Creating a Learning Environment

Title: Marie’s Classroom

Area: Create a Learning Environment.

Skills demonstrated (summary from focus groups activities): Knowledge of skills to solve problems involving: conflict points, teaching about other cultures, promoting safety, talking about touchy subjects, models respect, awareness of non-verbal reactions, physical classroom arrangement, encourage participation by all.

Marie’s Classroom

Marie, a Caucasian woman, is in her fourth year of teaching seventh grade English at a middle school in an inner-city neighborhood. There are a number of racial and ethnic minority groups represented in her school. The majority of the students are from homes with incomes at or below the poverty level. Marie was raised in one of the suburbs that surround the city. She prides herself on her commitment to diversity in the classroom by carefully choosing texts that illustrate a variety of cultural values and experiences. She has, however, had little success in engaging student interest in the subject.

Marie: Ok, class, we only have 15 minutes to discuss current events. What should we talk about today? Any suggestions?

Kyle: Let’s talk about Desert Storm. (With pride) My dad’s over there now, kicking Saddam’s butt.

Barry: Yeah! My dad’s there, too. (High fives Kyle. The class erupts with laughter, although a number of students do not join in, including Fatima, who is Lebanese.)

Marie (annoyed at Kyle’s choice of words): That’s enough, boys. Class calm down.

Jennifer (Fatima’s friend): Yeah, Kyle, why don’t you just be quiet for once! (Fatima raises her hand and begins to speak before Marie can call on her.)

Fatima (angrily): The United States is wrong to send troops to kill civilians, especially innocent women and children. (Several students in the class immediately respond with boos.)

Kyle (loudly): If you don’t like it here, why don’t you just go back where you belong? (Marie attempts to bring the class to order by rapping on her desk.)

Marie: Class! Class!

Jennifer: Oh, shut up, Kyle!

Karen: Yeah, what do you know about it anyway, Kyle?

Marie: Class! Settle down now. We need to get back to our assignment! (Fatima, in tears, picks up her backpack and quickly leaves the room.)

Marie: Fatima! Where are you going? (Before Marie can move, Jennifer and Karen follow Fatima out of the room.)

Marie (loudly): Girls! Come back! (Marie quickly moves to the phone at the front of the classroom and calls the office to report that three students have left.)

Marie (to herself): Boy, they are in trouble. (Turning back to the class). Now, let’s get back to work.

1. Excluding classroom management, list the problem(s) depicted in this scenario in as much detail as possible.


2. If you were Marie, what would you do to address this conflict in your classroom? Be specific and use examples to illustrate your strategies.

Scoring Rubric

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Please feel free to email Dr. Anthony Ambrosio, if you have any concern about the grant. Thank you.

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Last revision: Oct. 2006