How to Create a Positive Learning Environment in the Early Childhood Classroom?
Updated: Nov 23, 2021
What are the elements of a positive classroom environment?
There are lots of elements to creating a positive classroom environment. I would like to share a few that I find most relevant along with examples of how they could be used in the classroom.
1. Good relationship with parents and students.
It is important to build strong relationships with parents because they can let the teacher know what their child’s needs are by sharing information such as ‘my kid really likes to read but struggles with writing’ or 'my kid is very shy and sometimes finds it difficult to do presentations or group work’. Once having this information, the teacher could use it while preparing a lesson, teaching the group and providing individual support. When the teacher is able to build a strong partnership with parents, they can become allies in the kid’s learning process. They can also contribute to a positive learning environment by providing support to their children, clarifying their kid’s needs to the teacher and being involved in school. It is also very important that teachers create and maintain a good relationship with students because it creates a positive learning environment since the kids will feel physically, emotionally and socially safe in the classroom.
2. Clear communication and setting up expectations.
Especially at the beginning of the school year it is important to set a code of conduct with the students where they contribute to it. The teacher should make clear what is the positive behavior expected from them. The negative behaviors should be clear as well. The teacher should make sure that the whole class agrees with the code of conduct. In order to build the code of conduct the teacher could start the conversation asking the students how they would like to be treated. Once the students have agreed upon understanding of positive and negative behaviors, it will contribute to a positive learning environment since it is likely that the conflicts in the classroom will be reduced and the kids will know what is expected from them.
Setting a classroom routine is also a way to set up expectations. Kids should be able to know what the school day will be like. In this sense, the teacher could have the schedule on the board and a morning routine. It helps create a positive environment because the students know what to expect which helps avoiding conflicts.
3. Positive reinforcements and immediate/logical consequences to inappropriate behaviors.
In order to create a positive learning environment the teacher should be praising and celebrating achieved goals and even small successes. It should be done intentionally, in a way that the student knows why he/she was being praised. More important than using certificates or stickers is to help the student make the connection between the positive behavior and the feeling it produces. This helps the students feel intrinsically motivated and they will keep making good choices and producing good actions and behavior. In the end, kids really care and appreciate when they are acknowledged for their accomplishments and effort.
On the other hand, in order to maintain a positive learning environment the teacher should also set logical consequences for inappropriate behavior and make sure that the response to the behavior is immediate. For example, imagine that a kid is not using the crayons properly and always throwing them on the floor. As soon as the teacher notices it, the teacher should have a conversation with the student and explain why it is not good behavior. The logical consequence could be loss of privilege and that the student would have to use the broken ones. Hopefully the misbehavior will not happen again and the student will change this attitude. Sometimes situations of bad behavior can be very challenging for teachers to deal with but it is fundamental to keep calm, positive and optimistic.
4. Strong engagement of students.
When students are engaged in the lesson, it creates a positive learning environment because their interest and curiosity about learning changes the atmosphere in a very good way. Teachers should use the connection that they build with students throughout the year to make learning relevant and adapt the lesson or lecture to the interests of students. For example, if your students are into Disney movies, you could use the characters when planning the lessons or searching for videos on the topic of the lesson (ex. time telling) where this theme is included. It is very likely that by following these strategies the students will be more attentive and have fun while learning.
5. Brain breaks.
From what I notice in my grade 2 classroom, kids benefit a lot from brain breaks and it helps create a positive learning environment. Sometimes kids spend too much time on activities on their Ipad or they get tired after an entire lesson about writing and reading. At this time, it is a good strategy to give them a break and choose some quick activity so that they can move their bodies and be active. Teachers can use websites such as “go noodle”, where the kids can have some stretches and practice a bit of yoga following along with positive affirmations. Going to the playground for a few minutes, letting them expend energy and breathe fresh air helps keep them focused and on task when they have to go back to work.
Comparing and contrasting the schools of thought: B.F.Skinner and Abraham Maslow
Skinner was a behavioral psychologist and he believed that looking at the causes of an action and its consequences was the best way to understand behavior. In other words, he believed that the behavior is motivated by consequences (reinforcements and punishments) we receive for the behavior. Therefore, according to his theory, kids learn best when their actions are reinforced. In this case, reinforcement is anything following a behavior that makes it more likely to occur again and punishment is the application or removal of an outcome which brings about a decrease in the targeted behavior.
I think his theory contributes to creating a positive learning environment because he approaches behavior management through positive reinforcement as well as punishment of inappropriate behavior. When the teacher praises the kids intentionally and applies consequences to bad behaviors, it contributes to lessen the conflicts in the classroom and also elevates self- esteem and confidence in the students.
On the other hand, Maslow was a humanist psychologist and he developed a theory of Hierarchy of Needs often displayed as a pyramid. According to him, there are 5 different levels of human needs: basic needs, safety and well being, love and belonging, self-esteem and personal growth. He believed that all learners should have all of their needs met in order to be successful. I think that his theory helps create a positive environment because when teachers are aware of their students' needs and work towards meeting their needs, teachers are building a healthy and good environment for the kids in the classroom.
Both Skinner and Maslow contribute to creating a positive early childhood learning environment. Skinner through behavior management and Maslow through the hierarchy of needs. The main difference between them is that Skinner’s theory only approaches the reinforcement and punishment to good and bad behaviors, while Maslow extends his thoughts into supporting the kids not only regarding behavior but also regarding physical, emotional and social needs.
On the next topic let's explore more about Maslow’ theory of hierarchy of needs.
Diving into Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. How can this school of thought help foster a positive learning environment in an Early Childhood classroom?
According to Maslow’s theory, there are 5 different stages of human needs. When a lower need is met, the next need on the hierarchy becomes our focus of attention.
Basic needs: those are the physiological needs, which includes nutrition, water, proper sleep, breath, and clothing.
Safety and well-being: our safety needs are apparent even early in childhood, as children have a need for safe and predictable environments. Children usually react with fear or anxiety when these needs are not met. Humans want to feel physically, emotionally and socially safe.
Love and belonging: this need includes feeling loved and accepted in the community.
Self esteem: involves the desire to feel good about ourselves. It means that we want to feel confident but also valued by others.
Personal growth: it is also called self- actualization, which means the feeling of fulfillment, finding specialness within ourselves.
When I look at those needs, I see that teachers have an important role in making sure that most of them can be met in a classroom environment, which will definitely nurture a positive learning environment.
In order to meet the student’s basic needs, teachers should build a strong relationship with the parents so they are aware of how things are going at home and offer help if it is the case. In another situation, students may struggle to stay awake in class if they do not get enough sleep or if they are hungry they are not able to focus. Teachers could try to meet those needs by providing brain breaks so the kids can move their bodies and be active, feeling less sleepy and tired, as well as checking if the school is providing snack/lunch breaks appropriately.
In terms of safety and well-being needs, teachers should provide clear rules and classroom routine, providing the students with an agenda so they know what to expect for the day. It can also include building a code of conduct with the kids, modeling the good and bad behavior and setting reasonable consequences for inappropriate behavior.
Children that feel accepted, loved and respected, have the need for love and belonging met. The teacher can support this by celebrating the student as a member of the community. This can be done through events such as international days, where students can share parts of their culture. The teacher can also support this need by having celebrations for birthdays and other school events. The teacher can also nurture a good relationship with students by asking about their lives, learning about their likes and dislikes, and helping them make friends with other students.
In order for children to feel good about themselves and valued by others, they need to feel capable and competent. Teachers can assist the students in meeting these needs by ensuring that they are maintaining a supportive learning environment, assigning achievable tasks and recognizing each kid’s efforts. Especially when you have kids that English is not their first language or if they are in special education, make sure that they have different activities possible to accomplish in their learning level. It is also very important that teachers are watching and recognizing their progress and growth, as well as good behavior, because children appreciate a lot when they are acknowledged for their accomplishments and effort. Their smile and satisfaction says everything.
The last stage is self-actualization. Teachers could help students by identifying their potential and supporting them to seek out personal growth and new experiences, as well as challenging the students so they can achieve higher levels of knowledge. For example, you have a student that is mastering addition with two digit numbers with regrouping. You could provide a super challenge to this kid with a three digit numbers addition with regrouping. After that, ask the student to imagine that he/she is the teacher and he/she would have to record him/herself teaching and explaining all the steps to solve the math problem.
I truly believe that Maslow’s theory is deeply connected to fostering a positive learning environment. If the teacher is aware of the students' needs, it is possible to implement actions that will lead to a positive environment. Setting a code of conduct with the kids, having a good relationship with the students and their parents, providing brain breaks, setting up expectations and clear communication, giving positive reinforcements and immediate/logical consequences to inappropriate behaviors all lead to students having their needs met and a positive classroom environment.
Citations
“Child Development Theories: B. F. Skinner.” First Discoverers, 20 Oct. 2021, https://www.firstdiscoverers.co.uk/b-f-skinner-child-development-theories/.
Hopper, Elizabeth. “Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Explained.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 24 Feb. 2020, https://www.thoughtco.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4582571.
Learning, Lumen. “Lifespan Development.” Lumen, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-lifespandevelopment/chapter/behavioral-and-cognitive-theories/.
“Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.” FutureLearn, https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/supporting-learning-primary/0/steps/58666.
Supporting Young Children’s Learning and Well-Being at Home. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/infographics/pdf/REL_SW_Supporting_young_childrens_learning_and_wellbeing_at_home.pdf.
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