Developing Learning Environments

This module is part of the Teaching & Learning Skils Development course. Each module comprises a short introduction to key skills.  Teachers are challenged to implement these skils over the duration of a month and reflect on their progress toward outstanding provision. 

30 Day Challenge

To implement your new learning and support your journey toward becoming a master teacher the following skills, which demonstrate this module’s outcomes, should be practiced over the next 30 days

Where possible, find a colleague who you know is highly skilled in this area.

Shadow them and learn from them. Ask them to support you by observing you put these new skills into action.

At the end of one day in the next week, take a few minutes to look at the classroom(s) that you teach in. 

List all the good things about it, for example, whether it is hot or cool, how the lighting affects your mood or sensation.

Next, list a maximum of ten things that you would like to have immediately for your classroom, for example: • a table to display things • some paper for drawing • chairs and tables for the students. Which of these are more realistic aims than others? Are there ways that you could acquire these locally for free? 

Ensure that you are fully aware of students with individual needs (visual, hearing, behavioural, sensory) and accommodate those students specifically in the learning environment and in your planning

Review all displays in your class to ensure that they are 

• Current 

• Have clear rationale

• Are at eye level 

• Have students and teacher feedback

• Contain a challenge to deepen learning

• Have some interactive element

​Ensure that the majority of displays are student’s work

Ensure that your class is easy to navigate, that resources are clearly marked and accessible and that students know where to find things

Trial some form of flexible seating - add a yoga ball, different chairs / stools, floor seating etc. 

Build up a print rich environment by labelling, adding posters, notes and images containing text