32 Strategies for Building a Positive Learning Environment. Building a positive school climate and ensuring students are ready to learn requires school district codes of conduct that promote positive adult and student relationships and work to keep more students in the classroom. Do I have any prejudice about certain students? A positive learning environment is one of the most critical components of a skills-based health education classroom. So I visited the class. When you reinforce healthy and appropriate discourse, you provide students with an opportunity to share beliefs, take into account another person's point of view, and then filter through everything they have learned in order to form their own opinions. Academic Support. They see the classroom as a place where they can be themselves and express themselves and their ideas without judgment. Remember that weaknesses aren't necessarily negatives; they represent areas for improvement. Washington, DC 20036, Click to view your Action Academy progress. Needless to say, when educators foster positive learning culture, learners are more likely to have the higher motivation that leads to better and more promising learning outcomes. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at All4Ed, Digital Learning and Future Ready Schools, Learn More About the #OurChallengeOurHope Campaign, The Council of State Governments Justice Center, use a variety of measures to ensure students’ physical safety, only one-third of students report feeling engaged, do not have access to prepared and effective teachers, Ten Facts About Dual-Enrollment and Early College High School Programs, How Student-Teacher Relationships Impact Student Engagement and Learning, Four Elements for Creating a Positive Learning Environment, Why A High School Diploma Alone No Longer Guarantees Career Success. There are many components that go into making a positive learning environment for students. The learning environment theoriesfocus on different constructs within the educational system that include the student, society, and the content being taught. They contribute to students’ academic achievement and success and are associated with improved grades and test scores; strong attendance; positive relationships between students, adults, and their peers; and minimal engagement in risky behaviors, according to The School Discipline Consensus Report (SDCR) developed by The Council of State Governments Justice Center. Lessons are made relevant by connecting the curriculum to students’ lives. What do I bring to the table? What are the greatest influences on my life? You will probably find tons of items to enliven your classroom collecting dust in those spaces. Standard number 6: CREATING A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: Accomplished teachers of physical education create and sustain a welcoming, safe, and challenging environment in which students engage in and enjoy physical activity. As an educator, I’m always asked this question at teacher meetings. [or] a development of learning abilities and strategies” (p. 13). Schools can nurture these connections by focusing on students’ social and emotional learning (SEL). Physical Safety. As long as you recognize your areas for improvement and don't let them negatively affect your students' experience, they can be opportunitiesfor growth. There are a number of ways families and educators can create an environment for children that is conducive to … Self-reflection is not an evaluative exercise in which you criticize yourself or try to identify things you are not good at. Every Child a Graduate. Features; Interviews; Français; Go to classcraft.com 5 tips to create a positive learning environment in your classroom By Sergio Schaffer January 30, 2019 Share Looking for new ways to improve your classroom environment? When I was starting out in the Physical Education business I was all about fitness. My health? More Excerpts From Essentials of Teaching Health Education With Web Resource, Foundations of Kinesiology/Exercise and Sport Science, Research Methods, Measurements, and Evaluation, Essentials of Teaching Health Education With Web Resource, The, The Essentials of Teaching Health Education, Spotlight: K-5 Public School Dance Teacher, Sample women’s squat training program for powerlifters, Quarterback Challenges in Canadian Football, Introduction to Physical Literacy on the Move, Improve shoulder internal rotation range of motion for throwing athletes. As a parent, what would you do if you heard this? Structuring the Physical Environment Desk arrangements Student placement Classroom decoration Music in the classroom 4. How Much Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity Is Enough? There is a positive rapport (relationship) between the teacher and students and among students in the class. In a classroom where values and roles remain constant and focus is placed on the positive aspects of learning, students will be more open to actively participating in class. Recent Gallup data shows a troubling trend—as students move through the K–12 education system, they become increasingly less engaged. Each of the environmental variables we've talked about play an important role in keeping us on track when we're learning and working. Caroline Waldman is a communications associate at the Alliance for Excellent Education. Some ideas may work better for you than others, but we hope to give you plenty of ideas that you can use to develop and maintain a positive learning environment. Are you in Canada? In a survey of parents of students from low-income communities, the Alliance for Excellent Education (Alliance) finds the majority expressed concern that students’ individual learning needs are not being met and that students are not learning the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the real world. Let's further define the characteristics found in a positive learning environment: Creating a positive learning environment begins with the teacher's self-reflection, continues with planning, and then is ongoing and dynamic during the implementation of the curriculum. “SEL programs have been shown to improve students’ social competence, self-awareness, connection to school, positive interactions with others, and academic performance,” according to the SDCR. The physical environment must be safe, and welcoming, and must support learning. This can range from creating spaces specifically for student use to having a class discussion to establish norms and expectations. This includes teachers, classmates, administrators, family, and community members. It was in the unfinished basement of an old school -- cement floors and walls, ceiling-to-floor poles throughout the room. New research also shows that a positive school climate, of which the conditions for learning are a critical part, can narrow achievement gaps. Classrooms should be inviting environments … Please visit Booktopia to order your Human Kinetics print books. The Alliance for Excellent Education’s Action Academy is an online learning community of education advocates. Students must feel connected to teachers, staff, and other students. Do I treat any group of students differently because of a preconceived opinion? Your classroom should be a place where students learn, observe, and practice positive interactions with others regardless of differences. Class structure provides multiple and varied opportunities for students to experience success. Teachers are an essential part of fostering the type of learning environment in the classroom that supports student success. You need to be aware of the differences in your classes (e.g., personalities, dynamics, interests, strengths, learning styles) and adjust your strategies to meet your students' needs. Your email is never published nor shared. Before planning the specifics of your positive learning environment, take time to reflect on who you are and how you arrived at your values, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. But external factors—such as the fatal shootings from this summer and fall—and internal factors—such as exclusionary discipline practices, which disproportionately affect students of color, students with disabilities, and English language learners (ELLs)—can undermine efforts by teachers and school staff to create the learning conditions necessary for students to thrive. Arranging the Physical Environment of the Classroom to Support Teaching/Learning Arranging the physical environment of the classroom is one way to improve the learning environment and to prevent problem behaviors before they occur. After you have taken some time to explore your personal beliefs and values, the next step is to think about how you will influence the learning environment in your classroom. Register Now. Take time to consider how you can build on your strengths while also addressing your weaknesses. Students know that they are valued and respected, regardless of other factors such as ability, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, or religion. Implementing a positive learning environment has huge social and academic implications that a lot of teachers do not really think about or pay as much attention to as is duly needed. What are my beliefs about teaching? The benefits of a positive classroom environment. The physical atmosphere of the classroom can help prevent behavior issues as well as promote and improve learning. School leaders can engage community members, teachers, students, and parents in school climate improvement work through conversations, meetings, surveys, and creating school-community partnerships. With only 3 downs to make 10 yards, the quarterback really has to be a playmaker. Creating a Positive Learning Environment Creating a Positive Learning Environment Webster Dictionary defines “environment” as the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival. Playing quarterback in Canadian football definitely has its challenges. School leaders should gather and incorporate the feedback of all of these groups in any school climate improvement work. Students must feel supported by all those connected to their learning experience. It is equally important that you model appropriate interactions with people who have different beliefs, ideas, or values. But it's important to remember that distractions and environments aren't a one-way street. What are my strengths? "Federal Flash: February 5: News on the Every Student Succeeds Act; New... "Federal Flash: January 15: What's Next for NCLB Rewrite? Human Kinetics print books are now distributed by Booktopia Publisher Services throughout Australia/NZ, delivered to you from their NSW warehouse. I knew she'd have support from a principal committed to transfor… Personalized learning is greatly increasing student engagement in one school district in North Carolina. The Exploring Personal Beliefs and Values sidebar poses a few questions to use as a starting point. Creating a positive learning environment in your classroom will allow your students to feel comfortable, safe and engaged – something that all students deserve. It was more like an interrogation chamber than a classroom. Laptops and other mobile devices have great potential to enhance and transform instruction and are being used effectively in many college classrooms.5 Today's students use their devices in class to take notes, access materials and applications, and find relevant information. Provide floor cushions, beanbag chairs and inspiring artwork. For example, you may have a strong belief that poor personal hygiene is a reflection of a person's self-esteem. But to define a coaching philosophy and set goals, you must first understand and express why you coach and what principles will guide how you coach. Your daily serving of high school news and policy. For starters, positive learning environments should offer a climate of safety, where risk-taking is encouraged, there is open authentic conversation, trust and respect are fostered, and positive interaction is the norm. By Lina Raffaelli. However, school discipline policies and codes of conduct do not always support a positive school climate. Communicate to your school leaders about the need to incorporate parent, student, and community voice and feedback in any on-going or future school climate improvement work. These conditions for learning are the elements of a schools climate that students experience personally. Ask your school leaders about the training and professional development opportunities in place for teachers that focus on the social and emotional needs of students. As with curriculum development, a positive learning environment takes planning and thought. What do I value about myself? Here are 10 specific strategies for developing the optimal classroom climate… Rather, this is a time to get to understand yourself better, to understand where you are coming from, and to discover where and how you can build on your strengths to support your students. Not an Action Academy Member yet? For frequent whole-group discussions, try a circle or U-shaped desk configuration. Personalized learning is one instructional approach that could reverse these trends. For example, exclusionary discipline practices, like removing students from the classroom, suspensions, and expulsions, negatively impact students’ academic performance and their likelihood of graduating from high school. Do I have any biases? All students are challenged to achieve high expectations, and all students receive the support necessary to meet those expectations. What are my blind spots? The simple math problem you are being asked to solve is necessary to help block spam submissions. You should do the best you can to plan ahead of time, but be aware that once you get to know your students, you may need to adjust your strategies to ensure that everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. The physical layout reflects your teaching style. Even more concerning, data shows that schools discipline traditionally underserved students at much higher rates than their peers even though research does not show that these students misbehave more frequently. What are my weaknesses? Exposure to violence, in particular, affects more than the family and friends of those involved and ripples through communities, ultimately impacting individual students. Have you ever noticed what the teacher did to make learning more inviting? When all students in a classroom can access networked tools simultaneously, many collaborative learning and just-in-time teaching opportunities emerge. A quick guide for district and school leaders, teachers, and other members of the school community on how to initiate, implement, and sustain school climate improvements is available here. But for many teachers, setting up the physical environment of their classrooms can be quite daunting, especially when faced with older buildings, crowded classrooms and insufficient storage space. Most coaching books start with a discussion of the importance of creating a coaching philosophy and follow up with a section on creating goals. Social Relationships. Before students can succeed academically, they must feel safe, both physically and mentally. Schools should also continually improve their campuses in response to student need and the latest research. To that end, creating the right physical learning environment is essential. These skills, known as the deeper learning competencies, are not only the skills students need to succeed in school, but the ones that will enable them to succeed in careers and life. How can parents help create a positive learning environment in their children’s schools? The teacher gets to know all students and uses that knowledge to create meaningful experiences. Clean out your attic, basement or garage. These theories flow from the psychological theories of learning, which include cognitive theories, social cognitive theories, and instructional system design theories (Bertrand, 2003). For students to learn, they must feel safe, engaged, connected, and supported in their classrooms and schools. National physical activity guidelines in Canada recommend 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity daily activity for teens to gain health benefits. The psychomotor domain was my top priority. Human Kinetics print books and eBooks are now distributed by Mare Nostrum, throughout the UK, Europe, Africa and Middle East, delivered to you from their warehouse. Today’s students are becoming more and more sensitive and it is up to teachers to make sure their emotions do not get in the way of their learning. To establish trust that leads to true participation and engagement in learning, you first need to set the stage by establishing a learning environment in which all students feel valued, safe, and supported. Students have ownership and input related to class structure and expectations. First things first, learners need to be comfortable. Positive asset-based relationships are visible among all in the classroom. Educators and administrators need professional development opportunities and training to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of students to create a positive school climate. Learn more about The Essentials of Teaching Health Education. Students feel physically and emotionally safe. When students’ mental, emotional, and physical needs are met, they’re more likely to love school—and they learn more. By Jonathan C. Erwin, M.A., author of The SEL Solution: Integrate Social and Emotional Learning into Your Curriculum and Build a Caring Climate for All There is a direct relationship between the kind of learning environment teachers create in their classrooms and student achievement. We all have a vague understanding of burnout, but should we advise our kids to drop out, take a break, make some changes, or suck it up? Physical Literacy on the Move was written to help educators of children and youths from grades K through 12 teach high-quality and fun games and activities that support the unique needs of their learners as they develop physical literacy. . Local businesses and organizations may be willing to donate furnishings and other materials to help … ", "Federal Flash: January 29: ESSA Timelines and Implementation", Learn more about school safety efforts and how they can impact students by reading this. There are specific practices that educators can adopt to embrace SEL in the classroom, which also create a positive school climate and environment that supports students’ deeper learning. How has my experience shaped who I am today? "I don’t know, Mom, I just feel burned out." Standards of behavior are established and are consistently and equitably enforced for all students. Classroom setup is an important component in a learning environment because it is an essential piece of classroom management to support both teaching and learning. September 3, 2014 There are many ingredients that go into making a thriving learning environment. The school must encourage positive communication and interaction among students, teachers, and the wider community. . Emotional Environment. If you are looking to purchase an eBook, online video, or online courses please press continue. 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