Introduction
Teachers are the bedrock of a sound educational institute, and they must be ready to build a learning environment that can accommodate every student and have a positive impact on their lives. The teaching and learning process is what keeps up the educational system. That is, the teachers are there to impart knowledge to students(their profession is to teach students) while the students are in school to learn. Let us know ‘Building A Positive Learning Environment’.
A positive learning environment is very important for students and teachers, the environment of a classroom can affect the student’s approach to learning and understanding, their readiness to learn, the attitude of teachers, and their perspective on education. However, a positive learning environment is only possible if a teacher establishes it, building a positive learning environment is a continuous process, and this consciousness helps teachers foster a good learning environment.
What is a positive learning environment?
A positive learning environment is an environment of learning whereby students feel safe, loved, and impacted. That is an environment where the teaching and learning process is effective and efficient. It is a learning environment that the students are joyful to be part of and they have amazing experiences that will linger in their minds.
Therefore, building a positive learning environment is very important for students because it doesn’t just help their educational life but also rubs off their social life.
Why should I build a positive learning environment?
Building a positive learning environment is not an easy task but it pays off when you build it but it has rewarding results and has a great impact on the students and teachers. The following are reasons why a teacher should build a positive learning environment
- It has a great impact on the academic achievement of students
- It encourages teamwork among students because they know about helping other students who do not understand
- It creates an environment of learning that is safe for students
- It helps the mental health of the students because they are in an environment that is free of frustrations.
- It creates a conducive atmosphere of learning thereby making learning effective and efficient.
- It helps to simplify difficult topics and makes understanding easy
- It makes students see their teacher as a role model and a shoulder they can lean on.
How to create a positive learning environment?
Creating a positive learning environment is the duty and responsibility of a teacher and following the guidelines and tips will make it easy:-
- Build a positive relationship with your students and parents: Having a good relationship with students start the first they enter their classroom, this implies getting to know all the students, and their unique values, strengths, and weakness, this will help you to know the fast and slow learners and the teaching style to employ to use to teach them. Also, build a positive relationship with their parent, give them feedback, on what they should work on, and don’t hesitate to give them good news when the students perform well. Also, establishing a positive relationship implies applauding your students when they do well in the classroom
- Outline classroom rules for positive behavior: Outlining classroom rules will establish discipline among students, and a behavioral pattern by which they must abide This will make them keep a boundary in the way react.
- Use positive reinforcement: Develop a positive learning environment by establishing an intrinsic motivation to learn, and celebrate the little wins of students.
- Create a comfortable physical environment: Create a remarkable atmosphere of learning by adding a touch of creativity to your classroom. Students can be assigned to write life hacks and success quotes that can reinforce the student’s motivation to succeed in academic performance.
- Plan lessons with motivation in mind: Plan your lessons and motivate your students to learn, your motivation might go a long way in saving a life.
- Establish student connection: Connect with your students by listening to them, getting to know their names, and relating to them in a friendly way. Accept their opinions and preference, and when they make mistakes, don’t make them feel useless.
- Keep a positive mindset: Teaching can be overwhelming and it is important to have a positive mindset every day, therefore, it is important to take a break from work and give yourself that care you want. Your mental health is a paramount aspect of your life, you should cherish it and find a “me time” when you feel the need.
- Take cognizance of social-emotional learning: Help student to understand their emotions so that they will be actively involved in classrooms, it helps them have a clear cut of how uncertain life can be and how to navigate through it.
- Take time to relax and have fun: After so many academic activities, it is important to take a break from academic work and have a picnic, hang or excursion
Strategies for creating a positive learning environment
- Make learning relevant
- Develop a code of conduct
- Employ a positive actions curriculum
- Help students develop intrinsic value and motivation
- Establish a positive behavioral attitude
- Respond positively
Make learning relevant
Employ teaching styles and techniques that will make learning relevant. Subjects like mathematics and civic and social studies should be explained in a way that will relate to their needs and life. Also, students’ interests and preferences should be considered and teaching styles must be adjusted to fit their needs
Develop a code of conduct
Establish a code of conduct when starting the term, and remind them of the way they should behave every time they are deviating from the code of conduct. Students would know the difference between good and bad values and they should always abide by it
Establish positive actions curriculum
It is important to establish positive actions that will help the teaching and learning process. Students are from different family backgrounds, therefore, they have different behaviors. However, it is important to establish positive behavior in the student by incubating good values in them
Help students develop intrinsic value and motivation
Actions and behavior are results of thought patterns, thought patterns have a way of making or marring our lives. Motivating the students helps them to develop values and behavior that will make them feel important and relevant in their world. Also, encouraging them to feel good about themselves and see themselves as a spec of significance and also to see the importance of their thought pattern in their life
Establish a positive behavioral attitude
It is good to reinforce and establish positive behavioral patterns, the school is an institution where students do not just learn to be academically sound but also develop good values, morals, and attitudes that will make them the best person they should be
Respond positively
Teachers are the pivot of an educational institute, teachers should be motivated, guide, teach, educate, inspire and help students. The way you interact with students goes a long way in the way they see themselves. Regardless of the situation, you must not use vulgar language when interacting with students. Also, teach your students to interact with themselves in a positive and amazing way
Difference between a positive learning environment and the negative learning environment
- In a positive learning environment, students feel safe and accepted while in a negative learning environment, students feel criticized and unsecured especially when they are not sure.
- In a positive learning environment, students can express themselves without feeling insecure while students are afraid to express themselves.
- In a positive learning environment, students are free to approach their teachers because of the aura of that teacher, while in a negative learning environment, students are scared to approach their teachers.
- In a positive learning environment, students are actively involved in the teaching and learning process as they look forward to going to school but in a negative learning environment, students are not eager to learn.
- In a positive learning environment, students understand topics and concepts very well while in a negative learning environment, students get frustrated because they find it hard to understand.
- In a positive learning environment, teachers do not get burned out easily but a negative learning environment takes a toll on teachers, they feel burned out and tired
Conclusion
In conclusion, teachers are role models and they set patterns for students, therefore, teachers must set those patterns that foster a good educational system by building a positive learning environment, an environment whereby students feel safe, secure, and less threatened. An environment that can reinforce intrinsic values and morals coupled with academic proficiency and intelligence in students
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is a positive learning environment?
A positive learning environment is an environment of learning whereby students feel safe, loved, and impacted.
Q2. Why should I build a positive learning environment?
- It creates an environment of learning that is safe for students.
- It creates a conducive atmosphere of learning thereby making learning effective and efficient.
- It helps to simplify difficult topics and makes understanding easy.
Q3. How should I build a positive learning environment?
- Build positive relationships with your students and parents
- Make learning relevant
- Simplify difficult concepts and topics
