I believe that a safe, inviting learning environment is key to facilitating learning. As the teacher, I have a crucial role in the success of each of my students. Students are hard-wired to learn, and it is my responsibility to create an environment that allows all learners to reach their fullest potential.

In my classroom, learners will feel that they belong, that they are heard, and that they are valued and appreciated for what they bring to the learning community. I create this kind of environment and community in my classroom from my first interaction with each student each day with a positive greeting at the door. After a greeting that involves me saying their name and a positive touch, such as a handshake, high five, fist bump, or hug, according to the individual comfort level, students find a place in the reading corner and begin to read. Nothing improves a student’s reading ability more than time spent reading. Reading time is followed by morning meeting, during which students greet each other, share, and participate in a group activity.

The security of this routine and the opportunity to share and show empathy, as well as the priority that affirmation and learning take during this time is essential to a positive classroom atmosphere, which is, in turn, essential for learning to take place. As such, this atmosphere serves as a foundation for the inquiry, discovery, and exploration we do during the remainder of the learning day. A student with this foundation will be better able to regulate their emotions and behavior, more motivated and engaged, and will achieve more academically.