5 simple ways to keep a positive working environment

Global workplaces are getting set to celebrate International Week of Happiness at Work and as the new academic year gets underway, it’s a great time to review your happiness in the workplace.

Taking place from 20-26 September 2021, you can use the week to discover how creating a positive working environment will benefit both you and your pupils and there are plenty of ways to go about achieving this.

Here we have some top tips for teachers looking to maintain their happiness in the workplace by creating a positive classroom environment.

Why the emphasis on happiness?

According to researchers at the University of Warwick, happy workers can be up to 12% more productive than their peers, and that happiness is beneficial to their health and personal lives too.

Happiness and satisfaction are subjective topics though – while some may equate income to job satisfaction, others may look at their work-life balance or consider what they get out of the role.

As a job that stimulates and inspires young people, your happiness will influence how inspirational your teaching is, as it will impact your energy levels and wellbeing.

Creating a positive environment could therefore make a big difference for you, as well as for your pupils.

1. Forging positive relationships

One of the keys to a happy and inspirational classroom revolves around the relationships that teachers are able to build with their pupils.

Good management practices will influence pupil behaviour and make it easier to control a class, while also fostering an environment where children want to learn.

This has a big impact on teacher happiness and wellbeing, as dealing with fewer issues ultimately makes the role feel that little bit more rewarding.

2. Create a code of conduct to follow

Pupils need to understand what happens if they behave in a certain way in the classroom, be that either positively or negatively, and a code of conduct can set out a clear set of processes.

From asking pupils how they like to be treated, it’s possible to focus on what they deem to be appropriate behaviour and on elements such as respect and kindness, all of which are key to creating a positive working environment.

By building this mutual respect, a teacher should find that behavioural issues are easier to manage in the classroom too.

3. Be supportive

When pupils feel comfortable in the classroom environment they are more likely to be engaged with the subject matter and more inclined to want to learn.

In these instances it’s easier to encourage creative thinking and innovative ideas, which is why pupils require the right levels of support and should feel like they can speak if they don’t understand something.

4. Put an emphasis on feedback

From feeding back on work and activities to behaviour and other elements of daily school life, these types of communication also go a long way to making pupils feel more relaxed.

This has a knock-on effect of creating a positive classroom environment and helps to make pupils feel valued.

Providing feedback is also one of a number of factors listed in an Education Development Trust report on how teachers can inspire learners, showing that it can have numerous positive impacts in the classroom.

5. Positivity drives positivity

As simple as it sounds, positivity is a key driver in creating a positive learning environment so you should look to always respond to issues and queries in a helpful and affirmative manner.

Children should also be encouraged to follow a similar approach, both when talking to their peers and when communicating with school staff.

Positive achievements, approaches and behaviour should be recognised and rewarded when appropriate, and pupils will hopefully see the connection between 

their actions, meaning they repeat them in future.

All of these factors can go a long way to creating a positive learning and classroom environment, which should ultimately make teaching more rewarding, while boosting happiness in the process.

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