West Virginia Achieves Professional Development

Series

Volume XVolume X

Nurturing and Supportive Classroom Environments

with High Expectations for All

West Virginia Department of Education Mission

 The West Virginia Department of Education, in conjunction with the Regional Education Service Agencies and the Office of Performance Audits, will create systemic conditions, processes and structures within the West Virginia public school system that result in (1) all students achieving mastery and beyond and (2) closing the achievement gap among sub-groups of the student population.

Robert HutchinsThe Conflict in Education in a Democratic Society

“Perhaps the greatest idea that America has given the world is education for all. The world is entitled to know whether this idea means that everybody can be educated or simply that everyone must go to school.”

What We Know…

An emerging body of research identifies characteristics of high performing school systems.

These school systems have made significant progress in bringing all students to mastery and in closing the achievement gap.

These systems share characteristics described in The West Virginia Framework for High Performing Schools.

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CULTURE OF COMMON BELIEFS & VALUES

Dedicated to “Learning for ALL…Whatever It Takes”

HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL SYSTEM

SYSTEMIC CONTINUOUS

IMPROVEMENT PROCESS

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Is this Close to Home?

Two Important Points

• Creating a safe nurturing classroom environment

• Creating high expectations for all

TO INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Principals establish clear expectations for overall school and individual classroom

environments

• Must be supportive

• Must be nurturing

FOR

ALL

STUDENTS

Teachers communicate rigorous behavioral and academic

expectations

• Clearly communicated

• Consistently applied

FOR ALL STUDENTS

Teachers understand that academic achievement is enhanced when there is …

• A positive teacher/student relationship

• An awareness of high-needs students

Classroom management

• Designed to develop responsibility

• Designed to develop personal growth

FOR ALL STUDENTS

Teachers draw on the culture, life Teachers draw on the culture, life experiences and knowledge of experiences and knowledge of allall

students in ways that show students in ways that show respect and appreciation for respect and appreciation for

cultural diversity.cultural diversity.

Activity #1

Appreciation for Cultural Diversity

Classroom environment is emotionally

and physically safe for all students There is no tolerance for…

• Bullying

• Harassment

• Or other behaviors that interfere with learning

Activity #2

Continuum of Violence

Classrooms are physically welcoming and

designed to enhance learning for all

High Expectations

Are demonstrated by classroom instruction rich in …

• Higher order thinking

• Problem solving

Rote memorization

Low level tasks

Teachers interact with all students in a way that shows…

• Regard

• High expectations

FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

There is a clear system of rewards and consequences related to

student behavior.

High expectations are always paired with a variety of student support systems that help

students meet the expectations.

School Nurse

School Counselor

SAT

School Psychologist

Attendance Director

Social Worker

Community Resources

Parents

Safe & Drug Free School Coordinators

Activity #3

Student Support Systems

7th Grade Class of 25(Typical Instructional Day)