How to Create a Welcoming Classroom Environment

Placing supplies at the students' level helps them feel welcome.

A welcoming classroom environment lets students feel safe, included and comfortable, making learning easier and more enjoyable. The classroom setup is important in creating a positive environment, and it gives both students and their parents a sense of your teaching. Teacher behavior and student actions also play a role in creating an environment where all children feel welcome and included.

Instructions

1. Set up your furniture. The first step in designing a welcoming classroom is to arrange the furniture in your classroom. Arrange your room so that loud and messy activities, such as an art center or science exploration center, are away from quieter activities like a class library or writing center. Place all student materials in easy-to-access areas, ensure that students have a clear path to travel throughout the room and check that you are able to see all corners of the room from a variety of angles.

2. Decorate the classroom. Place welcoming posters on the walls, considering your students' diverse backgrounds, and add students' names to their tables or desks and cubbyholes. Design bulletin boards to introduce your classroom theme or a topic that the class will be learning about soon. Post information about your daily schedule and classroom expectations where students can see them so they know what to expect. Use plants, if allowed by the school, to brighten up your room and help create a welcoming environment.

3. Adjust the room lighting and temperature. Ensure that your classroom is bright enough for all students and that all of your light bulbs are functioning. If your room has windows, open the blinds to allow natural light into your space. Keep your thermostat at a comfortable, but cool, temperature as warm students often become sleepy and bored. Open your classroom doors and windows to get fresh air in your classroom whenever possible.

4. Connect with students and families. Greet students warmly as they arrive at school every day. Invite parents to an open house where they can visit the classroom and learn about their child's classroom, allowing them to be more supportive at home. Provide time for students and parents to come to you with their worries and concerns. Allow parents and family members to volunteer in your classroom and let them know they are welcome to assist with activities.

5. Work with students to build a classroom community. Model the proper behavior for students by being kind and compassionate. Teach students to care for each other and reward positive behaviors. Explain that using unkind words and violence often hurts other students' feeling. Provide opportunities for students to work out their differences by talking about their misunderstandings.

References

• Scholastic: Comforting Classroom
• TeacherVision: Creating an Effective Physical Classroom
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Classroom Environment-The Basics