Classroom Management Main Page - EDEL 414 - EDSE 415

LANGUAGE AND (SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED) CLASSROOM REALITY

Examine the following teacher language patterns. Classify and then label the types of language that are occurring in each case. What type of classroom climate would be manufactured by the use of each of these hypothetical language patterns?

Teacher A:

· (after handing out an assignment) “I don’t want to see all the sloppy papers that I saw the last time.”

· “Stop talking or I will . . .”

· (after a wrong answer) “No, you guys aren’t getting this”

· (sarcastic responses on a regular basis)

· “I told you guys to get to work”

· “When are we ever going to learn?”

I’d label this language _________________

The affect on the classroom climate (and/or socially constructed reality) would be ___.

Teacher B:

· (gives directions and students are still talking) “listen to me!”

· “There is too much noise in the room”

· (after directions are given, and students were not paying attention, and they do not do what the teacher wants) “OK, I told you to keep the glue in the box until you get your paper ready” (as students are still not listening). “Put the glue away I said!”

I’d label this language _________________

The affect on the classroom climate (and/or socially constructed reality) would be __.

Teacher C:

· “Take a look at this group, see how they . . . that is what I am looking for.”

· “I know it is almost lunchtime, but I need you to stay with it for 15 more minutes.”

· (after some students were not attentive to directions) “Someone was talking, I think I will start the directions over, I need 100% attention.”

· (after a good answer) “Yes (and rephrase the key information or process thinking)”

· (after an incorrect answer) “OK, you seemed to be doing . . . and that would be right for that process, but what we were looking for was . . ., given that do you want to try again?”

· (after a poor effort) “We have got to do a better job with this than last time. We need to get this stuff down by this week. We will need to have it for the test next week and for your projects.”

I’d label this language _________________

The affect on the classroom climate (and/or socially constructed reality) would be___.