Introduction and Interviews

Last year I taught two sections of Spanish 1 and three sections of Spanish 2. In two classes, one of each level, the students formed a special bond in the class, and the atmosphere was very collaborative and friendly. In my remaining classes the students worked more as individuals and the atmosphere was conflictive and at times even hostile. I rarely if ever had discipline issues in the classes with the positive atmosphere, but had several problems with the other sections. I used more or less the same lessons and techniques with the different classes, however I found that my “good” classes consistently scored higher on tests and quizzes. Clearly classroom atmosphere and student achievement are linked, but I’m not sure what was different in the classes to create such diverse class dynamics, and I want to study this further so that I can recreate similar atmospheres to those positive ones and avoid having any more conflictive classes.

This led me to ask the following questions:

*What factors impact the classroom dynamic and contribute to a positive learning community? 

*Which of those factors relate directly to me as the teacher, and what can I do to nurture a class atmosphere that will foster student growth? 

*How much of an impact does classroom atmosphere have on individual learning?
*How does my being a White, female teacher affect the classroom atmosphere?

I've created a research plan to help me find some answers to my questions, including data elements such as interviews, grades, and literature.

Today I carried out the first round of student interviews. Some of the responses were similar to what I expected, but some were surprising. For example, one student named her English class as an example of a class with a really positive atmosphere. Another girl in the same class named it as an example of a class with a really negative atmosphere. Similarly two girls with the same biology teacher (but different classes) named the class as either a good example or a bad example. On the same note, one student from one of what I considered to be a "bad" class said she thought the atmosphere in the class was really good. What I conclude from this is that classroom atmosphere is very subjective, but the students did give me some indicators of what a positive classroom environment is like for them, and these things tended to be the same across the board.

For example, students valued the relationships formed in classes in which teachers worked to make learning interesting for them- incorporating games and group activities into the lessons. They said group activities gave them a chance to get to know new people in the class, which made it more fun. One student also noted that her math teacher personalized the lessons for the students so they all felt like individuals in the class.

Several students mentioned discipline both as a good and a bad thing. When describing a class with a bad atmosphere, some students said part of the problem was disrespectful or misbehaving students, and the teacher ignored the problem or got mad but never did anything about it. On the other hand, several students said that in classes with good atmospheres, the teachers used positive behavior reinforcement, and followed through with consequences when students didn't follow the rules.

In summary, from a student's perspective it's important for teachers to make learning fun, give the students opportunities to get to know each other and work together, and to be consistent with classroom discipline.

Of the seven students interviewed, five said they don't think the classroom environment affected their grades, and only two said they do think it did. However, in the majority of the cases students grades were at least one letter grade higher in the class they described as having a good atmosphere.

*These seven interviews were conducted with students from three of my sections, so I will update these findings after I've interviewed students from my other two sections.

The following are the questions I asked:

1. Think of a class with a really good atmosphere. (The students got along, everyone was respectful, etc.)

2. What makes that class stand out? (Describe it/ give examples.)

3. How did the teacher contribute to the atmosphere?

4. Now think of a class with a really bad classroom environment.

5. What makes that class stand out?

6. How did the teacher contribute to the atmosphere?

7. What were your grades in the classes?

8. Now think about your Spanish class. (If it wasn't named as a good or bad example.) Did you feel it had a good or a bad environment?

9. Do you think I did anything to affect that? In bad situations, what do you think I could have done differently?

10. Do you think the class environment affected your grade?