Building a Positive Classroom Culture: Insights from Anna Kramer and Shawn Connolly
ISS EDUlearn: Ask Me Anything - A podcast by Mike Pierre and Dr. Dana Specker Watts
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In this episode, we are joined by Anna Kramer and Shawn Connolly, middle school science teachers at the International School Nido de Aguilas in Santiago, Chile. With a combined experience of over 20 years, Anna and Shawn bring a wealth of knowledge and passion for student-centered, inclusive learning environments. Together, they discuss the critical aspects of building classroom culture that fosters collaboration, clear expectations, and respect for every student.
Anna's commitment to equity and inclusion has seen her classroom featured in educational publications, while Shawn’s outdoor education background lends a unique perspective to his emphasis on structure and safety in learning. Both believe that establishing strong routines and a positive classroom culture is a long-term process, one that evolves and solidifies over time.
In today’s episode, Anna and Shawn delve into topics including the stigma around classroom management, the importance of coaching, and the need to involve students in creating a sense of ownership in the classroom. They offer insights on being proactive, modelling the need to adapt, and the power of teacher talk in developing a presence that fosters respect and engagement. Additionally, they highlight how to communicate effectively with parents and maintain cultural awareness in diverse learning environments.
Timestamps
[03:05] Anna & Shawn Introduce Themselves
[04:25] The Importance of Coaching
[6:00] The Stigma Around “Classroom Management”
[8:12] The Importance of Being Proactive
[10:10] Involving Students in Making it Make Sense
[11:03] Developing Presence through Teacher Talk
[13:10] Classroom Culture is a Long Game
[14:03] Follow Your Own Routines
[16:00] Keep it Positive & Collaborative
[20:00] Model the Need to Modify
[22:00] Cultural Awareness & Respect
[24:38] Communicating with Parents
[27:20] Contact Information for Anna & Shawn
Notable Quotes
“[...] something I have to remind myself of every year, just that setting up your classroom culture, curating a classroom culture, is a loooong game. I think every year it’s hard at the beginning and then it gets easier and then it gets hard again and then it gets easier and there's this moment maybe a month before the end of the school year where you realise "Oh this is what I’ve been building, it's here, it's finally here!’”
“[...] I know that if I hold to it here, like it may be slow now, but by the time we get to April, May, June it will be so much better and we’ll be able to have a lot of fun and have a lot of flexibility in the class because all of these little structures we’ve set up are second nature at that point.”
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Let’s Connect
Connect With Anna Kramer
Connect With Shawn Connolly
Connect With Kailyn Fullerton
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaifull/
X: @kaifull
Website: www.upstream-collaborative.org
Connect with Celiah Bunsie
LinkedIn: Celiah Bunsie
Connect With Dana Specker Watts
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaspeckerwatts/
Twitter: https://x.com/teachwatts
Connect With Mike
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-pierre/
More Resources
David Stroupe’s “Growing & Sustaining Student Centred Science Classrooms” Book
Carol Ann Tomlinson’s “What No One Told Me About "Classroom Management" as a New Teacher” Article
Edutopia’s How to Set Up a Learner-Centered Classroom Video
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