Teachers promote students' social and emotional wellbeing through curating the learning environment. The goal is that each learner feels like a member of the learning community. Positive relationships between teacher and students are the foundation of a respectful and affirming learning environment. Teachers may co- create classroom design and even expectations alongside the students, making them feel valued. Teachers respect and affirm students' cultures.

Teachers create an atmosphere of learning by emphasizing the importance of learning. Making connections to students' previous knowledge and to their personal lives causes the material to be more relevant to them. Teachers foster a sense of personal dedication to learning by encouraging students' interests and skills like compassion, creativity, reasoning, reflection, and critical thinking. 

Teachers design routines and activities purposefully to accomplish the Instructional Outcomes, and communicate with students about the purpose. Routines and procedures make transitions smoother and support students by helping them be prepared for what's next. Knowing what to expect also decreases the amount of extraneous cognitive load students are dealing with and helps them learn at their best. Teachers handle non- instructional tasks efficiently, disturbing the learning environment as little as possible. When appropriate, teachers create routines that students can assist in for tasks. 

Teachers aim to work with, not control, students. The classroom environment needs to be focused on learning, though, not on boredom or bullying or other behaviors that distract from instruction. Teachers establish expectations from the outset and clearly post them. Students may be included in the process of setting expectations for behavior in the classroom. Teachers work with students to reflect on their behavior and become aware, encouraging them to practice ethical decision making for themselves. When necessary, teachers implement appropriate methods of discipline, but most of the time, the focus is on positive behavior. The teacher provides encouragement and leads by example to form positive relationships within the classroom. 

Teachers create a joyful environment that promotes learning. The arrangement of objects within the classroom reflects the learning activities students will participate in. The learning space should reflect shared ownership. Student involvement, such as planning a display of completed work, helps build that sense of investment in the shared learning space. The goal is that the full range of learning experiences are fully accessible to everyone in the classroom, and students feel welcome in their space.