What is it? Without every child knowing that they are safe in an environment there can be no learning. Without every child being able to get to the chalkboard or the books there can be no learning. Without every child being able to easily collaborate with peers by moving desks, there can be no leaning. That is what Domain 2 component E is. It is the management of all these aspects of the classroom in order to create a space that fosters student growth.
Why do we need it? Students, and educators alike, need this component because without it we would not be able to properly advance in our classrooms. The affect that our teaching has depends upon the attention and participation of our students. If there is a child in class who is focused on whether or not she/he will be bullied later then that student is not giving his/her full attention to the lesson being taught. The same goes for participation. If a student cannot easily access the materials they need then they will not be able to participate fully in the activity. We need these aspects to be at the forefront of teaching and to be given the proper attention that they are due so that every student can thrive at school.
What are the elements? Component E of Domain 2 has two elements. The first element targets safety and accessibility. All that this means is that creating an environment where every student feels safe should be the teachers number one priority. It also means that it is the teachers responsibility to make sure that every child can get to the chalkboard, the exits, and anywhere else where supplies for learning is kept. The second element focuses on the arrangement of furniture and use of physical resources in the classroom. It is important for educators to be able to master the skills of organizing classroom resources and making them accessible. If they can successfully do this then they will be able to create a culture that promotes the advancement of knowledge and learning.
What does implementation look like? In order make sure that I am providing a safe atmosphere in my classroom I would eliminate all potential hazards such as cords that could be tripped on or obstacles that could impede a child from getting to an exit. I would make sure that my students understood that they could always come talk to me and that I am always there to listen. I would also have signs up around the classroom about showing kindness and respect to one another because safety does not just mean physical well-being. The emotional well-being of students is just as important and I would not tolerate bullying. In order to make sure everything in my classroom is accessible and arranged in the best way I would probably use a group system. I would clump the desks into groups of four and have a small basket or bin that each member of the groups supplies stays in. That way everything is organized and every student knows where to look for their things. I would also try to keep areas of the classroom subject specific. For example, all the resources we use when learning science would be kept in one corner of the room while all the essentials for math are kept in a different corner. Lastly, I would be sure to incorporate the use of technology whenever possible while at the same time maintaining a proper arrangement of classroom furniture. This would mean perhaps that if the class is going on a virtual field trip that I would move the furniture to make the environment more conducive for what we would be doing.
Sources: Danielson Group » The Framework. (2017). Danielsongroup.org. Retrieved 21 September 2017, from http://www.danielsongroup.org/framework/