In the world of education, creating an optimal learning experience for students extends far beyond textbooks and lesson plans. It begins with building the foundation for a positive classroom environment that nurtures students’ growth, enhances their engagement, and allows them to thrive academically and personally. When students feel safe, supported and valued, their emotional well-being flourishes, paving the way for effective learning.
Build a harmonious and thriving classroom community all year long with activities that are not only ideal for the “first week of school,” but can be used throughout the school year to help with classroom management.
Create a welcoming classroom culture with these practical ideas to help you kickstart the year on a positive note.
Cultivate positive classroom relationships with social and emotional learning activities that provide students with the necessary tools to understand and manage their emotions, develop empathy, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
- Morning check-ins are one way to help transition students into the school day.
These activities from Social and Emotional Learning Activities for grades 1-2 help students reflect on their feelings and work well as a morning check-in activity.
2. Social and emotional collaborative learning activities help students to get to know their classmates and think about how to foster positive classroom relationships.
These activities from Social and Emotional Learning Activities for grades 3-4 provide opportunities for students to discuss rules for having positive conversations.
Get free activities from Social and Emotional Learning Activities for grades 1-6 here! These creative and cross-curricular SEL activities keep children practicing important skills all year long.
Promote a growth mindset by creating a “mistake friendly classroom.” Encourage students to embrace challenges, view mistakes as learning opportunities and believe in their ability to improve. Redefine the word “mistake” in your classroom as an “opportunity” and highlight it on the board so students can see what you value most in your classroom!
One strategy to reinforce this belief is to think ahead about why a student might make a mistake on a task. Brainstorm and prepare ahead of time so that you can help students deconstruct their answer and celebrate the learning process! Embracing all mistakes as positive, teachable moments can transform students’ fear into curiosity and encourage them to take chances. You can also turn the question over to your class and ask them to think about possible mistakes that could be made on a task.
Cultivate a respectful and inclusive classroom with activities that honor the diverse identities and experiences of all students in your classroom. Listed below are five ways to create a safe learning space for all students.
- Build authentic connections between your students and cultivate positive relationships with activities that provide opportunities for them to share their unique experiences and learn about others.
- Encourage student voice and choice by incorporating opportunities for students to share their thoughts, ideas, and questions. Offer choices in assignments and activities to promote autonomy and ownership over their learning.
- Foster collaboration and cooperation with creative opportunities for collaborative learning, group discussions, and peer support. Emphasize the value of teamwork and respect for diverse opinions, fostering a sense of belonging and unity.
- Establish clear expectations with consistent rules for behavior, academic performance, and classroom routines. When students understand what is expected of them, they feel a sense of security and are better equipped to succeed.
- Address bullying and conflict promptly by establishing a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and addressing conflicts impartially. Teach students conflict resolution strategies and promote empathy to ensure a safe and inclusive classroom for everyone.
Culturally Responsive Lessons and Activities for grades 1–6 includes inspirational stories and activities to help students build connections between their experiences and the classroom. The robust units include individual, whole class, and partner activities to help students practice working together in groups and allow them to explore different ethnicities and cultures. Also included are project menus that support student choice and creativity by allowing students to choose the project they would like to complete. These activities are a great addition to your back-to-school activities, with topics and lessons that encourage student voice and foster collaborative learning experiences.
Get free activities and printables for grades 1–6 to try in your classroom. Click here for your Culturally Responsive Lessons and Activities sampler.
A positive classroom environment lays the foundation for optimal learning experiences, fostering emotional well-being, respect, and engagement among students. By nurturing positive relationships, embracing diversity, and promoting active participation, we create a space where students feel supported, empowered, and motivated to reach their full potential. Let’s embark on this journey together, transforming our classrooms into vibrant communities where every student can thrive and succeed.
Get access to all the resources mentioned in this article with a subscription to TeacherFileBox printables, Evan-Moor’s digital lesson library. TeacherFileBox includes 80,000 activities and lessons for grades PreK–6 and simplifies the lesson planning process with easy search options and diverse resources. Try TeacherFileBox for free for 14 days (no credit card required). Learn more about TeacherFileBox here!
School discounts are available on 10 or more classroom subscriptions, saving 60-75% off the total cost! Learn more here.
Heather Foudy is a certified elementary teacher with over 7 years’ experience as an educator and volunteer in the classroom. She enjoys creating lessons that are meaningful and creative for students. She is currently working for Evan-Moor’s marketing and communications team and enjoys building learning opportunities that are both meaningful and creative for students and teachers alike.
Alphabet Hunt: An alphabet hunt is a fun and interactive way to teach letter and sound combinations. For beginning readers, matching objects with the same beginning and ending sounds reinforces this concept. Assign a letter of the week and have students find objects within the classroom that have the same beginning sound as the weekly letter. Depending on your class, you could assign more than one letter per week. (Students could also bring objects from home to share as well.)
Rhyming Phonics Game: Gather sets of rhyming objects to play the game “rhyme in a bag.” Split the sets, so half are placed in a paper bag and half are placed on a table. Have students reach into the bag, pull out an object, and match it to an item on the table that rhymes.
To make a blending flip book:
To make a word-family flip book:
Heather Foudy is a certified elementary teacher with over 7 years’ experience as an educator and volunteer in the classroom. She enjoys creating lessons that are meaningful and creative for students. She is currently working for Evan-Moor’s marketing and communications team and enjoys building learning opportunities that are both meaningful and creative for students and teachers alike.