Positive Classroom Culture

 

We all belong to many cultural groups and this got me thinking of how classrooms are cultural groups, too. Like all cultural groups, they have sets of expectations for behavior, specific styles of interpersonal interactions, and shared beliefs and assumptions about school. A teacher can let this “classroom culture” develop on its own, or she can help to guide children (and other adults) into a classroom culture that supports the children’s learning in positive ways. When I visit different classrooms, I am continually amazed at the different feel I get in each room. This is in part from the many cultural group behaviors that children bring to the classroom, but in part each classroom is truly unique. I behaved differently in Ireland than I do at home--children behave differently in one classroom than they do in another – or than they do at home.

 Positive Classroom Culture

I just returned from a lovely Thanksgiving trip to Ireland. One of the reasons we enjoyed ourselves so much was the Irish hospitality and easy-going nature of the people. Servers went out of their way to please us. Buses yielded to let cars into exit lanes. Shoppers calmly waited in line. We could feel the subtle difference from the cultural norms we are used to in the New Jersey/New York area. I found myself wishing I could bring home some of these cultural behaviors with me!

            My guess is that many teachers don’t realize the influence that they have in creating a positive classroom culture. Imagine for a moment what you would want your ideal classroom to feel like. What behaviors would you want to see? What would you want children to believe about learning, their relationships to their classmates, their abilities, their differences? Once you have created this image, it easier to guide this into reality.

There are no right or wrong classroom cultures, but there are clearly cultures that support children’s learning in better ways than others.  My experience leads me to believe the most important elements for success are that a teacher believes that she can create a positive environment and that she has a clear image of what that environment would be.