Lesson 2: Aspects of Classroom

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The Physical Classroom Environment

Think back to when you were a student. Now close your eyes and imagine a classroom space where you felt welcomed and comfortable. Great, now close your eyes and imagine a classroom space where you felt out of place and uncomfortable. That feeling is what we do not want for our students.

When our students walk into our classroom they should feel safe, welcomed, warm, and happy. How can we create that? We want students to feel a sense of peace, therefore when thinking of how to create that safe space we must look to the research and what works based on experiences. Below are some examples gathered from different sources and research on how to create a positive physical space.

Layout and Organization: A well-organized layout that maximizes space, facilitates movement, and supports various learning activities.
Comfortable and Functional Furniture: Inclusive and adaptable furniture that promotes comfort, facilitates focus, and accommodates different learning styles and needs.
Adequate Lighting: Proper lighting that is neither too harsh nor too dim, along with effective ventilation systems, to create a comfortable and conducive atmosphere for learning.
Safety and Accessibility: Ensuring the space is safe, secure, and accessible to all students, including those with disabilities, through appropriate safety measures and accommodations.
Technology Integration: Incorporating technology tools and resources that enhance learning, facilitate collaboration, and support instructional goals, while also ensuring they are easily accessible and properly maintained.

See example images below:

The Emotional Classroom Environment

When thinking about how to create and design a positive classroom environment, it is important to also consider the emotional aspects that play a role. You must think about how you want your students to build relationships with teachers and peers. You must think about how you want to implement respect, inclusion, and diversity. Lastly, you must think about how to plan to teach and address social-emotional learning. Below are aspects that work together to create a positive emotional climate in the classroom, where students feel supported, respected, and empowered to thrive both academically and emotionally. In Top 20 Principles from Psychology for preK–12 Teaching and Learning it says "Improved social and classroom behavior, like academic skill, can be shaped and taught." (Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education, 2015)

Relationship Building:
- Establishing strong, supportive relationships between teacher and students, as well as among peers, creates a sense of belonging and trust.
- Showing genuine care and empathy towards students fosters emotional connection and helps them feel valued and understood.
- Encouraging open communication and active listening allows students to express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns in a safe and supportive environment.
Promoting Respect and Inclusivity:
- Emphasizing respect for diversity and fostering an inclusive classroom culture where every student feels respected regardless of their background, identity, or abilities.
- Providing opportunities for students to learn about and appreciate different perspectives, cultures, and experiences, promoting empathy and understanding.
Social Emotional Learning:
- Teaching students emotional regulation skills such as mindfulness, self-awareness, and stress management techniques.
- Creating a safe space for students to express and process their emotions, whether through journaling, discussions, or other therapeutic activities.

Note that it is important to create and design a classroom that works best for your students and you. As classes change year to year therefore your strategies may defer as well.

The Cognitive Classroom Environment

Students have many different learning styles and levels. Therefore in order to create a positive cognitive classroom environment we must work to support our students styles and goals. A huge aspect of this is engagement, encouraging active participation and engagement in learning activities can be done through interactive lessons, discussions, and hands-on experiences. The American Psychological Association reported that "benefits occur because students who are intrinsically motivated are more likely to approach their tasks in ways that enhance learning, such as attending more closely to instruction, organizing new information effectively, and relating it to what they already know" (APA, 2015).

Along with providing challenging yet achievable tasks that stimulate critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. However, it is also crucial to incorporate varied instructional strategies and learning modalities to accommodate diverse learning styles and preferences.

Lastly, creating a supportive atmosphere where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning and growth, fosters a growth mindset among students.

Activity: Build your dream classroom design

As teachers, it is important to visualize and think about how to would like to set up your dream classroom. Therefore you will be creating one. I want you to imagine your dream classroom, with unlimited resources. You may get creative as you want, you may make a poster, draw it on a piece of paper, use an online tool or create a PowerPoint. Please upload an image or link to the shared peer doc when you are finished. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uP4PbZIUfQTH36HpUNRqOjkyf4ECgCeXqzc9-wtm3q0/edit?usp=sharing

The example dream classroom is shown below.

To go to the next unit click this link: Unit 2: Positive vs Negative Classroom Environment