The Classroom Environment and Math Instruction

A quick Google search reveals hundreds of articles discussing the importance of creating a positive classroom environment to optimize learning - some with an emphasis on math and some of which were more general.  Here are a couple articles that I found to be particularly interesting coupled with my own thoughts below:

Edugains
-establish positive attitudes and beliefs about math
-support risk-taking by ensuring a positive classroom community
-provide physical spaces for collaboration, manipulatives, technology etc
-collaboratively construct class norms (especially important if math is taught on rotary)

Learn Alberta
-address students' preconceptions and discover what they think and know to be true
-organize knowledge around big ideas and important concepts
-focus on why math is important and provide lots of opportunities for students to engage in deep thinking
-encourage a class culture of respect


Education - Alberta 
-teachers should model think-alouds, precise language, and written records
-teachers need to have high, but realistic, expectations of the students
-differentiation of tasks and multiple entry points is key
-implement rich, meaningful tasks (open-ended problems, questions with multiple solutions etc) to make real-world connections
-use probing questions to engage student thinking
-represent math in a variety of ways
-teacher needs to be available to work one-on-one and in small groups
-intentional use of technology to facilitate learning

So why is this important?  Students need to know that:

• they are valued as learners and can work collaboratively with their peers
• they are supported if they make a mistake and are encouraged to take risks
• they have choices in their learning and need to take responsibility for their actions
• everyone in the classroom is important and need to be valued and respected
• sometimes they will struggle, and that's okay
• they can learn math

Once this climate of learning has been established, students will be in an environment that fosters learning and gives them the confidence they need to achieve success.  Without this positive environment, learning is stifled and becomes stressful and pessimistic.  Consequently, the role of the teacher is of utmost importance in ensuring that all students will be able to learn and develop as mathematicians.