Learner-Friendly Culture

A learner-friendly culture is about creating a classroom environment where students can flourish.

School or classroom culture can promote or prevent student growth, development, and learning. When a teacher establishes a learner-friendly culture and the norms of the classroom include hard work, kindness, openness, and respect, these norms can help guide students to be more productive and successful.

Jim Knight (2013) recommends the following ways to shape a learner-friendly culture:

1. Co-Construct Norms with Students: Teachers and students should work together to establish classroom norms. There should be expectations and norms for activities, interactions, and learning situations. These norms or "rules" provide students with specific expectations that were created collaboratively. See our page on Expectations for more tips and information.

2. Reinforce Students When They Act Consistently With the Cultural Norms: Once a teacher and class has established their classroom norms or rules, the teacher should make sure to refer to these norms consistently. Teachers should make sure they have clarity in their own minds as to exactly what the norm is expecting students to do. The "witnessing the good strategy" should be used where teachers make sure they call attention to students who are demonstrating the norms. The "fluent corrections strategy" should also be used as teachers also make sure they are consistently correcting students who are not demonstrating the norms. See our pages on Witness the Good and Fluent Corrections for more tips and information.

3. Spread Learner-Friendly Emotions: Part of teaching is recognizing that we create the emotions around us. Teachers who are quick to be angry or show frustration will notice their students acting in this manner. In contrast, teachers who are warmth and happiness will see the impact of these positive emotions on their students. Teachers can promote learner-friendly emotions by modeling how to interact in a respectful manner. Saying "please", "thank you", being a good listener, and using positive language in daily interactions with students demonstrates the way students should be interacting with each other.

4. Design a Learner-Friendly Learning Environment: A student's learning environment is an important piece of the learning experience. Classrooms should be designed and maintained to produce optimal learning. Classrooms should be neat and tidy, warm and friendly, and promote growth and respect.

5. Walk the Talk: Effective leaders are often described as being someone who "walks the talk". Walk the talk in your classroom by acting in a way that is consistent with the norms and expectations your class has collaboratively established for everyone in the classroom.