InTASC # 3: Learning Environments

Paramount to good teaching is creating a safe and encouraging environment in which

students can feel safe enough to open themselves up to learning. As a teacher it is important to
work with colleagues, parents, and the school to create a positive learning environment that
encourages active engagement in learning. Through a supportive environment and positive social
interaction within a school and within a classroom teachers can encourage students to become
more self-motivated with regard to their education. On a school-wide level, teachers and
administrators can work together to create a culture of education. This is done through the
formation of academic clubs, recognizing students for academic success, rewarding hard work
and maintaining high standards. In a school environment such as the one just described, students
will be surrounded by positive images of education and this can lead to more positive social
interactions with regard to education. Teachers can also allow students to have a say in what they
are learning. Providing some autonomy and choice both sends the students the message that they
are responsible for their work, and lets them know that they are held in a high enough esteem
that they are trusted to guide their own education, at least to an extent. Another crucial, and often
overlooked, aspect of creating a safe learning environment is creating a space where students are
not afraid to make mistakes and get things wrong. Teachers can do this through emphasizing
mistakes as a part of the process of learning, even by celebrating mistakes to an extent when the
mistakes are the result of students who are willing to step outside of their comfort zone.
In the English classroom, positive learning environments can be created through using
texts that represent a diverse population and through encouraging positive social interactions
between students. Texts are the heart of an English classroom as they are the source of learning

certain topics and the focus of analysis. It can be difficult to bring in texts that represent my
student population, and often teachers feel tied down by the texts they have to teach, but
supplementary materials can often be found to represent at least a few underrepresented students.
By integrating this into lessons, the students are being given the chance to interact with the text
on a more personal level and teaching the entire class a bit about their culture. This creates a
more understanding environment for the students to learn in by assuring that every voice is
heard. Speaking and listening is an integral part of the English classroom as well as an integral
part of the Common Core standards, however, without a positive learning environment, classwide discussions can be minefield of off-topic discussions and inappropriate comments. The
early implementation of discussion norms and a strict adherence to them curbs the tendencies
some students may have to straying off topic. In the case of discussions on topics which the
students may have varying views on, discussion norms also help students to keep their calm and
wait for their turn to respond, and when they respond, do so in a civil and respectful manner.
In order for students to learn, they have to feel safe doing so first. Maslows Hierarchy of
Needs lists safety needs directly after physiological needs, and that is exactly what a learning
environment should be: safe. Learning environments effect the entire school and how it is run.
Students who come from schools with a culture of education are more likely to become life-long
learners. Creating a positive learning environment in which a student feels safe expressing
themselves and making mistakes encourages students to continue with difficult tasks and push
themselves to do well with their academics and life.