Democracy in the Classroom

    Lyman et al. state that "democratic classroom communities are found in classrooms where teachers model and implement the ideals and practices of American democratic society" (2015). These classrooms still conduct learning, but they give students experiences that will help them in their future as an American citizen and create success in the classroom.  

    

    For students in democratic classrooms, their differences are utilized for the whole classroom experience. Students in these classrooms should feel safe, meaningful, and accepted in the classroom. They also should think that they contribute to classroom success, experience academic and social success, and can "identify areas of personal talent and interest" (Lyman et al., 2015). As much as we want the student to feel like an individual in the classroom, we must also help them realize that they have responsibilities that affect the whole class to function correctly. 

    

    Teachers in a democratic classroom should encourage participation and share power appropriately with students. However, they must not forget that they still have a larger responsibility of caring for their students. Teachers in these classrooms: structure and maintain a safe classroom in all ways, demonstrate proper behavior, interact positively with all students at least once a day, reduce competition in the school,  share appropriate responsibilities with the students, and help students grow individually (Lyman et al., 2015). 

    References
Lyman, L., Foyle, H. C., Waters, S., & Lyman, A. L. (2015). Teaching Social Studies in the 
    Elementary School: Communities, Connections, and Citizenship. National Social Science Press.