Classroom Management

The field of classroom climate and environment has been heavily studied for the past thirty to forty years. Researchers such as Lorin W. Anderson, Sid F. Bourke, Rudolf Moos, Barry Fraser and Urie Bronfenbrenner have contributed significantly to the evolution of our understanding of how significantly a classroom environment can affect students. However, many teachers are not aware that their classroom environment and climate are negative, nor are they aware of the effects that a negative classroom environment can have on their students. As a result, this literature review will explore the many different studies, papers and theories that were written on how one can measure the classroom climate, the impact that a classroom environment has, as well as how one can improve their classroom environment.

When discussing classroom environment and management, it is extremely important to understand what classroom environment and management are. Classroom environment is composed of several different factors, such as the physical environment and the classroom climate. The physical environment is how the teacher structures the classroom, such what is placed on the walls, the colors used to decorate the classroom and the arrangement of desks.

However, the climate, according to a Wiki created by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, “…is defined as the type of environment that is created for students by the school, teachers, and peers. Teachers are continually looking to create a "positive" classroom climate in which student learning is maximized” (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010). In many cases, however, classroom climate and environment go hand-in-hand. This is because how one decorates their classroom effects bo...

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...ed November 28, 2011, from http://pt3.nl.edu/paquetteryanwebquest.pdf

Hodges, H. 1985. An analysis of the relationships among preferences for a formal/informal design, one element of learning style, academic achievement, and attitudes of seventh and eighth grade students in remedial mathematics classes in a New York City junior high school. EdD diss., St. John's Univ., 1986. Abstract in Dissertation Abstracts International, publ. nr. AAT 8526097, DAI-A 45/12 (1986): 3585A.

Hoekman, K., McCormick, J., & Gross, M. U. M. (1999). The optimal context for gifted students: A preliminary exploration of motivational and affective considerations. Gifted Child Quarterly, 43, 170-193.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (2010, February 3). Classroom Climate. In WikiEd. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Classroom_Climate