Classroom Situation, it Is Often

¶ … classroom situation, it is often common practice for students to show appreciation to their teachers. This is often done by means of small gestures such as flowers from a spring garden, the occasional apple, or a gift for her birthday. However, in today's integrated teaching world, teachers are also beginning to see the merit of showing appreciation to their students. Like gestures by students, teachers can also do this in a variety of ways.

What is however interesting to note is that most sources concerning classroom appreciation tend to focus on how students can show appreciation, while almost nothing focuses on the reverse. Nevertheless, teachers would do well to also show appreciation to their students. Teachers can make small gestures and comments to show students that they are appreciated. A simple "thank you" for an answer in class is one of the ways in which teachers can do this.

Other examples of class discourse might include differentiated answers to indicate the level of appreciation, such as "That is a very good answer," or "brilliant." These reactions to their input in class show that they are appreciated for their value as members of the learning community, and further encourages them to participate. A further way to show students appreciation in a classroom is by more lengthy interaction.

Increasingly, today's education professionals are focusing on the importance of teachers as collaborators and facilitators of the learning process, rather than its sole directors. When teachers for example ask students to think about and discuss a topic for a particular length of time, they can solicit answers to specific questions about the topic. When a class discussion is held, a teacher might respond to each student's input by means of his or her own input.

Providing additional input to students' thinking would help them to feel that they are making a valuable contribution to the classroom situation, and that the teacher is truly thinking about what they are saying. This is a valuable situation to also learn how to maintain a conversation in general society, in the future workplace, and among peers. Furthermore, in addition to simply showing appreciation, this type of interactive environment encouraged by the teacher also encourages critical thinking about a topic.

Teachers might also show appreciation for specific traits and characteristics that students bring to the classroom. In the diverse world of learning today, it is a fact of education that most classrooms are integrated social entities that include several cultures. Teachers may show appreciation for these cultures by researching and discussing each representative culture in her class for a number of lessons. This will encourage students to become more tolerant of each other, not only in the classroom, but also in the world at large.

This type of appreciation provides a positive alternative for the prejudice that is all too often part of the students' worlds. Appreciation opens up the consciousness to beauty and harmony, which is a very important part of the teaching paradigm. Finally, a very simple way of showing appreciation is to reward success. Those who perform particularly well in a test might for example be rewarded by means of a small gesture such as a chocolate bar or a star, depending upon the age of the child.

A certain amount of stars can then be used to "buy" an item like a book or a toy displayed in the classroom. Teachers who reward their children or simply show appreciation for their innovation and their presence.