Through our work with schools over the years, we talk a lot about the classroom environment – or classroom ecology and/or landscape. A classroom environment isn’t just the physical space of a classroom. It’s the way we describe the climate of the classroom. This includes the physical, psychological, and emotional atmosphere of the class.
Most importantly, it’s the space where learning takes place. And each and every classroom has its own environment, either intentionally or not.
The Physical Environment:
This is the physical space where learning takes place. It’s the classroom layout, the kinds of desks and chairs, the color of the paint, and whether there are posters or not. These are the tangible things your student can see and touch that add to their learning experience (or distract from it).
The Psychological Environment:
This refers to the students’ emotional and mental state in their classroom and at school. Do they feel safe? Do they feel valued? Are they willing to participate in class, take risks, and work with other students? Is there a sense of belonging? The psychological environment of a classroom drives engagement with learning.
The Emotional Environment:
Teacher-student and student-student interactions shape the emotional environment of a classroom. What is the tone of interactions? Are there consistent routines? Do students from diverse backgrounds feel validated and seen? Are there clear behavior expectations? Are they enforced consistently and equitably?
What is the ideal learning environment?
If there were “a singular ideal”, we’d all be able to copy it, right? The ideal learning environment provides learners (your students) with the tools and resources they need to learn. These tools depend on the unique needs of your students.
This could be a quiet environment, with everyone focused on their work. It could be one buzzing with energy, debate, and collaborative learning. It could be one that involves experiential learning, taking a nature walk, and observing, jotting down ideas in a notebook. It can be an online class with a group forum afterward. It likely is all of the above.
To create an ideal learning environment, regardless of how it looks, key elements must be in place.
Characteristics of a Healthy Classroom Climate and Learning Space:
- Physical and emotional safety: Students feel safe, both physically and emotionally, at school. They see the classroom as a space where they can express themselves and be themselves.
- Students feel valued and respected by their teachers, by their peers, regardless of their abilities, sexuality, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or color.
- Students feel challenged. Teachers ask for excellence and academic rigor. These high expectations come with meaningful support.
- There are clear behavior expectations for all students. They are consistently and equitably enforced.
- Teachers implement differentiated instruction, taking into account the vast array of learners, learning styles, and learning processes, modifying content, process, and product depending on their students’ needs.
- Teachers know their students, creating a positive, respectful rapport and building positive relationships.
- There are clear routines. Students thrive, children thrive, when they know what to expect. Routines minimize uncertainty, which, in turn, minimizes distractions. Routines are particularly important for students living with adversity. They can come to a classroom and reclaim normalcy in their lives.
There are so many more we could dive into (and we will, over time). As is evident, teachers have a pivotal role in creating a healthy classroom climate, and they can’t do this without a supportive administration and effective leadership.
Get Student Perceptions of Classroom Climate:
Gathering student perceptions through a student perception survey and/or a classroom climate survey is one of the most effective ways to understand how learners experience their environment. These surveys provide valuable insights into how students feel about safety, inclusion, relationships, and engagement—helping teachers identify strengths and areas for growth. When students are invited to share their honest perspectives, schools not only gain data but also build trust and a sense of shared responsibility for creating a positive, supportive learning space. This allows students to succeed.
