In my teaching journey, I've learned that the most powerful thing we can do for our middle school students is cultivate a positive classroom culture.

That can be a lot easier said than done.

Here are 5 ways that I worked to build a positive classroom culture with my students.

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1️⃣ Ask Different Questions

Instead of asking, “Does anyone have questions?” which can imply that questions aren’t expected, try asking, “What questions do you have?”

This small shift in language can create an environment where questions are not only expected, but encouraged.

If you’re a math teacher, check out this video - 4 Things Every Math Teacher Should Stop Saying​
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2️⃣ Mindful Breathing Exercises

Starting the class with a one to two-minute mindful breathing exercise can help students focus and start the class on a calm note.

This practice, which we called ‘centering’ at my school, involves focusing on the sensation of breathing and gently bringing the mind back when it wanders.

If you want to hear exactly what this could sound like, check out the first couple minutes of this podcast episode - Mindfulness in the Classroom​
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3️⃣ High-Five Friday

A simple and fun way to create a positive connection with students is to start a High-Five Friday tradition.

Stand at the door and give a high-five to every student that walks by. It’s a small gesture that can make a big difference in setting a positive tone for the day.

If you want to know how I greeted students Mon-Thu, check out this list of greetings - 5 Fun Daily Greetings To Connect With Your Students​
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4️⃣ Start a Class Instagram

Creating a class Instagram account can be a great way to highlight the awesome things happening in your classroom. It can serve as a communication piece to parents and model positive digital citizenship for students.

Remember to follow your school’s guidelines regarding student privacy.

I talk about exactly how I went about setting this up in my class in this video - Why I Use Social Media in the Classroom​
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5️⃣ Weekly Check-In

Dedicate some time at the beginning of the week for students to share what they did over the weekend. This practice can help students feel heard and connected to their classmates.

In a middle school setting, this could take the form of a weekly email update where students answer a set of questions and include their parents in the communication.

You can hear more about how this looked in my classroom at the end of this video - 5 Innovative Ways to Create Positive Classroom Culture​

Let me know if you end up trying any of these out with your students!

THOM GIBSON Educator | Creator ​thomgibson.com​ ​​

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