Learning is a process different for every person, and we all learn at our own pace.
Providing a positive learning environment will help improve the learning process. Effective leadership can affect the learning process. We will discuss the leadership skills needed to provide a positive classroom environment.
Providing a Positive Learning Environment
Research has shown a relationship between the learning environment in classrooms and student achievement. Teachers can create an effective learning environment by using these leadership skills.
Address Student Needs
Children have a lot of personal needs. Not only do they have physical needs they also have emotional needs. Some of those needs include trust, belonging, acceptance, enjoyment, autonomy, and many more. Depending on the age of the child, their needs are different. As children age, they adopt different emotional needs.
Teachers should research the developmental needs of the age you are teaching. You should know the common emotional needs of that age group. Take steps to incorporate activities and behaviors that meet those needs in class. Students will feel more secure and learn better if their needs are met.
Order
A teacher needs to create a sense of order in the classroom. From the first day, students should have a clear understanding of classroom expectations. Teachers should use leadership skills to run a structured classroom. Children crave structure and need it to feel secure.
Setting a clear understanding of the rules for the classroom will help keep things in order. Students can learn better in a calm classroom free of chaos and stress. It is important to find a balance between structure and being too stern. Be consistent and fair to provide a balanced structure for students.
Acknowledge Students
It is important to greet students daily. Make eye contact and speak to each student. It helps to incorporate personal interactions during your contact with students. It gives them individualized attention and personal contact with you.
This practice doesn’t take much time, do it as they enter the classroom each day. It lets the child know that they matter and that you care about them. You have taken the time to speak to them and check in on them every day. It will help to build a positive relationship with each student.
Display Your Personality
Let your students get to know who you are. It is important to keep healthy boundaries between you and the students but be yourself. Students may come into a classroom with fear of the teacher. Letting them get to know the real you can extinguish that fear.
You can incorporate your personality into the classroom. Through decorations in the room, your teaching style, and interactions with students. Find little ways to let your personality shine through to your students. Knowing you are a real person will help them relax and trust you.
Get to Know Your Students
Your students should feel comfortable enough to show their personalities. Give them opportunities in the classroom. Take the time to learn about each student. This will show them you care about their personal life. You can build a stronger bond and relationship with students this way.
Giving children a sense of freedom to be themselves will help them learn better. The more comfortable a student is, the better the learning environment.
Do Not Use Rewards as a Form of Control
Using rewards is very common in classrooms but it can deter from learning. When you offer rewards for actions (or bribes) you give a negative message. Students will think they should get something every time they achieve a task. This leads to a lack of motivation if no reward is on the table. It can also lead to negative relationships if the student doesn’t get the reward.
A better way to encourage learning is already built in. As humans, we have endorphins that release when we are happy, proud, or feel excitement.
Instead of arbitrary rewards, use biological ones. Encourage students, congratulate them, cheer them on. Those endorphins feel good and students will want that feeling again. Even if the student fails the first time, encourage them until they get it right. When they feel the natural high of endorphins, they will want to achieve it again.
Do Not Judge
Part of learning involves mistakes and failing. We learn from mistakes and get better as time goes on. The use of judgment can create a bad environment for learning. Students need to have no fear of making a mistake. Avoid negative judgments towards students to prevent fear in the classroom.
Students should feel encouraged to keep learning regardless of their mistakes. When in doubt, bring in a childcare consultant to ensure that the child’s wellbeing is being tended to.
Eliminating judgment and negative feelings about failure will help students feel comfortable.
Team Building
A classroom is like a team. Using team-building activities can help the team be successful. Working together as a team you can accomplish a healthy working environment. Students can build a relationship and learn to help others.
When the classroom works as a team learning environment improves. Students can tackle learning together and help each other achieve success.
Celebrate Success
When the class is successful, celebrate it with them. This differs from a reward system. The celebration should be in the moment not promised ahead of time. It should involve charting and stickers.
Celebrations can be small, as long as they get the message they are being recognized.
Improve Classroom Environment
Using these tips can help teachers to create a positive learning environment. Students will feel secure in the classroom and with your leadership in the class. Having good leadership in the class can improve student learning outcomes.
Remember, you can always check out our blog for more information and inspiration to guide your classroom.
Leave a Reply