“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.”
-C.S. Lewis
After coming home from a long hard day of work, you want to be able to come home to a place where there is tranquility, not chaos. Your home environment plays a vital role in your mood, how you start and end your day, etc. Schools should not be anything different. You want your students, teachers, staff, parents, community members to step into a building where the environment of the school can speak for itself. The environment of a school can play an integral part part in the learning process for children. For starters, if students do not feel safe and cared for then no learning will take place. The culture of the school needs to be one where everyone feels physically and emotionally safe and cared for. Beyond just creating a physical space part of creating a safe and nurturing environment is creating a culture of respect. The teacher is responsible for creating their culture in their classroom.
The culture of the classroom is made up of expectations and values that is mutually created by the teacher and students. When creating our culture in our classroom I think its important to consider these questions:
- Am I creating an safe environment?
- Are my rules and expectations fair and respectful?
- Am I consistent with my rules and expectations? Are my students consistent with the rules and expectations?
- Am i creating an environment where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities?
- How am I allowing my students to freely and safely express themselves?
- How am I creating a culture where creativity is valued?
- Do my students feel safe?
- Does the physical space allow for students to physically move in the classroom?
- How can I establish an environment where the learning is relevant and important to all students?
- How is my culture aiding in the development of my students' character?
- How does my classroom culture embrace all learners?
- Do my rules, procedures, routines, etc. embrace everyone from all cultures?
- Does everyone in the classroom feel ownership of our class culture?
There are so many other questions to consider asking yourself while establishing your classroom culture and environment. These are just a few that I ask myself as I am creating my classroom culture and my students throughout the year in surveys. I want to ensure that I am holding myself and students responsible for a safe, nurturing, and respectful environment. As teachers we have an enormous responsibility in preparing our students, creating a classroom culture and environment plays a vital role in how we help mold our students in the future.
Below is a great video about building a culture of learning.
The culture of the classroom is made up of expectations and values that is mutually created by the teacher and students. When creating our culture in our classroom I think its important to consider these questions:
- Am I creating an safe environment?
- Are my rules and expectations fair and respectful?
- Am I consistent with my rules and expectations? Are my students consistent with the rules and expectations?
- Am i creating an environment where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities?
- How am I allowing my students to freely and safely express themselves?
- How am I creating a culture where creativity is valued?
- Do my students feel safe?
- Does the physical space allow for students to physically move in the classroom?
- How can I establish an environment where the learning is relevant and important to all students?
- How is my culture aiding in the development of my students' character?
- How does my classroom culture embrace all learners?
- Do my rules, procedures, routines, etc. embrace everyone from all cultures?
- Does everyone in the classroom feel ownership of our class culture?
There are so many other questions to consider asking yourself while establishing your classroom culture and environment. These are just a few that I ask myself as I am creating my classroom culture and my students throughout the year in surveys. I want to ensure that I am holding myself and students responsible for a safe, nurturing, and respectful environment. As teachers we have an enormous responsibility in preparing our students, creating a classroom culture and environment plays a vital role in how we help mold our students in the future.
Below is a great video about building a culture of learning.