1. Establishing your Classroom Ryan Orth, Justine Watson, Michelle Usher, Robyn Unwin

2. Establishing Your Classroom A guide for teachers establishing a new classroom in a New Year

3.  Our resource is in the form of a booklet.  This resource has been developed to support teachers in establishing a classroom.  It provides a theoretical and practical guide to the New Year.  The underlying frameworks are Social and Emotional Learning taken from the Collaborative for Social and Emotional Learning. (CASEL, 2011). As well as the habits of mind developed by Art Costa.

4.  Habits of Mind are embedded throughout the booklet with the focus being on thinking interdependently, persevering and managing impulsivity.

5.  The resource is intended for learning managers to take, adapt and apply to their own classroom.  It allows for teachers to take into account their own philosophy of teaching.  The resource caters for the diverse range of learners who will undoubtedly grace our classrooms.

6.  It is easily adaptable for use throughout the year.  There are many activities that are useful for setting up a new class  Activities can also be used throughout the year as the teacher deems necessary.

7.  How does our resource link to SEL?  The resource embeds the ideal of SEL into the five sections of  classroom culture  physical environment  emotional environment  rules and routines  Protective factors are considered in the classroom culture under the following headings:- - caring and support - positive bonds

8.  How does our resource link to SEL? - life skills - high expectation for success - Clear and consistent boundaries - opportunities for meaningful participation  Through the physical environment of  Classroom layout - how the desks are laid out - activities - learning stations

9.  How does our resource link to SEL? - lighting, colour and music. - student placement - resources and planning  Through the emotional environment - setting expectations - consideration to self esteem - SEL strategies

10.  How does our resource link to SEL?  Through rules and routines - age appropriate rules and consequences - by ensuring the students are involved in the process of establishing rules and routines. - age appropriate routines - consistency from the teacher

11.  Why is this important?  Supported Social Emotional Learning produces students who are more resilient and achieve higher academic results (Australian Scholarships Group, 2007).  It provides students with a process to develop the knowledge and skills to support learning, positive behaviour and constructive social relationships (DETE, 2008).

12. Reference List Australian Scholarships Group (ASG). (2007). The state of student social and emotional health. ASG Student social and emotional health report. By University of Melbourne. Bryan, T. & Young, J. (2009). Beginning teacher’s handbook. Buderim, Australia. Firefly Press (Aust) Pty Ltd. Bucholz, J., & Sheffler, J., (2008) Creating a Warm and Inclusive Classroom Environment: Planning for All Children to Feel Welcome. Retrieved April 29, 2012 from http://www.cehs.wright.edu/~prenick/Spring_Summer09_Edition/htm/bucholz.htm http://www.cehs.wright.edu/~prenick/Spring_Summer09_Edition/htm/bucholz.htm Centre for Advanced Reasearch on Language Recognition (CARLA). (2012). What is culture? Retrieved from http://www.carla.umn.edu/culture/definitions.html http://www.carla.umn.edu/culture/definitions.html Collaborative for Academic, Social, Emotional Learning (CASEL). (2011). Benefits of SEL. Retrieved from http://casel.org/why-it-matters/benefits-of-sel/http://casel.org/why-it-matters/benefits-of-sel/

13. Classroom Environments. (n.d) Classroom Environments. Retrieved May 2, 2012 from http://www.ok.gov/octp/documents/Classroom%20Environment%201.pdf http://www.ok.gov/octp/documents/Classroom%20Environment%201.pdf Collaborative for Academic, Social, Emotional Learning (CASEL). (2011). Benefits of SEL.// Retrieved from http://casel.org/why-it-matters/benefits-of-sel/http://casel.org/why-it-matters/benefits-of-sel/ Commonwealth of Australia. (2009). Kids Matter. Why social and emotional learning is important. Canberra, ACT: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Retrieved from http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/primary/uploads/2009/09/social-and- emotional-overview.pdf http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/primary/uploads/2009/09/social-and- emotional-overview.pdf Costa, A. (2000) Describing 16 Habits of mind. Retrieved April, 13, 2012 from http://www.chsvt.org/wdp/Habits_of_Mind.pdf http://www.chsvt.org/wdp/Habits_of_Mind.pdf Demand Media, Inc. (2012). How to build classroom culture. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_7835359_build-classroom-culture.html

14. Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE). (2008). Social and emotional learning. Retrieved from http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/protection/sel/ http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/protection/sel/ Groundwater-Smith, S, Ewing, R, & Le Cornu, R. (2011). Teaching challenges and dilemmas. (4th ed). South Melbourne, Vic: Cengage Learning Australia. Marzano, R. J., & Pickering, D. J. (1997). Dimensions of learning teacher’s manual (2nd ed.) Alexandra, VA: ASCD Queensland Government, DET. (n.d.). Guide to social and emotional learning in Qld Schools. Retrieved from http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/protection/sel/pdfs/sel_booklet. pd http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/protection/sel/pdfs/sel_booklet. pd Queensland Government, Education Queensland. (n.d.). The Code of School Behaviour : Values Better Behaviour Better Learning. Retrieved fromhttp: education.qld.gov.au/publication/production/reports/pdfs/code-school- behaviour-a4.pdf Wojcicki, E. (2002). Characteristics of an effective classroom culture. Retrieved from http://gallery.carnegiefoundation.org/collections/castl_k12/ewojcicki2/outco mes/characteristics_culture.htm http://gallery.carnegiefoundation.org/collections/castl_k12/ewojcicki2/outco mes/characteristics_culture.htm

15. Radwan, F., (2006) Music Preference and Personality. Retrieved May 8, 2012 from http://www.2knowmyself.com/Music_psychology/Music_Preferences_personality http://www.2knowmyself.com/Music_psychology/Music_Preferences_personality Scholastic. (2012) Classroom Organization. The Physical Environment. Retrieved May 1, 2012 from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/classroom-organization-physical- environment http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/classroom-organization-physical- environment United States Department of Health and Human Services., (n.d) Using Environmental Startegies to Promote Positive Social interactions. Retrieved May 2, 2012 from http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/briefs/wwb6.pdf http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/briefs/wwb6.pdf Victorian Institute of Teaching. (n.d) The Effect of the Physical Environment on Teaching and Learning. Retrieved May 2, 2012 from http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/1137_The-Effect-of-the- Physical-Learning-Environment-on-Teaching-and-Learning.pdf http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/1137_The-Effect-of-the- Physical-Learning-Environment-on-Teaching-and-Learning.pdf