Types of Learning Environments

What is a Learning Environment?
A learning environment is more than just a classroom—it’s a space in which students
feel safe and supported in their pursuit of knowledge, as well as inspired by their
surroundings. Think back to some of the classroom environments you’ve encountered
on your educational path. In your childhood, the learning environment you engaged in
was probably vibrant and colorful, with a desk layout that allowed for flexibility if a
lesson required more room for movement and physical expression. In high school, your
learning environment was likely more focused at the head of the classroom to direct
your attention, with rows of desks pointed forward.
But there’s more than just aesthetics at play in an effective learning environment.
Instructors can also influence a learning environment by the way they teach and the
atmosphere they create in the classroom. They can help influence student learning by
encouraging student engagement, providing positive and constructive feedback that
supports exploration, community among peers, and diversity. Studies have shown that
thriving learning environments help increase student focus and retention of information.
As students continue to grow and evolve as learners, so, too, do the environments in
which they learn. Learning environments have changed over time and can continue to
expand to meet student needs, allowing teachers to continually optimize their learning
environment to help students meet their educational goals.

What are the Different Types of Learning

Environments?
There are different types of landscapes or categories that impact our learning, including
our physical environment, psychological environment, and emotional environment.
Here’s how these three categories can influence a learning environment:
Physical
Those vibrant, colorful classrooms of your youth or the rows of desks that characterized
high school both fall into the category of the physical learning environment. This
category is all about the design of a classroom, including how it’s laid out to influence
learning, and which spaces are designated for learning activities. This can include the
furniture that’s used to fill the space and even the equipment a teacher relies on to
enhance the learning experience.
In recent years, at-home and distance learning have also become a part of the physical
environment discussion. Parents have had to make adjustments at home to ensure their
kids have a comfortable space to attend class via video chat and do their classwork off-
site. For many, this has meant creating a designated space that helps students feel
separate from the rest of the standard home space so home students are encouraged
to focus—and to leave school behind at the end of the day once class is done.
Psychological
A positive psychological environment can encourage students to engage with the
curriculum—and their fellow students—in ways that can enhance their personal and
professional development. By building trust with students and creating a safe space that
feels welcoming for all, teachers create a positive learning environment and make sure
students have more opportunities to participate, ask questions, take risks, and receive
feedback.
Emotional
School can be stressful at any age, which is why students need a positive emotional
environment that supports their educational path. Part of creating the psychological
environment’s safe space means addressing the emotional environment’s need for self-
expression and the freedom to express emotions. By supporting student’s emotional
needs and feelings, teachers help enhance their students’ emotional intelligence—
which, in turn, gives them confidence. Teachers can also create a supportive emotional
learning environment by creating routines students can rely on, encouraging diversity
and choices, and celebrating their achievements.

How Can I Create a Better Learning

Environment?
There are a lot of things that parents and both current and aspiring teachers can do to
create better learning environments. Some examples include:
At Home

 Parents can ensure their kids have a comfortable space where they can attend
remote learning or video classes with the supplies they need, good seating, a
strong internet connection, and more.
 Teachers can set parents up for success by sharing upcoming lesson plans so
they can prepare for what’s to come, whether by getting needed materials or
doing additional reading, and reinforce lessons.
 If a student is having difficulty, parents and teachers can collaborate on ways to
support the student through the challenge, whether it’s through updated teaching
methods, tutoring or just additional support from trusted parents.
 Make study time more fun with a little music, timed contests and drills, scents that
can jog the memory, and other unique learning approaches.

In the Classroom
  Consider the layout of your classroom and how it supports student learning. Is
there a better way to position desks so everyone can see what’s going on at the
head of the class? Instead of rows, would semi-circles with the students facing
one another create more engagement and camaraderie? Don’t be afraid to try
new things!
 Encourage students to become a part of creating their own learning environment.
This could mean having an art day where everyone creates artwork to decorate
the walls, or it could mean having an open forum discussion where students can
express what they need to be successful in the classroom. It depends on how old
the students are and what the class focus is, but students will feel more
connected to the environment if they have a hand in shaping it.
 Consider employing one of the five most common educational theories to adapt
lessons to individual students and their learning needs.

By creating a positive and engaging learning environment, teachers can give their
students the physical, psychological, and emotional support they need to thrive and be
successful—in school, and beyond.

What is a Learning Environment in Education?

The definition of a learning environment is the physical, psychological, and instructional
atmosphere in a classroom. It includes classroom management procedures, how the teacher
instructs and handles student interactions, and how the space is organized, furnished, and
maintained.
Student success is closely linked to the learning environment. The learning environment can
impact students in many ways. For instance, a positive learning environment can help to make
students more engaged, motivated, and increase their overall learning ability, whereas a negative
learning environment can do the reverse. It will be harder for students to stay engaged and retain
what they are learning in a negative learning environment, and student achievement may
decrease.

Background of Learning Environment

The concept of a learning environment originated in the 1920s in the United States by researcher
Dorothy Thomas. Thomas's work focused on recording and observing classroom phenomena.
Her work was then improved in 1936 by researcher Kurt Lewin who defined behavior as a
function of person and environment.
This ultimately led to the development of the modern era of classroom learning environment
research in the 1960s when researchers Rudolf Moose and Herbert Walberg began research on
the conceptualization and assessment of psychosocial environments. This form of research has
developed rapidly since.
Today, the learning environment plays a substantial role in the classroom and the field of
education, as it has been proven to significantly impact student achievement. The current role it
plays and its impact on education will be further discussed in the subsections below.
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Types of Learning Environment

There are three types of learning environments. Each of these types are also known as categories or
areas that are important for the learning environment. These three areas are the physical,
psychological, and instructional settings. Teachers are responsible for maintaining these three
environments, as they impact students in different ways. The following attributes or considerations
are evaluated when planning these three environments:

 Physical setting considers the design of the classroom, the use of space, layout, how
furniture and learning materials are arranged, which spaces are designated for learning
activities, and the cleanliness, color, and brightness of the classroom. All of these attributes
can influence learning by helping a student to feel more comfortable and engaged.
 Psychological setting considers ways to build trust and create a safe and welcoming space
for all students. The goal is to encourage students to engage, participate, ask questions,
take risks, and receive feedback. It essentially involves how students feel about their
learning. A positive psychological setting increases student confidence and participation,
which stimulates learning.
 Instructional setting considers the diverse learning needs of the students in the class,
classroom organization, possible interruptions to the learning environment, and available
educational resources. The goal is to plan and implement effective instruction. When
students can comprehend and enjoy learning, it can increase student achievement.

Characteristics of a Learning Environment

As discussed in the previous section, a positive learning environment takes into account the
physical, psychological, and instructional setting. When considering these settings, a positive
learning environment can be created. Common characteristics and elements of a positive learning
environment include:

 A clean, bright, organized space.

 An environment that fosters students to feel physically and emotionally safe.
 An environment that encourages students to express themselves.
 An environment where questions are encouraged.
 Use of a variety of sources and learning models in teaching and for learning (e.g., eLearning,
direct instruction, project-based learning, flipped classroom, etc).
 A patient, positive, and upbeat tone is established in the classroom.
 Assessments and quizzes are persistent and transparent.
 Learning habits and good behavior are modeled.
 Personalized learning, if needed and if possible.

An environment that has features contrary to the above characteristics can affect the effectiveness
of a learning environment. For instance, a classroom that is dark, messy, unclean, and without any
equipment to stimulate learning is less likely to keep students engaged and stimulated, as
environmental factors have been found to affect the learning process. Poor seating, light, noise,
temperature, color, space, disorganization, inappropriate layout, and overcrowded classes are some
of the factors found to distract students and negatively impact learning ability.

Creating an Appropriate Learning Environment

There are many ways to create an appropriate learning environment. In school, teachers can do
various things to create an appropriate learning environment. One way teachers can create a
positive learning environment with classroom space is by creating bright, clean, and organized
spaces. This is because the physical environment is enhanced when it is bright, inviting, organized,
and clean. Students and teachers can be equally responsible for maintaining this space.
 The importance of establishing good communication at a young age is
critical in a child’s development and future learning. The
communication skills that students learn at school are fully
transferable and essential across all aspects of life. Furthermore, it
has been proven that supportive teacher-student relationships have a
positive impact on class participation, engagement, and ultimately a
student’s achievements.

Improve classroom communication now

Communication can be described as the process where people

exchange thoughts or ideas with one another. The benefits of
fostering such relationships enable students to freely discuss thoughts
and ideas and create an open environment in which questions can be
asked without the risk of being judged or humiliated.

Poor communication is the main reason why students lack motivation,

perform badly, and consequently drop out of school. According to
many studies, the success of students is directly related to the
effective communication of their teachers. Nurturing this kind of
interactive and engaging teaching environment demands regular and
effective communication. We have compiled our top techniques to
create a positive dialogue between students and teachers.
So let's see what you can do.

1. Create a safe environment

2. Encourage teamwork
3. Don’t stand at the front of the classroom
4. Use some active listening exercises
5. Be sure to give positive feedback
1. Create a safe environment
Create a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where students
feel comfortable to open up and express their thoughts and ideas. An
atmosphere that allows students to ask if they need help is crucial to
their academic success. It is important that at all stages of the
teaching process you nurture this kind of non-judgemental
environment.

Having an open door policy and allowing students to pop in and talk
about anything that may occur is a great way to promote good
communication. Giving students extra support, tuition, or explanations
before and after class helps shy students that don’t feel comfortable in
class to ask questions to learn. Check out our inclusive teaching
course to go in depth.
2. More teamwork
Doing more team activities, and group work is a great way to take the
focus off competing with one another and concentrate more on
working together to get the best results. It can encourage
communication, cooperation, and collaboration and help students talk
more and effectively express themselves with their peers. 

Teamwork and collaboration are skills that are transferable across all
aspects of life and will be particularly important in their future working
lives. Consider incorporating some games and even some quizzes
into your lesson plan. Split students into pairs or small groups and tell
them that they need to work together to play or have a chance at
doing well. Pair and group work will also have the added benefit of
encouraging students that may not hang out together regularly to
interact more; to ask questions, talk about themselves, and listen to
others.

We have plenty of classroom games and quizzes you can easily

arrange that are sure to get students communicating with you and one
another. 

3. Positive feedback
Often teachers forget to mention when a student has performed well
and instead focus on the negative aspects such as bad behavior. This
can have significant effects and demoralize students. Although
negative feedback can create positive outcomes by helping students
to improve, giving positive feedback is a necessary part of promoting
effective communication in the classroom.

It has been shown that students that receive praise are more likely to
believe that they can accomplish tasks and be successful. Other
benefits are that it can help to build a student’s confidence, create a
good rapport and supportive environment. Why stop giving feedback
to students yourself? Why not teach students how they can provide
positive feedback to one another, the importance of showing gratitude,
recognition, and appreciation.

Conversely, it can be beneficial to encourage your students to give

you feedback. Allowing them to share their feedback on lessons or
teaching styles shows that you appreciate and value their opinion as
well as helping to improve learning. 

If you are looking for an easy way to get started with a lesson on
feedback then we have put together a template on that very topic that
you can download and use with just a click or two. Here everyone can
submit anonymous feedback and give some well-deserved praise to
their classmates.

Feedback Session
Add template

4. Don’t stand at the front of the classroom

Moving around the classroom, and getting involved with the students
will create less of a student-teacher feel. Moving away from the front
of the classroom and joining them either at their desks to discuss
ideas and getting involved in small discussions will help them feel
more comfortable and more likely to open up.
Moving around the room also has the added effect of changing
students’ points of focus. By moving towards students who usually
don’t speak up you can encourage them to participate by simply being
in closer proximity. Some may not want to raise their voice around
their classmates and simply being close means they can contribute
without the added pressure that speaking aloud may bring.

5. Active listening
Listen to hear your students, not just to respond and give an
immediate answer. Sometimes just lending an ear can be extremely
useful in promoting a supportive and caring environment. Other times,
students have a question about homework or need some clarification
about a topic that has been discussed where an answer is needed. 

Listening to your students enables you to provide better assistance

and consequently a better education. Likewise, helping to teach your
students both the value and the skills of active listening will both help
to improve their ability to understand instructions and lessons as well
as their ability to connect with their peers. These are skills that will be
invaluable throughout their time in education and throughout their
lives.

Improve your classroom communication

with Mentimeter
Another important aspect of improving communication in any setting,
but especially in the classroom, is to make students feel safe and
comfortable contributing. We mentioned earlier about the importance
of creating a safe and supportive environment, students will naturally
develop communication skills but some will do so more gradually than
others as they may have a fear of speaking in front of a group or lack
confidence in what they have to say. A tool like Mentimeter can help to
alleviate and remove these fears and blockers. 
13 Strategies To Improve Your Classroom
Environment
Indeed Editorial Team

Updated February 4, 2023

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers,
researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and
insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

Today's educational strategies emphasize that classrooms are more than a place for
learning. Teachers recognize that fostering a positive classroom environment helps
students feel safe and motivated with routines and options for learning styles. As an
educator, it's useful to learn about strategies and elements for accommodating all
learning styles and how to use these elements to create a productive environment in
your classroom.
In this article, we discuss what a positive classroom environment is and list ways to
develop one.

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What's a positive classroom environment?

A positive classroom environment is one in which students feel comfortable sharing

their thoughts, taking risks, asking questions and confronting challenges in their
learning. An educator can create this type of environment by presenting clear classroom
expectations, providing opportunities to improve social skills, building relationships with
their students and offering relevant content. In this type of classroom setting, students
feel as though educators value their input. From here, students can become more active
participants in the learning process, which makes for a more productive learning
environment.

Related: Popular Careers in Education You Can Pursue

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13 ways to create a positive classroom environment

Here's a list of 13 methods that help create a positive classroom environment:

1. Build positive relationships

Building positive relationships with your students helps them feel as though they can
come to you with questions on assignments or when they're facing a challenge. Many of
them may appreciate knowing they have someone they can trust and to whom they can
confide. You can build rapport with your students by taking time to interact with them
individually, listening to their comments or concerns and showing enthusiasm when they
come to you to share their experiences and stories.

Related: 10 Ways To Build Connections and Why They're Important

2. Arrange the physical environment

The physical environment of a classroom provides a structure for students, which can
decrease stress levels and help them feel more comfortable in class. Consider
organizing your classroom by assigning seats to students, establishing routines for
passing out and collecting work and ensuring all desks face the front of the room so
they can see the board.

Another important aspect of the physical environment is the classroom aesthetic. You
may add some extra soft lighting, hang some paintings or photos and add some of your
own personal flair to your room. Students may be able to get a better understanding of
your personality or preferences based on the visuals in your classroom and you can set
the tone based on your classroom decor.

Related: How To Develop a Positive Work Environment in 6 Steps

3. Set high academic expectations

It's important to set high academic expectations for your students early in the school
year. Explain your expectations by letting them know you're going to do your best to
help them learn and are always available if they need assistance, but in return, you
expect them to do their best on their work.

It's beneficial to elaborate on your grading policy so they understand what you permit in
terms of grading. For example, you can tell them if you allow them to redo tests if they
didn't do well the first time or how much time you permit them to turn in late work.

Related: How To Communicate Expectations To Employees

4. Provide positive reinforcement

Providing positive reinforcement helps to promote a strong classroom culture. One

method of positive reinforcement is through providing extrinsic motivators. Extrinsic
motivators are external factors that motivate students to behave positively, such as
giving students candy for doing well on a test or allowing them five minutes of free time
at the end of class. Providing students with public praise is also a good extrinsic
motivator. You can compliment a student's behavior or academic performance in front of
their classmates or take the time to contact their parents and let them know the positive
behaviors their child has been exhibiting.

Related: The Best Ways To Motivate Your Team

5. Be open to feedback

Throughout the school year, teachers usually provide a lot of feedback regarding
students' work and behavior. It's beneficial to consider asking for feedback from your
students as well. Receiving feedback from your learners about how you manage your
class, the content you're teaching and your general mannerisms can give you insight
into what you're doing well and how you can improve. In addition, many students
appreciate when you value their opinion, which can strengthen your positive classroom
environment.

Related: Giving and Receiving Feedback: Definition and Examples

6. Encourage collaboration

Collaboration among students can lead to a more engaged class of students. In order to
foster collaboration that's productive, consider clarifying the expectations and reasons
for collaboration before you allow them to work in groups or pairs. It's beneficial for them
to understand their objective and why they're working together. You may want to create
groups based on the different skills and interest levels of each group's members so that
all students working together can contribute to the overall objective of the assignment or
project.

Related: 9 Steps To Create a Collaborative Culture at Work

7. Use current curriculum and teaching methods

Most students find learning more engaging and easier to comprehend when the
curriculum and lessons are relevant to them. They can become more emotionally
invested in the content they're learning if they understand how they're connected to it
culturally, socially and personally. As the school year progresses and you begin to learn
more about each individual student, you can adapt your teaching methods or strategies
to make the curriculum more meaningful to them.

Related: How To Write a Curriculum

8. Be there for them

A simple, yet effective component of creating a positive classroom environment is to

provide support for your students when they need it. Some students face academic
challenges or need someone to talk to about a personal situation they're handling at
home. With this, students often appreciate having someone they can trust listen to them
and give advice when appropriate. It reassures many students to know they have
someone that listens to them and comforts them.

Related: How To Improve Emotional Intelligence in 9 Steps

9. Give students a voice and a choice

When students feel their opinion matters, they're more likely to share during class
discussions. Promoting student empowerment begins with providing opportunities for
students to share their opinions, take risks and decide how they learn best. This builds
self-confidence, which supports a more positive learning environment.

Student-centered learning focuses on allowing learners to share in class decisions and

gives them more opportunities to learn in a way that feels most comfortable to them.
Offering them more choices in how they learn helps them to be involved in decisions
that impact their learning. If they feel that their input matters, they may seem more
connected and put in greater effort into their classwork.

Related: Interview Question: "What Is Your Teaching Philosophy?"

10. Establish a routine

A lot of students thrive on having a dependable daily routine in some aspects of their
lives. Knowing what to expect when they enter your classroom can create a sense of
normalcy for students. Classroom routines can consist of starting each day with a bell
ringer, reviewing the day's objectives or ending each class with an exit ticket.
You may also consider doing the same activities on the same day each week. For
example, you can go to the library to use technology every Tuesday and have a reading
day in class each Friday. Establishing a routine allows students to know what to expect
each day when they enter your classroom.

Related: 20 Tips To Maintain a Healthy Work Routine

11. Create rules and expectations

Setting guidelines such as classroom rules and expectations is an important way to let
students know what's acceptable behavior. If your students are old enough, you may
consider letting them discuss one or two rules they want to add to the classroom rules
so they feel they have input on an important aspect of your class.

Setting expectations helps maintain the daily structure of your classroom and can aid
significantly with classroom management. When students know that you intend to follow
through with consequences if they disobey your rules and expectations, they tend to
behave more positively.

Related: Interview Question: "What Is Your Classroom Management Style?"

12. Review classroom procedures

Creating classroom procedures can be a beneficial way to create a routine and help
establish a pattern of predictability for your students. Procedures can be academic,
such as how you collect student work or grade their assignments. They can also be
more general routines such as how to come into your classroom, what materials they
need for your class or when they can use the restroom.

Related: 19 Effective Classroom Procedures You Can Try

13. Provide flexibility

While it's beneficial to provide students with routines and procedures, it's important to
know when to be flexible with your expectations. Adjusting your expectations to each
situation that arises gives students the opportunity to see that you can encounter
challenging situations and provide them and yourself with flexibility if needed. You can
be flexible during unexpected situations such as when a student has a crisis and needs
to use their phone to call a parent, in case of a fire drill or if you need to revise a rule for
one class because it doesn't apply to their behavior.

6 Ways To Build A Positive Classroom Culture

Having a positive classroom culture is one of the most important elements of a
successful learning environment and thus teachers should actively work towards
creating a classroom culture that encourages participation and student success.

The Wingspread Declaration on school connections states that students have more

likelihood of success when they feel connected to school. When students feel that
adults in the school care about them as people as well as their learning they are more
likely to feel connected.
The Declaration, based on a review of research and extensive discussion, found that for
this to occur, a school must provide high expectations combined with high levels of
support, a focus on positive teacher-student relationships and physical and emotional
safety.
When students are connected, academic performance improves, violent and destructive
incidents reduce, school attendance improves and more students complete their
schooling.
There is strong scientific evidence to show that feeling connected to school is a
protective factor for students against disruptive and violent behaviour, mental health
issues, disengagement from school, drug use and early sexual experiences.

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Here Are 6 Ways To Build A Positive Classroom Climate So Your Students Feel
Connected To School
1. Have High Expectations For Your Students
Have high expectations for your students, for their work and their behaviour. Expect that
your students will do well and encourage them by letting them know that you believe in
them. Provide appropriate learning support for all students.
Take a closer look at high expectations with What Does It Mean To Have High
Expectations
2. Set Up Behaviour Management Processes
Behaviour management processes in your classroom should be fair and consistent,
which means they are agreed upon and understood by the students. Teach students the
behaviour you expect, give them opportunities to practice and use positive
reinforcement.
For practical ways to do this take a look at our post, Set Up To Win The Game.
3. Focus On Building Positive Relationships
Relationships with students is a major key to positive learning outcomes for students
and school culture.

Allocate time and energy to listening to your students, getting to know them and letting
them get to know you. The magic ratio for positive relationships according to John
Gottman the relationship expert is 5 positive interactions: 1 negative. Not sure how to do
this?

Check out one of our teaching resources on Building Positive Relationships

4. Use Effective, Evidence-Based Teaching And Learning Practices
Be prepared for your classes by considering your students and how they best learn.
Provide relevant and engaging curriculum, presented in interesting and student-centred
ways.

The literature review Building Resilience in Children and Young People from Helen

Cahill et al, states that school connectedness contributes to positive mental health
outcomes for students. The pedagogical characteristics of schools that demonstrate
effective connectedness are the use of cooperative learning strategies, hands-on
activities and variety of instruction.
Another popular resource of interest is How To Promote Resilience In Your Students
5. Foster Positive Relationships With Parents
Postive relationships with parents is important for many reasons. However, here I refer
specifically to encourage them to share your high expectations for their children, so you
can work as a team to educate. Remember, parents are their children’s first teachers.

Learn more here about How To Build Relationships With Parents.

6. Encourage Positive Relationships Between Students
Model the behaviour you want to see in the way students treat each other. Use
respectful language and demand a high standard of relating to one another in the
classroom. Explicitly teach students social skills and give them plenty of opportunities to
practice.

What's a positive classroom environment? A positive classroom environment is one in

which students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, taking risks, asking
questions and confronting challenges in their learning.
onsider for a moment where you work or learn best. 

Where are you? What does the room you’re in look like? What are the things
you do to set yourself up for success? 

All of the things you surround yourself with — a great cup of coffee or an up-
tempo Spotify playlist — play a part in how you work or learn. They’re all tied to
the environment you choose to best prime yourself for success.

As an educator, the same thing applies in a school or a classroom. Your goal is

to create a positive classroom and school environment that will set your learners up
for success. 

But there are a few challenges. How can you help students to feel safe, valued,
and respected? What can you do to help set the framework for positive
relationships to flourish?

Read on to find out 13 strategies that’ll help you build a positive learning

environment that students and fellow staff members alike are excited to be a
part of.
What is a positive learning
environment?

Having a positive learning environment takes much more than having a

classroom with positive posters on the wall (although that’s one of the many
strategies that can be used!). It means truly understanding and supporting the
needs of students and colleagues in multiple ways.

For example, having clearly established classroom rules will help set the tone
for a healthy learning environment where students know what is expected of
them. Having that structure in place will help students feel safe, allow you to
really understand their needs, and promote positive well-being. This applies to
students at all levels — elementary, middle, and high school, too!

One thing to keep in mind is that creating a positive learning environment isn’t

something you create once and leave as-is. It requires renewed attention every
school year. 
What is the difference between a positive and negative
learning environment?
To really dig into the differences of a positive and negative learning
environment, let’s start with some positive learning environment examples:

 Students feel safe to come to school without feeling like they have to act like
someone else for acceptance
 When students feel safe in their environment, they’re more willing to take
risks in their learning without fear of failing– sometimes we learn best when we fail!
 A true community exists. Students and staff members alike are more
engaged and excited to interact with one another under positive
circumstances.

In a negative learning environment, you’re going to see more undesirable

behaviors such as:

 High levels of student frustration, likely leading to increased disciplinary rates.

This could be mitigated by clear classroom management strategies.
 A disconnect between members of the community (ie. staff, students, and
parents/guardians), leading to tension and less involvement from
parents/guardians in the school environment. High levels of parent involvement
have a direct impact on positive learning environments.
 High levels of stress for teachers leading to burnout and anxiety, which research
has shown can even cause a physiological anti-stress hormone response in
students. Practicing self-care techniques can be a great way to de-stress.

Read on to find out even more about why having a positive learning environment is
crucial!
Why is a positive learning environment
important?

Having a positive learning environment in place takes a great deal of thought

and consideration, but there are major benefits that’ll pay off for the hard work
that goes into it. For example:

 Research has shown that academic performance is likely to increase

 Students will be more likely to support other students with disabilities
 There will be an increase in positive interactions between students, staff, and
parents/guardians
 Stakeholders will appreciate that you take mental health just as seriously as
you take student achievement
 Students are more likely to take ownership of their learning experience (also
known as self-regulated learning)
 You’ll set the tone for a great school year from the very first week as you build
an environment conducive to student development
What can you do to help jumpstart your work in this area? 

Keep reading to learn some strategies that you can easily implement to create an
environment that’ll build a tightly-knit school community with a positive learning
environment at the center of it all.

13 Ways to create a positive learning

environment in your classroom

As an educator, you’ve likely already taken several steps to build a positive

environment in your classroom and your school. Read on for 13 steps that can
help take that work one step further!

1. Build positive relationships with students and parents

Building positive relationships with students and parents is critical, and it starts
on the first moment of the first day of school each year. 
This means getting to know each of your students’ unique personalities
including their likes, dislikes, strengths, and areas of opportunity. Putting the
time in early will help you support students both individually and as a whole
group.

One strategy to build rapport with students is to greet them as they arrive in the
classroom each day. While it takes a bit of extra work on the front end to make
sure the lesson is ready-to-go (including an activity for them to start up on the
board!) greeting students as they arrive shows that you care and helps you to
read their body language from the moment they arrive each day.

To help build a strong relationship with parents, take the time to communicate
with them about the good and the bad that you see in the classroom. There are
tons of awesome apps for teachers that you can use, like Remind to easily share
information. 

Sending a quick note about the success that a child had in class that day can go
a long way to let the child know that you see the great things they’re doing and
also help parents/guardians feel like they’re in the loop for their child’s life at
school.

2. Foster student connections

There are lots of great ways for you to help foster positive student connections
as a way of helping improve students’ sense of belonging, increase engagement,
and establish a caring classroom culture.

 Here are two quick strategies that you can implement with relative ease:

 Listen to the chatter going on between students before class. They’ll often talk with
one another about things they’re passionate about. That information can help
 you learn things to ask them about that will help you forge a really strong
bond. If by listening you learn that a student does ballet, you can ask the
student more about it the next time you see them.
 Implement highly-personalized lessons to help students feel special. For
example, if you’re creating a sample response to a writing prompt, you could
opt to include a student’s name and the hobby you know they like. This
strategy works really well as a way to highlight and motivate and engage learners who

are often reluctant to participate!

3. Outline classroom rules for positive behavior

Having high expectations for your students is so important as you shape the
norms for student behavior and lay the foundation for student success. To do
this, you’ll need to have clear classroom rules and techniques at-the-ready from
the first moment of the first day.

One pro tip is to frame your classroom rules in a positive manner. For example,
instead of saying “don’t disrespect other students” you instead say, “All students
in class will be respected at all times.” This positive framing, while small, can
make a huge difference as you are showing that the expectation is tied to
positive behavior.

4. Use positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a great way to build intrinsic motivation and help
promote positive student work habits. 

There are two great strategies that you can use here:

 Recognize when students put forth a ton of effort, even if they don’t show 100% mastery.

Sometimes failing is when we learn best, so praising students’ effort to persevere can

go a long way to help them build the muscle not to give up in the face of a challenge and

implement problem-solving strategies.

 Take the time to celebrate even the smallest of wins for learners who are sometimes
reluctant to participate in class. Providing praise for a job that’s well done
goes a long way towards building trust and helping students feel seen. This,
in turn, will increase the likelihood that they’ll do it again.

5. Ensure content is culturally relevant

Every class is unique thanks to the cultural diversity that each student brings to
the group.
Since each student has a different lived experience and cultural background,
teachers can honor those differences by implementing culturally responsive
teaching strategies. These include: integrating relevant word problems, using
media that positively depict a range of cultures, and bringing in guest speakers
from different backgrounds.

A recent research study found that when teachers implement contextual learning

strategies test scores can improve by more than 44%.

6. Keep a positive mindset

Anyone who has been a teacher knows just how exhausting the job can be. 

Taking time for yourself can be a real challenge with the demands that exist
both inside and outside of school. That said, it’s highly recommended that you
work to find some time, even just a few minutes to implement some self-care
techniques as a means of helping you maintain a positive mindset.

Finding time each day, even just a few minutes when you first arrive at school, can
make a huge difference and prepare you to face any challenges that come your way
head-on and with a positive mindset.

7. Create a comfortable physical environment

Having a positive classroom environment for your students to learn in (and for
you to teach in!) goes a long way towards helping build an awesome classroom
climate. The physical environment includes everything from the way things are
organized to what is on the walls.

Add a splash of color to your classroom with posters that include positive
messages that can both motivate students and encourage positive behavior. For
example, a poster that reads, “Expect to be accepted for who you are”
reinforces the notion that all students belong in the classroom community you’ve
created. It’s also a great reference point to draw students’ attention to if the
behaviors you’re seeing aren’t aligned to that principle.

Are you a teacher who travels from classroom to classroom with a cart? Many
teachers who travel opt to cover the front or sides of their cart with a poster that
includes positive messaging. That gives you the opportunity to add a personal
touch to any classroom you share and reinforce the beliefs you want to
prioritize.

8. Stay informed on educational research

As a scholarly practitioner, it’s great to keep up-to-speed with research that
could help to inform your practice and provide insights you can use to create a
positive learning environment.

 For example, researchers recently outlined findings that show that the level of

parent participation had a direct impact on positive learning environments. One
strategy to implement would be to strategize with colleagues or school
administration about additional ways to get the parent and guardian community
engaged with activities at school. 

You may even consider participating in events like PTA meetings or events if
you aren’t already as a way to contribute to a positive and collaborative school
climate (which also has an impact on student motivation and achievement!).

Doing this can also help you to stay in the know with emerging areas of best
practice for you to take advantage of as you build your yearly professional growth
plan. A recent study shows the link between professional development, teachers’
practices in class, and student achievement. 

An easy way to stay updated on education research outcomes that could help
shape your learning environment is to sign up for Edutopia’s newsletter
called "The Research Is In".

9. Prioritize social emotional learning 

The well-being of students and teachers alike has been pushed to the forefront
recently– and for good reason. While perhaps easier said than done, having
positive mental health is critical. 

Social emotional learning (or SEL for short) can help students understand
emotions and navigate an uncertain world.
There are some wonderful resources available for teachers to implement SEL
strategies in their classroom. For example, building mindfulness activities into the
classroom is just one of 25 different SEL strategies that can be implemented
without a ton of lift — but with huge benefits for students in class. 

Helping students learn and navigate new emotions will help them to bring their
best self to the classroom and contribute positively to the learning environment.

10. Plan lessons with motivation in mind

Building lesson and unit plans with student motivation in mind helps spark
excitement and joy into the learning environment. That’s why Prodigy believes
so firmly in our philosophy of education, “Motivation First!”. 

Weave topics that students are passionate about, or finding ways to make
topics that aren’t the most exciting much more fun and interactive.

Integrating game-based learning activities like Prodigy Math can be a great way

to help have fun and engage with you and their peers in class while they learn
how to multiply fractions. Leverage students’ natural inclination for games and
integrate learning right into it!

11. Provide personalized feedback on assignments

Going that extra mile to show students that you truly care about their
performance and effort can help to motivate students and foster a positive
connection. Personalizing feedback for students is a great way to take a moment
and highlight some of the great work students do and the areas for improvement.

Let’s say for example students have completed a short writing assignment for

you. You’ve spent some time correcting the spelling and grammar of the work,
and left some great notes in the margin. To take it one step further, write a
personalized note in the top corner of the assignment by using their name,
“Dear Jack, …” and highlighting some of the great things they did and some
areas for improvement. Leaving a personalized note instead of a plain grade
increases the likelihood that they’ll look at what you said and internalize the
feedback you’ve given.

12. Share the love

There are lots of incredible things happening in your classroom each and every
day. But unless you’re in the room, it’s tough to know what’s happening (ever
asked a kid, “what did you do in school today?” when they come home? They
seem to always have a tough time remembering …).

To help keep parents/guardians updated, you can take to social media or

your classroom website to help share the amazing things that you’re doing with
your students. Be sure to keep in mind your school/district’s policies and
permission from parents/guardians to use their child’s photo online. As long as
you’re aligned with those policies and know which students have permission,
you’re a-ok to share snapshots of the cool things you’re doing to help
parents/guardians see what’s going on in class.

Bonus tip! Want to foster a positive environment among your colleagues? Leave

a handwritten note for personnel on staff at your school (ie. other teachers,
administrative assistants, administrators, custodians, etc.) and place it in their
mailbox. Who doesn’t love getting mail with a little kudos? 

The two minutes you’ll take to write the note will help others feel so appreciated.
Perhaps they’ll even start doing it for others!

13. Find time for fun!

Sometimes, the pressure to focus solely on purely academic material can mount
(here’s looking at you, testing season …) and it can lead to burnout. 

Find some time to use some games in your classrooms that include learning and
naturally weave in some fun in a way that your students will definitely
appreciate. There are few things more fulfilling than hearing students laughing
while they’re having fun and working together while learning at the same time.
Create a positive learning environment
to help students love learning

Having a positive learning environment in your classroom and at your school will
set your students up to thrive. In fact, you’ll be setting the stage to help every
student to love learning– which is our mission here at Prodigy Education. 

Taking a few steps to expand the great things you’re already doing to create a
positive learning environment (including leveraging game-based learning tools
like Prodigy Math) could go a really long way to help build a learning community
that’ll transcend the walls of your school.

Prodigy Math helps make learning an adventure for students with game-based
skill practice for grades 1 to 5. Plus, your free teacher account comes with tools
that help you differentiate for every student and find more ways to support their
learning.