Four Messages That Shape Classroom Climate

Depending on where you live, the first day of school may be approaching quickly. Or, perhaps it’s still far enough away that you are pretending not to notice the school supplies appearing in every store. Back-to-school season can bring pressure to rethink everything at once: classroom routines, behavior systems, expectations, procedures, and plans for building community. But a strong classroom climate does not require a complete reset. 

In Teaching Channel course 5338: Cultivating Classroom Climate with Everyday Practices, educators are invited to build on the positive routines and relationship practices already present in their classroom. As you think about the year ahead, consider how clearly your everyday routines and interactions communicate these four essential messages to students: 

You belong here

Students notice whether they are welcomed, known, and valued for who they are, and able to express themselves authentically. Belonging is communicated through everyday actions, such as learning and correctly pronouncing students’ names, daily greetings, checking in after an absence, and taking time to learn about their interests. 

Consider: What is one routine that already helps students feel known, and how could you make it more consistent?

Your voice matters

Making space for student voice means offering meaningful choices, inviting feedback, or creating more than one way to participate. 

Consider: Whose voices are easiest to hear in your classroom? What small adjustment could help more students contribute?

You have strengths

Teachers often notice persistence, curiosity, creativity, kindness, and growth, but students may not always recognize those qualities in themselves. Specific feedback can help: “I noticed that you tried a different strategy when the first one did not work.”

Consider: How can you make students’ strengths more visible to them?

Our work has purpose

Students are more likely to engage when they understand how learning connects to their lives. A brief explanation or question may be enough:

• Where might you use this skill outside the classroom?
• Who could benefit from this work?
• How does this connect to something you already know?

Consider: How could students explain the purpose behind the work they are doing?

A strong start can set the tone for the months ahead. As you look towards the new school year, take a moment to notice where these messages are already present in your practice. Then, choose one routine that you might make more visible, consistent, or intentional. When students feel known and valued, they are more likely to engage in learning and respond positively to classroom expectations. Those everyday experiences can also help prevent some behavior challenges by building trust and clarity from the beginning.

In course 5338: Cultivating Classroom Climate with Everyday Practices, educators explore realistic strategies for building that foundation through everyday routines and interactions. The course helps participants reflect on current strengths, identify areas for growth, and develop practices that support belonging, motivation, positive behavior, and well-being across the school year. If you are looking for practical ways to start the year well and sustain a classroom climate that supports both learning and behavior, this course offers a structured opportunity to deepen that work.

About the Author

Sarah Murphy holds a B.A. in History and a Master’s in Education. Grounded in years of elementary classroom experience, Sarah brings a practical educator lens to Teaching Channel’s professional learning. As Director of Curriculum & Instruction, she guides the development and refinement of graduate-level continuing education courses, helping ensure they are engaging, relevant, and rooted in strong instructional practice. Sarah works closely with the Curriculum & Instruction and Instructor teams to support meaningful feedback for educators, thoughtful course design, and effective online learning experiences in Canvas. Sarah is also a coursewriter and content creator, specializing in edtech, educator wellness, and content area teaching.

Fun Fact: Sarah enjoys training and competing with the Mill City Running Race Team in distances from 1 mile to the marathon.

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