Effective school environments are not based solely on assessments. They include building a community, establishing expectations, providing mentors, and creating a sense of belonging. These elements are critical to the success of a school. The best school environments foster strong relationships between students, teachers, and staff. American schools in Qatar are known for providing an environment to students.
Building a strong community:
In school environments, establishing a strong community of learners is crucial for the success of a school. Building community is more than a slogan; it involves building trust, shared values, and commitments. Establishing a community is a critical first step in creating a caring society.
Setting expectations:
Setting high expectations for students is a critical first step in creating a productive classroom culture. To accomplish this, teachers must be consistent with their expectations and ensure that their students know exactly what to expect. High expectations will help create a culture of hard work that will encourage students to do their best.
Providing mentors:
Providing mentors for new teachers is critical to creating a supportive school environment for students and teachers. It is also essential that these new teachers receive support and guidance, as their demands are often as high as those of experienced teachers. For example, new teachers are often assigned the same classes, schedules, and responsibilities as veteran teachers. As such, great mentors ensure that these responsibilities are shared equally and act when they find their rotégés overloaded.
Creating a sense of belonging:
The concept of a ‘sense of belonging’ is a critical component of a good and effective school environment. It can be achieved by actively involving all students in classroom activities and school community life. There are specific programs available that promote this concept.
Providing support:
Providing support for students can be an important part of creating a positive classroom environment. Sometimes students need extra support with personal situations or with academic difficulties. Providing reassuring support, listening, and advice is helpful to students.
Reflecting on your beliefs and values:
Reflecting on your beliefs and values is a great way to make your school environment positive. Teachers should examine their attitudes and behaviors to ensure they are consistent with their beliefs and values.