Emma Avis

Positive Classroom Environment

One of the most important parts of being a teacher is creating a positive environment in

the classroom for the students. A positive classroom atmosphere begins with a positive teacher

and staff, which then will help the students. There is no perfect definition of what a positive

classroom is, but there are many ways to base a classroom off of one. To start, classrooms with

positive environments often have a teacher with an optimistic outlook that motivate the students.

Without this, it is nearly impossible to have students be positive and productive. The setting of a

classroom also must be a relaxing and comforting area for the students, which will help them feel

safe and welcomed. In an ideal situation, group work and free seating should be available if

possible, to the students, especially because students will tend to work better if they feel

comfortable with the people they are working around. Group work helps students’ bond with

their peers, even if they were not friends previously. There are many different shapes and forms

to help create a positive culture and climate within the classroom, but it all starts with the

positivity of the teacher, which is the most important.

Having a positive classroom environment can change the outcome of a student for the

better. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, you never know what a child’s homelife may

be like. Many students are unmotivated to go to school or do work because they do not have

support at home. Often times these children are overlooked as the ‘bad’ kids at school, but there

is no such thing as a ‘bad’ child. Everyone has a story behind the mask they have up, which often

times happens in schools. Love and belonging alone can help influence a child to become

motivated in school, especially if it comes from their teacher. If teachers give their students a
positive classroom environment, and incorporate feelings of love, safety, and belonging in their

classroom, motivation will rise. Students will want to learn and will want to impress their teacher

with their work ethics if the teachers have a positive influence.

Positive classroom environment and academic achievement are related on the same level

as motivation with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Feeling love and belonging will help them rise

up the hierarchy pyramid, which will help them succeed academically. Having an optimistic

classroom along with motivated students will increase the amount of academic achievement

amongst the classroom. When students have healthy competition with the peers in their class,

they will want to show that they have potential to the teacher and show that they are capable of

earning good grades. If the teacher rewards the students for having good grades, whether its

stickers, prizes, or any type of motivation, academics will improve drastically in the classroom.