10 simple ways to build a strong classroom culture with students part 1
We all know how important relationship building is. But something that can derail relationship building is classroom culture. And most of the time this can feel totally out of the power of you as the educator. But there are things you can do to build a really strong classroom culture regardless of what the make-up of your students is and what is going on in their lives outside of the classroom. Here are 10 simple ways to build a strong classroom culture.
1)Call them by their name to welcome them to class everyday.
This one seems so straightforward and simple, but its importance can’t be overstated. Starting everyday letting students know you are happy to see them is key to starting the day off with the right culture. Especially when it is a hard time of year, or you had a rough day the day before, or a student is going through it. Letting them know today is a new day, and that they are always welcome and safe with you is key to making sure students are in the mindset to learn. And is powerful at every grade level, but especially the older students can really benefit from this. One of my seniors took me aside at the end of this last school year to tell me just how powerful hearing her name and having me welcome her to class with a smile was everyday, because she knew no matter what was going on outside of school that in my class she would be safe and welcome she always made sure to show up and do her best.
2)Validate all questions including your own.
This again seems like something obvious but is something that can literally change the culture of a classroom overnight. So often students, especially as they get older, completely disengage from school based on how they feel about themselves as a learner. One of the best ways to make sure all students feel safe and ready to learn with you is to make sure that they know that questions, all questions, are valued and heard. Speaking from experience it can be exhausting answering the same questions over and over and over again. But for that student in that moment being vulnerable enough to ask a question, even if they should or do already know the answer is an opportunity to build culture.
So what do you do when it isn’t a good question ? Reframing them as you answer them is really powerful in helping students formulate and ask better questions which allows for deeper learning and understanding. For example, if a student asks you should they put their name on something you might reframe it as. “What I think you are asking is, is this going to be turned in for a grade? And in that case yes please put your name on because I am going to grade it for completion”. This way you are helping answer the question in a way that useful and also showcasing how to get to the root of what they are actually wondering.
What about when students ask the same questions over and over? Students who ask questions who have already been answered are often times just wanting validation or need more processing time. You can do something similar here. If a student asks a question that has already been answered like, “how many pieces of evidence do we need?” You can respond back with, “How many do you think would be enough?” to help them validate or process themselves.
What about questions that are off topic, or are controversial or the student seems stuck even with reframing and helping them process? I usually frame these with, “that sounds like an individual question” and then let them know to check in with me 1:1 and give them an exact time frame and location. That way you aren’t invalidating their question and you are helping them understand certain questions are for everyone to hear and others aren’t.
Finally, being vulnerable enough to let students know when you don’t know something is also a great way to build a strong culture where students know it is ok to not know! So often in social studies I have students ask me questions I don’t know the answer to or I might not remember, so we look up those answers together! This is also a great way to teach how to find information or check your sources!
3)Give quick check ins
It is also important for building culture that students are getting continuous feedback, especially in the form of something they can use right away. And for my own personal sanity I need to be spending class time not plan time or personal time giving that feedback and grading. Being able to grade and give support in the moment ensures that 1) students will actually use that feedback to grow and learn and 2) that you can maintain a better work/life balance as a teacher because you aren’t spending your time outside of class doing things that are more impactful and essential during class time.
By making sure you are checking in with students 1:1 or in small groups on a daily basis you are not only setting them up for academic success but it is also a great way to build connections and get to know them better to make sure you have a strong classroom culture. And best of all it can mitigate a lot of classroom management issues that arise because students are bored, or off task, or dysregulated. Because you are checking in with them during class/work time you can address these issues quickly as they come up.
There are lots of ways to do quick check ins from group check ins like thumbs up and down or fist to five. To individual ones where you are using colors as they work to signal if they have questions or need help. To more structural ones like using deliverables and check points for mini conferences, or using stations and doing small group instruction/checkpoints.
