Learning environments

A teacher should...

A. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

-Regularly ventilate the classroom.

-Open shutters and curtains to let the sunlight into the classroom (or close them a bit, if there is too much light and heat).

-Keep the classroom temperature under control.

-Make sure the classroom is clean and danger-free.

-Decorate the classroom with the students.

B. EMOTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

-Smile.

-Manipulate his/her voice (intensity, tone).

-Discuss a lot with students.

-Provide constructive feedback on students' work rather than just a grade or too much praise.

-Be calm, stable and avoid having outbursts. This way, students will know what to expect from him/her and see him/her as a person they can count on, as someone that makes them feel safe.

-Make students feel that he/she is not against them, he/she there to judge them, but he/she is hear to form a team with them and work on a specific goal.

C. INTELLECTUAL ENVIRONMENT

-Regularly use assessment practices accompanied by feedback.

-Combine different VARK strategies.

-Involve all of Bloom's taxonomy objectives but focus on the Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), because they are more engaging.

-When teaching the curriculum, keep in mind students' needs and interests.

-Constantly present new information.