Teachers Perceptions about Creating Conducive Classroom Environment in

Teachers’ Perceptions about Creating Conducive Classroom Environment in Early Childhood Education Reseach. Team: Nadeem Khan, Dr. Amjad Reba: IER, University of Peshawar, Pakistan Sadia Khatoon: M. Ed Distance Education, University of Peshawar, Pakistan Presenter And Speaker: Nadeem Khan, Institute Of Education And Research, University Of Peshawar I begin by the name of Allah, the Most Merciful and the Mighty

Introduction • Learning begins at birth and continues all through one’s life. Children who develops well physically, mentally, socially, emotionally and intellectually during the early years are more supposed to be happy and useful members of the society as compared to the one who does not. Early childhood education is a branch of education theory which deals to the teaching of young children until the age of about eight, with a particular focus on education, remarkable in the period before the start of compulsory education (www. wekiepedia. com)

• A conducive learning environment is motivating; give exposure to learners in connection with various learning materials for free interaction. It can be such an environment which is free of barrier and the learners are busy in the learning materials. The key element in a conducive learning environment, to be successful for learning, is facilitator. In such an environment students are encouraged to take part freely in a variety of activities and feedback is given wherever it is suitable (Nyoni, Mufanechiya, 2012). • We do not respect our children. We force them for following us without keeping in mind their special needs. We are rude with them and still expecting them to be submissive and well-behaved, and we know the fact that how strong is their copied nature and how much they have a touching faith and admiring us. Children will copy us in any way. Therefore; children are required to be treated with kindness which we would like to develop in them (Morrison, 2007).

• The job of teachers is to create the learning environment for the students. Teachers create the classroom environment or it is created by certain other factors; such as, class size, students’ personalities, the availability of resources and support. Whatever the case may be, the students’ skills, attitudes and mastery of content are affected by the classroom environment. A conducive classroom environment can be created by giving respect, building positive relationships and teaching skills to students, so that they can be successful in the classroom (Harris, 2014).

• Visualize for a minute about your ideal classroom. It will be such a classroom where student is fully involved in task and happy and where is no discipline problem. No classrooms are perfect but just imagine that would your dream classroom look like? (Kardims, 2014).

• Positive approach to discipline teaches the child the right level of behaviour and also strengthens it. Instead of scolding and punishing the child, there are positive ways to deal with. e. g. if a child turns over his milk at the table, have cleaned them up instead of punishing. This is a positive way of teaching the child what to do whenever an accident happens. But consistency is crucial while guiding children to a higher level of socialization (Tomlin, 2008).

• By creating right circumstances, groups can be made truly useful and that most can be got out of work. Cooperative group work increases self-esteem, improves relationships among students and also boosts social and educational skills (Alexandria, 2009).

§ For permanent life relationship, responsive instead of being directive is the key. Learning and communication in a child can be developed through interaction with people. Changing yourself from being a teacher to a play partner can shine a child’s development (Mc. Donald, Stolica, 2007).

• Create an organized, welcoming and well suited physical environment according to the needs of students and teachers for their best teaching possible. In such an environment facilities like; keeping the classroom clean, making the space healthy, arranging furnitures, selecting and organizing materials, establishing pathways, creating meaningful displays, setting up a meeting area and accommodating special needs are required to be there( Clayton , Forton, 2001).

• In a print rich classroom there is print and conversations about print that look after early literacy growth. By being proactive children can be welcomed in a dynamic classroom with ample of opportunities for children to learn about letters and its sounds, developing word awareness and also to learn about the concepts of various types of print (The mailbox books staff, 2004).

• Teachers need training for the suitable use of A. V. aids which can be useful not only for the teachers but ultimately for the children as well. Use of A. V. aids can be made common through the joint efforts of parents, teachers, school management and government. Grades should be given to the schools on the basis of evaluation for the use of A. V. aids in classrooms through making a policy by the government (Awasthi, 2014. )

• It is very difficult for the teachers to carry out curricular and co-curricular activities in overcrowded classrooms. They were having the problems of checking tests, note books and papers, etc…in such classrooms. Overcrowded classrooms also affect the performance and efficiency of teachers. Proper training programmes are required to be arranged for teachers to handle the overcrowded classrooms (Khan, Iqbal, 2012).

Objectives of the Study • To study the teachers’ perceptions about creating conducive classroom environment in early childhood education. • To explore the process and techniques used by teachers for creating a conducive classroom environment at early childhood education.

Method and Procedure § This study is descriptive in nature. Private schools’ teachers at district Peshawar were taken as population for conducting the research. Six schools were selected in which six teachers were taken from each school. Two teachers each teaching to play group, nursery and kindergarten were selected from each school randomly. So, a total of 36 teachers were selected. A questionnaire having 20 questions was prepared by a thorough study of the review literature and with consultation among the experts. The data collected through the questionnaire was tabulated and then analysed through percentages.

Main Findings § When asked that love and kindness encourages the students for learning, 94% teachers replied in favour of the statement § Motivation is important for the students at the early childhood education level in classroom, 100% of the respondents replied in yes

§ 100%of the teachers are in the favour of the statement that conducive classroom environment motivate children for learning § 100% of the respondents favoured the statement that children can learn better through play way method § Print rich environment develops the interest of children in learning , 78% teachers replied in positive where as 16% agreed to some extent regarding the statement

• 64% 0 f the teachers agreed that they use A. V aids for teaching the children and 22% used these to some extent • Regarding the statement that children take interest in A. V. aids, 100% of the respondents responded in favour of the statement. • Teachers neglecting attitude adversely affect the interest of students, 81% teachers agreed while 11% disagreed with the statement

§ Scolding badly affect the students, 75% teachers said yes whereas 22% said to some extent regarding the statement § 50% of the respondents replied in negative and 50% said to some extent regarding the statement that punishment is more effective in teaching learning process § In connection with the statement that over-crowded classroom adversely affect the teaching learning process, 94% of teachers agreed

§ 100% of the teachers said that 15 -20 is an ideal strength of students in a classroom § 89% teachers said that individual attention should be given to the students and 11% said to some extent in this regard § Group work develops social skills in children, 83% teachers accepted the view and 17% replied to some extent in relation with the statement

§ 100% teachers agreed that play way method is fruitful for the physical development of children § Sufficient facilities are required for the creation of conducive learning environment in the classroom, 78%teachers said “yes”, and 19% said to some extent in this respect

Key Recommendations § Love and kindness motivate the children for learning. So, teachers can use this tool to motivate the students for learning § Motivation is very important for creating conducive learning environment in the classroom and through this the teachers can create such an environment § Play way method is extremely crucial to be applied for the learning of children

§ As children take interest in A. V aids, so its use can be very effective in learning and creating conducive classroom environment § Teachers should have a caring attitude towards their students as neglecting attitude and scolding adversely affect the interest of students § Classrooms are required to have 15 -20 students as an ideal strength because overcrowded classrooms adversely affect the teaching learning process § Dealing with overcrowded classrooms different techniques can be applied; such as, making big groups, small group, individual learning time, teachers directed and child initiated activities

§ Through individual attention, the environment of the classroom can be made very conducive § Through group work, social skills can be developed in children § Sufficient facilities should be provided for the creation of conducive learning environment in the classroom. Government can also play its role in this regard by giving due importance to ECE sector. The problems related to ECE can be reduced by providing them with sufficient facilities

§ An area should be created for teacher-directed small group activities. Provision of spaces should be there for individual work § There can be storage of appropriate materials and equipment within the classroom, so that these could be used for creating conducive classroom environment

Thanks