2b: Establish a Culture of Learning

A “culture for learning” refers to the atmosphere in the classroom that reflects the educational

importance of the work undertaken by both students and teacher. It describes the norms that govern

the interactions among individuals about the activities and assignments, the value of hard work and

perseverance, and the general tone of the class. The classroom is characterized by high cognitive energy,

by a sense that what is happening there is important, and by a shared belief that it is essential, and

rewarding, to get it right. There are high expectations for all students; the classroom is a place where the

teacher and students value learning and hard work.

Teachers who are successful in creating a culture for learning know that students are, by their nature,

intellectually curious, and that one of the many challenges of teaching is to direct the students’ natural

energy toward the content of the curriculum. They also know that students derive great satisfaction, and

a sense of genuine power, from mastering challenging content in the same way they experience pride in

mastering, for example, a difficult physical skill.

Part of a culture of hard work involves precision in thought and language; teachers whose classrooms

display such a culture insist that students use language to express their thoughts clearly. An emphasis

on precision reflects the importance placed, by both teacher and students, on the quality of thinking; this

emphasis conveys that the classroom is a business-like place where important work is being undertaken.

The classroom atmosphere may be vibrant, even joyful, but it is not frivolous.