3 pillars to build a positive culture in the classroom

Key points:

True education is as much about the environment as it is about instruction. It may seem like a bold claim, but it makes sense when you take a moment to consider the evidence. If a child is placed in a classroom that experiences multiple interruptions, has little interpersonal connection, and rarely attempts to engage students, it is unlikely that he or she will experience much growth. Students require positive environments that strive to strengthen them both socially and academically. Unfortunately, even the best educators may not achieve this if they do not fully understand what a positive classroom culture entails.

Positive classroom culture works much like a three-legged stool. If one of the legs is removed, the stool becomes unstable. The key for educators is to recognize the three pillars of a positive classroom culture and the unique role they play in shaping student development.

Below are the three pillars of a positive classroom culture, as well as strategies to help teachers get started:

Community: The purpose of the community is to foster trust, communication and understanding. A healthy classroom community welcomes students from all backgrounds and encourages diverse points of view, even if students don’t always agree with their peers’ conclusions. One strategy for building a healthy student community is to use images that can be viewed in different ways. Show an image that can be interpreted in two or more ways (a rabbit or a bird? an old woman or a young woman?). Have students share their perspective and then allow the class to respectfully debate their points of view. As students learn about others and their perspectives on interpreting an image, they will begin to be more open to listening to others as they progress through the year.

Content: Content is the actual material taught in the classroom. It is important to remember that we do not disseminate information to students simply to have them memorize facts. The knowledge they gain from their lessons will be applied in their future lives and careers. As such, it is vital that students recognize that their learning can have a positive impact on the world around them. One way to achieve this is through project-based learning. Project-based learning involves lessons that investigate real-world problems while allowing students to delve deeper into the content. This gives them a sense of purpose while incorporating the outside world into their daily activities. When students know they can make a real difference through their schoolwork, they are more likely to engage with the content, work with others, and persevere through adversity.

Conduct: Students need structure and guidance if they want to become mature adults. Things like social awareness, self-management, and responsible decision making are as essential to student success as reading and algebra. An ideal strategy to help students manage any disruptive behavior is to establish a Classroom Contract at the beginning of the semester. This allows students to know what is allowed and what is not, as well as the repercussions for breaking the rules. The turn? Students should be the ones to create this contract (along with the help of their teacher). By inviting students to participate in the process, they become involved in their own learning and are more likely to recognize the rules because they participated in their creation.

By building a classroom where they feel encouraged and empowered, teachers can equip students with the mindset needed to thrive, both inside and outside the classroom. Let’s do our part to ensure your time in the classroom is memorable, meaningful, and fun!