships with students, thereby maximizing the potential of all students. The book includes helpful stories from teachers, as well as classroom strategies to consider in implementing the keys. With this book, teachers can clearly define the misunderstood concepts of differentiation and enrichment and know how to use these strategies to help all students succeed, no matter their needed level of support.

Benefits:

• Read stories from classroom teachers that highlight how each key can help establish a positive learning environment.
• Explore research and anecdotal evidence that maintains that students who feel connected are more motivated and successful in the classroom.
• Learn how the effective use of data can minimize both academic and behavioral challenges among students.
• Discover collaborative practices that can establish common expectations between teachers and their students, so a positive classroom tone is set when the school year starts.
• Consider tactics teachers can use to record and analyze data on students' progress, to make informed decisions that help students gain proficiency.
• Peruse the essential practices that teachers should have in their classroom assessment toolbox.

Contents:
Introduction
1. Classroom Culture and Positive Relationships: Precursors to a Positive Learning Environment
2. Classroom Expectations
3. Targeted Instruction
4. Positive Reinforcement
5. Data-Driven Decisions
6. Differentiation and Enrichment
7. Collaborative Teams
8. Connecting to the Schoolwide System
Epilogue
References and Resources
Index

Tom Hierck has been an experienced educator since 1983, serving as assistant superintendent of School District Number 46 (Sunshine Coast) in Gibsons, British Columbia, and principal in the Kootenay Lake School District in British Columbia. He also served with the Ministry of Education. Tom is a compelling presenter, infusing his message of hope with strategies culled from the real world. He has presented to schools and districts across North America with a message of celebration for educators seeking to make a difference in the lives of students. Tom's dynamic presentations explore the importance of positive learning environments and the role of assessment to improve student learning. His belief that every student is a success story waiting to be told has led him to work with teachers and administrators to create positive school cultures and build effective relationships that facilitate learning for all students. Tom was a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medallion, presented by the premier and lieutenant governor of British Columbia, for being a recognized leader in the field of public education. Tom earned his master's degree at Gonzaga University and his bachelor's degree and teacher certification at the University of British Columbia.

This book is Tom's sixth publication for Solution Tree. He started his writing career with chapters in The Teacher as Assessment Leader and The Principal as Assessment Leader. The best-selling Pyramid of Behavior Interventions: Seven Keys to a Positive Learning Environment was followed by Uniting Academic and Behavior Interventions: Solving the Skill or Will Dilemma and Strategies for Mathematics Instruction and Intervention, 6-8.