This week, teachers at Sonnet Montessori went through a training on creating a positive classroom culture, specifically looking at relationships and interactions, environment, consistent routines and expectations, promoting curiosity and engagement, positive discipline and conflict resolution, and family involvement and communication. Kylie Schrader, COO of Sonnet, conducted the training with her expertise from over two decades in the early childhood education field. We had such an amazing time of learning that we wanted to share a little of it with you, as much of it applies to both home and school environments!
Environment Is Critical for Wellbeing
Not only does classroom environment matter for a child’s wellbeing, but there is a strong correlation between home environment and children’s wellbeing, including behaviors, academic achievement, social skills and mental health. So, how do we go about creating a positive culture, whether it is in the classroom or our homes?
Build Meaningful Relationships & Interactions
It’s important that we connect individually with our children, create an environment of empathy and respect, and learn to be present and attentive to build trust. It’s also important to celebrate one another and collaborate with one another. How often do we get down at our child’s level and look them in the eyes when they are talking to us? How often do we say “yes” when they ask us to do something with them? Do we say, “I love you,” “goodnight,” and give hugs, snuggles and kisses on a regular basis? Do we express empathy or impatience when they are sad, angry, upset, fearful, or struggling? Do we work on projects together, such as baking cookies or raking up leaves or shoveling snow?
Environment
The environment where our children spend their time should be thoughtfully set up, supportive of a child’s independence, and foster a sense of safety and belonging. We also create a positive environment through our words, offering encouragement and acknowledgment instead of praise or criticism. Criticism might be an obvious “no-no”, but did you know praise shifts the focus onto the one doing the praising, making their opinion matter more than the child’s accomplishment? Are our living spaces set up for children to feel comfortable, with things they need within their reach, and those that are “off-limits” set up out of reach? Is there a “place for everything and everything in its place” so children can get what they need and put it away when they are done with it?
Consistent Routines & Expectations
Don’t we all do better when we know what to expect? Instead of looking at routines and guidelines as restrictive, we experience them as boundaries that keep us safe and help us enjoy the journey of life all the more! Children thrive on consistency and when we respectfully communicate changes with enough time for them to process and prepare! Do we let them know what to expect in the coming week or day? Knowing they may not be able to judge time by looking at a clock, to we give them a verbal “heads up” about transitions and appointments? Do we consistently enforce family rules, or do they change day-to-day? Do we typically have a healthy bed-time and wake up routine?
Promoting Curiosity & Engagement
When we show excitement and curiosity, we demonstrate to our children that learning is a joyful, lifelong journey! We slow down and take time to explore nature, ask “why?”, support experimentation (even when it means things get messy), and value the child more than the thing (meaning, things get broken, and we do the best we can to sweep and mop and glue instead of overreacting and risking breaking a fragile spirit).
Positive Discipline & Conflict Resolution
We all do better when we feel better. How can we inspire and coach our children through learning moments? How often do we “catch” our children making good choices? Do we support our child’s ability to self-regulate and cultivate their emotional intelligence? Do we model self-regulation and emotional intelligence? Are there natural consequences, when needed, or is there a disconnect between negative actions and punishment? Are our expectations of our child developmentally appropriate?
Why Do We Emphasize Teacher Training?
Professional development and training are vital components of our program. Teachers are the heart of our program and have the privilege of loving and guiding your children day after day, celebrating their discoveries and nurturing their growth and development. Investing in our incredible teachers is an investment in you and your family! Over the last year, many of our full-time teachers have completed over fifty hours of training in early childhood programming and curriculum, child development and learning, learning experiences, relationships with families and professionalism, health/safety/nutrition, individualization and assessments, and more!
