Blended Learning Focus: Culture

A positive environment is a key factor that draws stakeholders to your classroom.  It is the fun and excitement that draws people to wanting to be a part of the joyful moments.   Your students want to feel safe, welcomed, and know that you care.  As a classroom leader it is important to build relationships and have a positive environment.

One way to do this is to get to know your students and their likes/dislikes.  A positive classroom culture that is created to  promote a collaborative environment is key as you begin the school year.  

Here are a few things to consider as you look at building a positive classroom culture.

• Joyful Learning in the Classroom: 5 Techniques for an Engaging Pedagogy

• Creating a Joyful Classroom

• How to Create Joyful Learning

• 10 Ways to Create a Positive Culture in Your Classroom 

• Ways to Create a Collaborative Learning Environment

Culture-Building Ideas/Activities 

• Try one of these three relationship building activities: Concentric Circles Activity, Spider Web Activity, or All My People Who activity. These are great for all ages, especially middle and high school. 

• Try incorporating 1 of these 15 activities included in this toolkit for cultivating caring relationships at school. These are activities that promote staff and student connection. 

• Students can create an avatar using voki.com (click on the speaker icon to add text) to introduce themselves to their classmates.  No student account required.   *This is not a district-provided tool

• Students can create a video in Canvas Discussions to introduce themselves or to tell about a favorite moment, event, or person in their lives.

• Students can use this free instagram template, from Ditch that Textbook, to tell a story from their lives.

• Have students collaborate around creating class rules or positive actions and behaviors that are needed to learn, using Microsoft Whiteboard