The classroom setting is an important element in learning. 

Students at ease are more likely to engage in the learning process, participate in class discussions, and ask questions. 

There are many things that teachers can control. You can change the space through physical means such as decorating your classroom to more abstract things. 

As a university teacher, I don’t have much power over what my classrooms look like since I teach in different classes for every session. I try to do little things to help the environment improve. Besides, there are things you can do as a teacher that are not about the physical space. 

In this blog post, I will talk about what I do that doesn’t require much time and effort.

First, it’s important to discuss the importance of creating comfort. 

Why is creating a comfortable space important?

When students feel comfortable in the classroom, they will be able to focus more on learning. They are less likely to be distracted by external factors such as uncomfortable chairs, extreme temperatures, or noisy surroundings.

In addition, they are more likely to treat their classmates with respect, contribute to group work, and participate in class discussions. A positive classroom environment nurtures students to reach their full potential. 

A comfortable classroom can also help to reduce stress and anxiety among students. Some conditions might even be triggering to some of your students. It’s important to address those issues. 

Here are the main elements I personally work on: 

Classroom Elements

Rapport

Creating a comfortable classroom isn’t just about concrete elements. The most important element to me is the relationship with students. When students like you, they will be more engaged with the content. 

You could use a 10-15-minute discussion at the start of your lesson where you discuss news, recent events, or controversies. It gets your students talking in a more relaxed ambiance. You could either ask them if there is something they want to talk about or prepare a topic. 

Try to have positive energy as you interact with students. If they feel you like them, they are more likely to reciprocate and be more attentive. I remember my fair share of teachers that did not seem like they wanted to teach at all. 

Lighting

Some stimuli can be disturbing for your students. Make sure to adjust appropriately. If the lights are too bright, find a way to dim the lighting. Sometimes, natural lighting can be the best option. 

I don’t think there’s any correlation between effective learning and being blinded by lights.  

Your classroom shouldn’t be too dark either. If students wouldn’t be able to read the board or take notes comfortably, prioritize light. 

Music

Music creates a positive ambiance in the classroom. If possible, play some relaxing music in the background during quiet tasks. I like to play lo-fi in the background as students are doing worksheets. 

The volume shouldn’t be too low or loud. It may be too distracting in either case. Walk around the classroom to test if the volume is at an appropriate level for everyone. 

Activities

Make sure that the activities you are utilizing during class time are appropriate for your students. For example, using high-mobility activities in a classroom that is too small and cramped. That is not ideal for teaching in any case, but unfortunately, there are classrooms like that. 

Don’t focus your energy on what you don’t have, but on what you can do with your resources.

Conclusion

Creating a comfortable space is crucial for learning to take place. 

This can be achieved through physical means such as decorating your classroom to more abstract things. 

In this blog post, I focused more on the latter. Things that you can work on include: 

• Rapport (working on your connection with students)
• Lighting (adapting lighting to an appropriate level for you and your students)
• Music (playing some relaxing music during quiet tasks)
• Activities (adapting activities to students’ circumstances) 

Adapt to your environment as best as you can without overwhelming yourself either. Teaching already comes with many hats. You don’t have to go above and beyond to create a good space for yourself and your students. 

Doing what you can is already an admirable effort. 

Good luck ✨