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    school kids in learning environment

    Classroom Management

    6 Tips for Creating a Positive Classroom Learning Environment

    Students feel comfortable, confident, and successful when they know what is expected of them and can meet those expectations. These expectations, combined with classroom routines, procedures, and organization, create a positive classroom learning environment that increases students’ ability to learn and succeed.

    Table of Contents

    • Tips to Generate Positive Student Behavior and Outcomes
      • 1. Positive & welcoming atmosphere that is clean and minimalist
      • 2. Establish clear routines and procedures
      • 3. Consistent student expectations that meet the needs of all students
      • 4. Organization is key—everything has a place, and everything in its place!
      • 5. Plan the routines and procedures for celebrating students
      • 6. Quiet, private, and calm areas for personal time and reflection

    In recent years, many schools and teachers have witnessed an increased prevalence of social and emotional needs and challenging student behaviors. Individually, these concerns cause problems for students as they develop their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, while holistically, these concerns within the classroom can potentially disrupt learning.

    To mitigate these concerns, classrooms, schools, and districts have created plans for social and emotional learning, positive student behavior, and classroom and school-wide expectations, routines, and procedures. Collectively, these essential elements establish the strong foundation needed to create a positive learning environment that is welcoming for all students and safe for learning and discovery.

    Tips to Generate Positive Student Behavior and Outcomes

    As a previous school administrator, little was more concerning to me than a teacher getting frustrated with a student’s behavior when the structure within their classroom lacked the basic routines, procedures, and expectations needed to create a positive classroom environment. Students cannot succeed in terms of their behavior or academic learning without an environment intentionally created for this purpose. This is most certainly step one, the foundation for a successful and positive school year for both the students and the teacher.

    So, how do teachers create a positive classroom learning environment that is structured, organized, consistent, inviting, and engaging? Well, it is much easier than it sounds and hinges on creating an environment prior to students arriving in the classroom on the first day of school. Of course, these ideas can be implemented anytime throughout the school year, but starting on the right track is always best!

    Here are six key components of creating a classroom environment that results in positive student behavior and outcomes.

    1. Positive & welcoming atmosphere that is clean and minimalist

    Classrooms that create a positive and professional environment inspire community and learning. Classroom storage and organization are key to creating a student-centered and engaging professional environment.

    Clutter and chaos are visually distracting and overly stimulating for students. Prevent this by organizing piles of papers and folders with items such as desktop trays and sorters. Classroom decorations and aesthetics also play a role in accomplishing this objective. We want students to feel comfortable, safe, and inspired by their learning environment.

    Advantus Super Stacker Divided Storage Box
    Advantus Super Stacker Divided Storage Box, 10-1/5 x 7-1/2 x 6-1/2 Inches, Clear
    Teacher Created Resources Chalkboard Bulletin Board
    Teacher Created Resources Chalkboard Brights Bulletin Board Set
    Colorful Mobile Organizer
    Mobile Organizer, 20 Drawers, 25 x 38 x 15-1/4 Inches, Multiple Colors

    2. Establish clear routines and procedures

    Teachers need a plan for how everything in their classroom will happen. This is done by establishing clear routines and procedures.

    Teachers must think through, plan, and then teach these routines and procedures effectively. Students should know where things are located and how these tools should be utilized to create flow, consistency, and success throughout the school day.

    Time Timer MAX
    Learning Resources Student Grouping Pencils, Set of 36
    Learning Resources Attendance Pocket Chart, 32 x 18 Inches

    3. Consistent student expectations that meet the needs of all students

    How can students successfully meet expectations if they don’t even know what is expected of them in the first place or if those expectations keep changing? By nature, ALL students crave positive attention. Consistency and structure are comforting to students and result in the meeting of expectations and positive praise.

    Additionally, while some expectations pertain to the class, teachers must also plan for and meet the needs of individual students who sometimes need even more specific expectations or expectations presented differently. Individualizing for the needs of students is another component of creating expectations that generate success for all students.

    Teacher Created Resources Small Sand Timers, Assorted Colors and Time, Pack of 8
    Super Duper Token Towers
    Educational Insights No Yell Bell Classroom Attention-Getter

    4. Organization is key—everything has a place, and everything in its place!

    Ensuring that all student and teacher items are organized and structured creates independence and confidence within a student-centered and guided environment.

    Additionally, collaborative tools and spaces are created through this organizational process, which allows students to practice and learn social and communication skills. For this to be successful, students need to know where items are located and how to utilize and easily access these tools and resources.

    five erasable plastic sheets
    Learning Resources Write and Wipe Pockets, Set of 5
    classroom chair with a blue seat pocket for storage
    School Smart Seat Pocket, 17 L x 14-1/2 Inches, Blue
    Storex Large Caddy with Sorting Cups
    Storex Large Caddy with Sorting Cups, 13 x 11 x 6-3/8 Inches, Blue, Pack of 2

    5. Plan the routines and procedures for celebrating students

    You can never celebrate student successes too much. Positive encouragement and recognition are by far the most motivating form of behavior reinforcement. Through clear and consistent expectations, recognition of achievement, be it through awards and incentives or other established procedures, empowers students, reinforces desired outcomes, and builds confident and happy students.

    Celebrating students with tangible items, words of affirmation, time and attention, or some other form of enforcement creates happy hearts and engaged minds. This type of character education is a huge byproduct of everyday learning and an important part of any classroom.

    Hero Arts Rubber Woodblock Stamp Set
    Hero Arts Rubber Woodblock Stamp Set, Teacher Approval, Set of 6
    Teacher Created Resources Treasure Chest
    Teacher Created Resources Treasure Chest, Cardboard
    Hammond & Stephens Seal of Success Gold Foil Embossed Seal
    Hayes Seal of Success Gold Foil Embossed Certificate Seals, Pack of 54

    6. Quiet, private, and calm areas for personal time and reflection

    Sensory spaces, such as a calming corner or other multi-sensory environment, provide students a safe and secure place to regulate their emotions and bodies. When organizing a classroom, teachers need to create these areas, plan how the space will be utilized, including all components within the area, and then teach students the purpose and how to utilize everything effectively.

    There are a lot of fun ideas and product options available, from self-regulation strategies to soft seating, timers, fidgets, books, and more!

    round bean bag chair in rainbow colors
    Childcraft Premium Round Bean Bag Chair
    Abilitations Calming Sensory To Go Kit
    Abilitations Calming Sensory To Go Kit
    Newmark Learning MySELF I Have Feelings Books
    Newmark Learning MySELF I Have Feelings Books, Set of 6

    Teachers with quality routines, clear procedures, and consistent expectations will see positive outcomes in their overall classroom environment and student behavior.

    Planning should include determining what routines, procedures, and expectations will be put in place, creating the needed materials, organizing them within the classroom, and then effectively teaching students why and how everything functions successfully. This process results in improvements in student behaviors, increases in student achievement, and overall student happiness within a safe, collaborative, and positive classroom learning environment.

    Laura Hill

    Laura Nicole Hill

    Nicole has served within the field of education for 16 years as a classroom teacher, specialist, assistant principal, and principal. She is certified as an educator in the areas of EC-12 Principal, EC-8 Generalist, 8-12 English Language Arts, Reading, and Social Studies, EC-12 Special Education, EC-12 Gifted and Talented, and EC-12 English as a Second Language. Her school experience varies and includes work with students in prekindergarten through 12th grade, both in Texas and Europe, and within communities that were uniquely diverse in terms of their demographics, size, and campus needs. While serving in these roles, she developed expertise in the areas of curriculum and instruction, professional development, and leadership. As the Instructional Solutions Subject Matter Expert for School Specialty, she provides expertise in the areas of Literacy and Math, as well as other content areas and classroom resources.
    Read more by Laura Nicole Hill–>

    Tagged With: Classroom Decorations, Inclusion, Learning Environments

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