HOW TO IMPROVE

SCHOOL CULTURE
 School Culture
• Is the set of norms, values and beliefs, rituals and
ceremonies, symbols and stories that make up the
'persona' of the school," says Dr. Kent D. Peterson,
a professor in the Department of Educational
Administration at the University of Wisconsin-
Madison. Education World talked with Peterson
about the differences between positive and
negative school cultures and how administrators
and teachers can create a positive culture in their
schools. 
5 ways to improve
school culture
 Put Students First
• Schools are first and foremost safe
environments where students should grow,
learn, and thrive. Putting the priorities of kids
first helps teachers and administrators prove
to students how important their engagement
with learning is. A survey conducted
by YouthTruth found only one in three
students believe their school culture is
positive.
-Host student-led conferences. Ask the students to fill out a
brief reflection sheet about their academic, social, and
emotional progress. Encourage them to write down a few ways
their families and teachers can help them be successful in the
classroom. Some question ideas include: What do you like that
is happening in your school/classroom? What changes would
you make in your effort or in your teacher’s instructional
practices? How do you feel about your peers? What are some
of your favorite learning activities/subjects? What do you do
when you feel stressed out? Do you feel supported? Encourage
older students to lead the conference. Early learners can be
prompted to answer questions.
-Begin monthly classroom improvement
meetings. Place an improvement box in your
classroom. Encourage students to write down
ideas about changes they feel could improve
relationships, academic success, and the
overall positive vibe in the classroom. Every
month, pull out the box and sit in a circle.
Discuss the ideas and put some of their plans
into action.
-Change your classroom environment. Instead of
putting desks in rows, switch it up! How can you
and your students design the classroom to
emphasize peer-to-peer collaboration, movement,
and flexibility? Some ideas include putting student
desks in groups, investing in communal tables,
and creating a wonder-wall in the classroom
where students can post questions they have
before, during, and after inquiry projects.
 Foster Independence

Let your students lead the way. Teaching students to

persevere through challenging situations is a quality
that will help them succeed in the future. Carol
Dweck, a Stanford psychology professor who coined
the phrase growth mindset, says “when children are
praised for the process they engage in — their hard
work, their strategies, their focus, their persistence 
— then they remain motivated learners. They’re
more likely to take on challenges and thrive in the
face of difficulty.”
- Set aside time for passion projects. Research shows
that interest drives learning. Give students time for
passion projects where they must dig deep to find
answers to questions they’ve always wondered
about. For example, if a student is interested in how
plastic affects marine life, he can search through
books, online resources, and interview a local
marine biologist. Passion projects are also a perfect
opportunity to use parents as support. Encourage
them to come in and speak about their career!
-Connect with local businesses. Provide
students with ample opportunities to interact
with the community. Community-based field
trips help early learners make sense of the
world around them. For older students,
consider offering part-time, interest-based
internships. Some ideas include helping at
restaurants, pet shelters, schools, local farms,
and environmental agencies.
- Be a “guide on the side.” Becoming a facilitator
takes practice. When your students partake in
independent or group work, let them work through
problems they face instead of jumping in and saving
them. This not only promotes critical thinking skills,
but also gives you time to document student
learning and hand ownership over to your class.
Instead of interrupting students as they collaborate,
use a non-intrusive approach and jot down your
feedback on a sticky note.
 Model Collaboration
• If you want your students to work as a team,
you must teach them how! Effective teams
challenge each other to take risks and try new
approaches. Most importantly, successful
collaboration includes healthy conflict. Here
are a few ways to grow your collaborative
learning community.
-Get together. Dedicate time for planning at
least once or twice a month with a few
teachers that teach the same grade or
speciality area. Discuss the standards you’re
covering, challenges you’re facing, and
successful ideas you’ve put into action. Be
honest, vulnerable, and appreciative of
feedback.
-Participate in multi-age classroom
projects. Design a few multi-age projects
throughout the year, working with a younger
or older class. Multi-age learning helps older
students master foundational skills by
teaching them and also allows teachers to see
the fluidity across grade levels.
-Use technology to share ideas. Create
websites through Google Site or Blogger for
each grade level as a go-to place for
educational resources, including units and
lesson plans.
 Teach Tolerance

• Celebrate diversity. Schools must provide an

inclusive environment for all learners, no
matter what gender, race, religion, or culture.
-Find multicultural literature. Look at your
classroom library. Does it include books that
feature main characters of different races,
religions, genders, and cultures? If not, check
out library bag sales and local thrift shops for
stories to add to your collection that feature a
diverse range of characters, situations, and
issues.
-Expose students to multiple
perspectives. Teaching about the wars going
on in Syria? Include credible articles, websites,
and interviews from multiple perspectives.
Holding civil discourse and discussing
challenging real-world events will help
students recognize that there is never a simple
answer. This recognition transfers to having
empathy for diverse peers in the classroom.
-Host a Cultural Day. Ask your students to
create a project about their family’s culture.
Some ideas include religious background,
holidays, traditions, rituals, family history,
sacred objects and more. Dedicate a day for
students to present their projects and ask the
students to bring in a food dish to pass.
 Begin a Mindset Monday

• Starting the week on a positive note will make

a difference school-wide. Facilitate a
conversation with your administration about a
short, five-minute meeting once a week or
twice a month. Encourage staff, students, and
administration to take turns sharing
inspirational quotes, guided breathing
exercises, and positive highlights from past
weeks.