What makes a classroom culture special? In Amanda Hall’s fifth-grade classroom at Summerfield Charter Academy, this means building strong relationships with her class. She takes the time to get to know her students, and she cares about each of them and their success.
To build a great classroom culture, Hall integrates different ways for her students to have fun. Sometimes her class gets to use a Bluetooth microphone to have a sing-along, sometimes they tell corny jokes, and sometimes she slips into a funny accent while she’s teaching.
“I want them to leave my classroom at the end of the year feeling loved, cared for, and proud of what they've accomplished and learned,” said Hall. “I recognized very quickly that my vision could not work if my classroom culture was not strong and inclusive. I have seen students transform throughout a school year once they were exposed to a caring community where they feel heard, understood, and accepted.”
She believes having fun helps her students feel comfortable and excited in her classroom.
“Amanda has a great love for science and for students,” said Rudy Swofford, principal at Summerfield. “She uses those passions to develop fun and meaningful science lessons that inspire her students to dig deeper and develop greater understanding while really enjoying the process of learning.”
She also frequently explores the world of social media to seek out fun ideas. She loves Instagram, because she can connect with other teachers to enhance her classroom.
“I get so inspired and encouraged by other teachers on social media that it overflows into my classroom which benefits my students!” said Hall.
She recently did a teacher takeover on NHA’s Instagram account, @nhateachers, and encourages other teachers to dig into social media for inspiration.
“It has drastically influenced my attitude and ideas in my own classroom, and it’s such a valuable tool for sharing and getting new ideas,” said Hall.
Keep up the great work, Amanda!