Creating Ways Towards

a Conducive Classroom
Climate for Thinking
 CLASSROOM CLIMATE

Learning Environment
 Physical and Emotional Environment
Agenda
 How to prepare your Learning
Environment
 How to structure the physical
environment
 How to structure the emotional
environment
 Preparing your Learning
Environment
 Avoid disappointed look or comment to
the students
 Give them a look of surprise instead
 Respect each of your student
 Prepare an effective pre-assessment
test

“Each moment of successful

improvement makes a positive change for
a lifetime.” -Gayle H. Gregory and
Carolyn Chapman
 Structuring the Physical
Environment
Konza, Grainger & Bradshaw (2001) in their
book, Classroom Management: A Survival
Guide explain that the physical environment
of a classroom explains a lot about your
expectations as a teacher.
Structuring the Physical
Environment
 Desk arrangements
 Student placement
 Classroom decoration
 Music in the classroom
Desk Arrangement
 Desks in groups, with
students facing each
other, can help
stimulate student
discussion
Desk Arrangement
 Desks in single or
double rows are good
for demonstrations
and independent
work
Desk Arrangement
 Desks in u-shapes
are recommended
for debate and
formal discussion
Desk Arrangement
 Desks in workstations
are suited for
students who have
developed self
management skills
Desk Arrangement
 Remember, all seating arrangements
should accommodate an inclusive
learning environment
 Foreman (1996) notes that some
classrooms may require free and quiet
spaces to facilitate learning
Student Placement
 Place easily distracted students away
from each other, doorways, windows
and areas of high traffic
 Preferably, place to one side of the
classroom, close to the front
 An inclusive classroom should place
students in areas of the class best
suited to their needs
Classroom Decoration
 Students like to see their own work
displayed, even in High Schools
 Class-made posters help students
develop a sense of belonging to the
classroom
 Plants and animals can have positive
effects on the classroom (Nicholls, 2006)
Music in the Classroom
 Music can be a great addition to any
classroom
– Use as reward
– Create positive mood
– Helps broaden musical experiences
 In inclusive classroom music can:
– Comfort/calm and help focus (some
students)
 Structuring the Emotional
Environment

“It is the teacher’s responsibility to value

each and every one of the students in
their class, so that each student feels
special and important.” (Groundwater-
Smith et al, 1998, p. 95)
Structuring the Emotional
Environment
 The bond between a teacher and
student is much more important for
students with management and
behavioural issues such as ADHD and
Asperger’s syndrome.
Knowing and Liking You
 Who you are
 What you stand for
 What you will ask them to do
 What you will not ask them to do
 What you will do for them
 What you will not do for them
Strategies
 Greet students personally
 Make frequent eye contact
 Negotiate rules and routines with
students
 Acknowledge positive behaviours
 Use positive language
Strategies
 Minimize embarrassment
 Use humour
 Use bibliotherapy
 Use class meetings
 Interact with students outside the
classroom
References:

Internet Sources:

 http: us.corwin.com/positive-learning-environment/
 http: www.edu.gov.mb.ca/positive-school-climate/
 http: scholarworks.wmich.edu
Thank You and God bless
everyone!