Cultivating a Culture of Love and Respect

This truth is reflected as we work to cultivate a classroom culture full of love and respect. It won’t happen by accident. We need to actively draw closer to God and set up patterns of behavior that allow that fruit to grow and flourish. As a teacher I often wrestled with how to best create a positive classroom culture. While there is not a simple formula to create a culture of love and respect, I will share a few strategies that worked well for me.  

Model It 

We certainly need to set rules and expectations in a classroom that guide love and respect, but I would argue that having those guidelines is not enough. Students are always watching. So, as Christ followers, we need to regularly model love and respect in front of our students. The way we discipline, the way we speak, the way we treat others, and much more are all on display for students to see. It gives them a pattern of behavior to follow. They need to see love spoken and lived in real ways through us.   

Guide Communication 

Life is not lived in nice, neat boxes. Our students cannot shut off other parts of their lives when they enter the classroom. They come with all their individual stressors and joys. One way to help students function in the midst of these is to set aside time for communication. Ask them what is going on in their lives and give them a chance to respond to each other.  

Particularly with social media, students often feel isolated in their thoughts and struggles when they see everyone else’s “perfect” lives. Taking the time to talk as a class with direction and intention can help students open up with each other in significant ways. Getting students to communicate about their thoughts and experiences goes a long way to building trust and community. They can start to see what they have in common and the strengths represented in their differences. The good news is we are often covering learning standards through these conversations! They have value in speaking/listening standards and in classroom culture.   

Pray Together 

Prayer is a powerful tool not only in our own lives but also as the entire body of Christ. It binds us together and helps us to carry one another’s joys and burdens. If you are in a Christian school where you can openly pray together, set apart a time daily to do so with the students. Give them a chance to share their requests and pray for each other.  

Some of you may be teaching in areas where this is not possible. When I worked in the US public school system, I was challenged to be praying over my students even if I was unable to do so with them.  A fellow teacher shared their habit of walking the room early in the morning before students arrived and praying over the desk or chair of each student. This is powerful not only because it invites the Holy Spirit into our classrooms, but it also helps soften our hearts towards our students so we can love them as God does.  

Laugh Together 

Create an environment of fun and joy. Laugh with them! Laughter naturally releases tension and builds a bridge of communication. Laughter is a universal language that is never taught, but is God given from infancy.  There are a lot of ways to bring some silly joy into your day on purpose. Tell a joke, do a silly dance, invite students to tell stories, etc. We need to give outlets for all kinds of expression in our classroom, but laughter is one of the most fun!  

Love and respect among teachers and students are powerful tools that can transform the entire educational process. They have the power to turn individuals into a community. The work is ongoing as success requires constant assessment to build and maintain the community we desire. So dear friends, let us together not grow weary in doing good, so that in due time we can reap a bountiful harvest.[1]  

 
Jessica Moulding
Jessica works with TeachBeyond's Latin America region as the Curriculum Development Coordinator. Over the last 15 years she has served as a teacher in various grade levels, director, and school founder. She currently serves the region from the Dominican Republic. She enjoys puzzles and new challenges, which has led to her passion for curriculum and teacher training. She loves spending time with her young daughter and serving Christ through transformational education.