Context Matters
From the desk of Alice…
Somewhere along the way I read about research that showed people can dramatically change their actions based on context. I think the particular study I was reading about had to do with prisons and I came across another one that looked at the influence your highschool friends have on your view of life beyond highschool. I started to wonder about how this idea of context influences teaching and learning.
We have all heard about the child who is notorious for making bad choices and disrupting but will randomly “behave” for one adult or in one particular classroom. My theory is that this is not exactly random, but rather it can be attributed to context. How is the context allowing the child to be his best self? How is the context helping the student get his needs met so he is not infringing on other learners?
Preschool classrooms are a fascinating place to study this because those students are still learning self-control. They depend on the context of the classroom and the adults within it to establish safe boundaries and rules in order to be successful. Effective preschool classrooms have adults who are patient and kind, but they are also clear on what behaviors are acceptable as well as how to handle those that are not.
If we take those ideas: patience, being kind, having a vision, and a plan for reteaching, we can create a context that is optimal for all our learners. The funny thing about context is that it translates into classroom culture and if you don’t create it, your students will do it for you. As a new teacher of middle schoolers, I learned this the hard way! In many ways, my students were like preschoolers but I was treating them like college graduates. I had to recreate the context in my classroom so it was supportive for their well-being as well as my own!
As you renew this summer, take note of the contexts that help you thrive. Is it the beach? Is it a hike in the woods? Is it in your home with your family? What is it about these places that help you be successful? It is familiarity? Freedom? Comfort and belonging? What do you notice about the people around you? Are they blossoming the way you are?
Unpack what you notice about these situations and consider how you can capture it in your classroom this fall. I am guessing this process will help you design a context and culture in your classroom that helps you AND your students flourish!