III. Environment

T-TESS Rubric 

Domain Three: Learning Environment

1. Classroom Environment, Routines, and Procedures

2. Managing Student Behavior

3. Classroom Culture

3.1 CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT, ROUTINES, & PROCEDURES: procedures, routines, and transitions, management of supplies/equipment, safety and organization

The teacher organizes a safe, accessible, and efficient classroom. 

• Tips for Building a Learning Community (Based on Capturing Kids' Hearts Excel Model)

• Importance of Classroom Routines and Procedures

• Instructional Routines

• Classroom Routines That are Small But Mighty

• Presentation on Classroom Management (BAT)

• Class timers

• Group Organizer Website

• Wheel of Names for Cold Calling

• Professional Courtesy in the Classroom

3.2 MANAGING STUDENT BEHAVIOR: behavior systems and standards, positive reinforcement, intercepts misbehaviors, classroom management

The teacher establishes, communicates, and maintains clear expectations for student behavior. 

• Classroom Management

  • Presentation on Classroom Management 

  • Prodigy's 20 Classroom Management Strategies

  • 22 Classroom Management Strategies Techniques That Really Work 

  • Student Management Techniques from an Education Expert

  • Bouncy Balls (website to encourage appropriate levels of noise)

• Mental Health, Social and Emotional Learning

  • APA’s primers on mental health

  • 20 Ways to Build Classroom Community

• Mindfulness

  • 15 ideas for middle school brain breaks

  • 25 ideas for middle school brain breaks

  • Mrs. MacFarland’s mindfulness links

  • brain breaks

3.3 CLASSROOM CULTURE: mutually respective, collaborative class, evidences of student engagement, rapport between peers and with teacher

The teacher leads a mutually respectful and collaborative class of actively engaged learners. 

• Respectful Environment

  • Building Positive Relationships with Students

  • Building a Caring Environment

  • Presentation on Dealing with Difficult People (Students/Parents)

• Collaborative Class

  • Roles and Roles Cards

• Student Engagement

  • 20 Student Engagement Strategies for a Captivating Classroom

  • How to Keep Kids Engaged in Class

  • 17 Best Student Engagement Strategies [Teachers Swear By]

  • Reflect and Learn: Reflecting on yourself, content, and process

• Bias

  • Reflecting on our Assumptions