What is it? Component 2B of Domain 2 focuses on every student, as well as the teacher, having a positive attitude and an understanding of why knowledge and information are so important. This component emphasizes the need for high expectations in a classroom as well as hard work. Children rely on school as a way of developing their knowledge base so establishing the right culture to cultivate learning is key.
Why do we need it? Educators need to create a culture for learning because students are more receptive to new information if they know that what they are learning is valuable. There are many aspects that are of importance in this component. If a teacher is successfully able to create a culture for learning that means that a child who is confused is not scared to ask a classmate for help. It means that students are excited about learning and not scared to ask questions. It means students can conduct their work even when the teacher isn't walking them through the steps. It means that the students push each other to improve in a positive and healthy way. It means students are able and willing to find and fix mistakes on their own. All those incredible examples are possible and can even be realistically achieved by using component 2B, that is why we need it.
What are the elements? There are three elements in component 2B. The first is the importance of the content and of learning. Taking the time to explain to children why what they are learning is relevant can improve their attitude towards the learning process. The second is setting expectations for learning and achievement. This is where having a growth mindset comes in. Teaching students that the work they are doing is hard and that it is okay to struggle is a great step towards them developing perservearance. The last element is students taking pride in work. When a student is continually encouraged that builds up there self-confidence and their belief in their abilities. Those beliefs then shine through into their work and they are then excited to share there knowledge with others.
What does implementation look like? In order to implement this component into my classroom I would develop a class mission statement that encompassed some of the key points in 2B such as hard-work, a positive attitude, and valuing the learning process. I would have my class start every morning by reading the mission statement out loud. I would also create some sort of student incentive program so that they could see the benefits related to trying their best. Peer review can also be helpful in this component because sometimes what pushes students to do their best work are the other students. The use of peer review worksheets or something similar could be beneficial. Lastly, I would also engage in a teaching style that promotes a growth mindset. Shaping students who are not afraid of failure is one of the most important things we can do as educators and it also ties into the expectations for learning and achievement in this section.
Sources: Danielson Group » The Framework. (2017). Danielsongroup.org. Retrieved 21 September 2017, from http://www.danielsongroup.org/framework/