Kohn and the Ideal Classroom

 In this week’s assigned reading, we looked at Alfie Kohn’s “What to Look for in a Classroom”. Kohn describes what are good signs in a classroom and what can be found in a classroom that may be a sign to worry. In my opinion, I think that some of these attributes are self explanatory, but some of the things that one should “worry” about, I disagree with. For example, I agree with desks and tables being put in a way that invokes conversation between students, as well as hanging students’ work to invoke a sense of pride and community in the classroom. However, in the “to worry about” category, a teacher-led classroom, and “all students doing the same thing” are included. Personally, I don’t think that these are necessarily signs to worry about. I agree that students should be collaborative and have a say in the classroom, but I don’t think that a teacher leading a discussion or an activity is necessarily a bad thing. With younger children, they need that direction. Without teacher-led instruction, students would not be able to learn what they need to, and the classroom could end up falling into chaos. For older students, independence is important, but when it comes to classroom discussion, students often find it easier when it is teacher-led. So, I think that a teacher-led classroom does have its positives, even if Kohn views it as something to worry about. Furthermore, Kohn describes that if all students are doing the same thing, then that is a sign of worry in the classroom. In my opinion, I don’t think that this is a worry; I think that it is a way to, one, see how all of the students are doing on the same task (in order to see who is succeeding and who may need extra help), and two, create organization in the classroom. Yes, I think that choice is important in the classroom because it can invoke creativity and a sense of agency, but I think that there does need to be some sort of order with lessons. Furthermore, if all students are working on the same task, then they can discuss the task as a group and help each other. However, if they were working on different tasks, it would be harder for students to collaborate with each other because they are not working on the same thing. Thus, I don’t think that this is a sign of worry in the classroom; rather, I think it provides more benefits than Kohn accounts for. When thinking of my own classroom set-up in the future, I think of culturally responsive pedagogy, which was also included in this week's readings. When thinking about this, I wonder, if every student has a different culture (even if they seem similar), how can one create a classroom that is culturally responsive to each and every one of their students? 



Comments

  1. From Jess: Nicole - I think you made some great points about the balance needed in teaching methods. It's true that younger students often benefit from more structured, teacher-led instruction to grasp new concepts effectively. However, incorporating some student-centered activities could also encourage creativity and independence. Finding the right mix is definitely key!I think you made some great points about the balance needed in teaching methods. It's true that younger students often benefit from being more structured, you made great points about Kohn’s views on classroom dynamics. While he sees teacher led instruction and uniform tasks as
    potential issues, you highlight their benefits in providing structure and encouraging collaboration. Your questions about culturally responsive pedagogy are important. One way to address diverse backgrounds could be through differentiated instruction that balances shared individual experiences. How do you see this working in your future classroom?

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