Ella Higgins

Lori Cory

EDU 218

January 27, 2021

Classroom Climate

Creating a positive classroom climate is such an important factor in running a successful

classroom. As stated by definition, classroom climate is the intellectual, social, emotional, and

physical environment in which students learn. That being said, a safe and inclusive classroom

environment is essential for students well being and performance. In order for that to happen, the

teacher must ensure that the students feel respected and accepted into the classroom. We know

that students learn best when they are in an environment that is friendly and supportive and it is

up to the teachers formation of a classroom climate to determine that. There are so many ways

that a teacher can create their own classroom climate and it is important that they adjust to the

needs of their students.

In my future classroom, there are many classroom climate strategies that I hope to be able

to implement. The first strategy that I would like to use in the future is making the learning

relevant to the students that I teach. As a student myself, I know that myself and those around me

are more engaged when we know that the information will benefit our success and happiness.

Teachers can make the information relevant by learning and discovering their students’ interests,

talents, hobbies, learning styles, etc. By learning this information they can adjust their teaching

methods and strategies. For example, if I know that many of the students in my algebra class

enjoy basketball then I can incorporate it into the lesson by changing the word problems to that

subject. That is just one simple example of making the information relevant to the students in the
classroom. Making learning relevant is key to keeping students engaged and interested in

learning.

The second technique or strategy that I would like to implement into my future classroom

climate is a code of conduct or a social contract. Here in Nevada, each class in the Nevada

Community School district has a social contract. This technique includes creating a list of rules

or expectations that the teacher has for the students and that the students expect from the teacher.

It is a great way for the students to communicate with each other and with the teacher what they

expect throughout the class. Some of the things that would be included on a social contract

would be patience, honesty, kindness, respect, etc. After a solid list is created, each person in the

room signs this contract and is expected to follow it throughout the year. I am really looking

forward to using this strategy in the future in my classroom.

Another strategy that I could see myself using when I become a teacher is to always be

positive. This is something that might not seem like a big deal, however, I think it can be a game

changer for some classes. When a student walks into the classroom each day one of the first

things they notice is the mood that the teacher is in. A super happy, bubbly, positive teacher is

one that students attract to and enjoy being around. I myself have had many teachers who were

very positive and I enjoyed being in their room. On the other hand, there’s the negative and

unenthusiastic teachers that are not any fun to be around. The positivity that the teacher brings to

school can really set the tone for the day and how it is going to go. Sometimes I myself struggle

to think positively and that is something that I hope to work on before becoming a teacher

because I have set those expectations for myself.

One of the biggest strategies that I myself would like to work on and include in my

classroom climate is to not judge my students. This occurs a lot in public schools especially
when students are in transition from one grade to the next and the teachers begin to talk.

Conversations like “He was super lazy and always asleep during my class, so good luck.” are

super important to avoid because you never know what to expect from a student. They can

completely change or behave differently for you than they did for their last teacher. I hope to

avoid judgement in my classroom and start with a clean slate because that can cause a lot of

distrust between the students and their teacher.

Throughout my field experience I have witnessed first hand many techniques that

teachers use to create a positive classroom climate. The first one that I see used every day is to

greet your students at the door. Every time I walk into the classroom, no matter the class, the

teacher is there standing at the door. We used to greet each other with a handshake but due to

covid we just say things such as “good morning” or “good afternoon”. This has become such a

routine for us that if they are not there it just feels off. I love the feeling of being welcomed into

class each day. In terms of my field experience, in the kindergarten classroom that I am

observing I see the teacher greet each student as they walk into the classroom for the day. The

little children wait patiently at the door if the teacher is not there yet and I can tell it is a routine

for them that they enjoy. The second strategy that I see teachers use is the social contract

method. I mentioned this previously as something that I hope to use in the future because I enjoy

it so much. It is a great way for students to communicate their expectations to the teacher and

vise versa. The way that the contract is created varies throughout the classes but they all have the

same idea. I also like that the students have a say in the class “rules” so that they feel involved.

Creating a social contract is something that any grade can accomplish and there is one hanging

on the wall in the kindergarten class that I am observing in. Celebrating successes is also another

strategy that I see represented inside the classroom. This is shown throughout all grade levels in
my school, but one example is in my kindergarten class that I am observing in. The method that

this teacher uses is called the “blurt jar” or “blurt beans”. Each time the students do a great job of

listening, not interrupting, sitting quietly, etc, their teacher adds a little marble into the jar. Once

the jar is full, they get some type of celebration. I really like this method because it is focused

toward the whole class, rather than just one individual student. The fourth and final strategy of

creating a positive classroom climate that I see in my field experience is creating a sense of

order. This allows the students to familiarize themselves with what is expected to occur each

day. Once the kindergartener’s walk into the classroom each day they know exactly what to do.

They first wash their hands, then answer the question of the day, put their lunch card in the

correct pile, and so forth. Creating a sense of order is something that needs to be taught right at

the beginning of the year so that students know what is expected of them. Once students enter the

classroom they should know that they are to focus on that class and nothing else. A strong

structured class is great for creating a positive classroom climate.

In conclusion, there are many strategies for teachers to use to create the most successful

and positive classroom climate. It is up to that teacher to determine what his/her students need in

order for them to learn to the best of their abilities. Not only does a classroom climate adjust to a

students physical needs, but also to their intellectual, social, and emotional needs. In the future, I

look forward to working with all types of students and making sure I can meet all of their needs

by running my classroom the best way that I can.

“10 Ways Teachers Can Create a Positive Learning Environment.” Free Spirit Publishing Blog,

19 Mar. 2020, freespiritpublishingblog.com/2016/11/29/ten-ways-teachers-can-create-a-

positive-learning-environment/.

Ascd. “Seven Strategies for Building Positive Classrooms.” Seven Strategies for Building

Positive Classrooms - Educational Leadership, www.ascd.org/publications/educational-

leadership/sept08/vol66/num01/Seven-Strategies-for-Building-Positive-Classrooms.aspx.