How Teachers Can Create a Positive School Culture in Early Childhood Education

Summary of Insights 

• Teachers bring school culture to life through their words, actions, and routines.
• Our Six Positive Messages offer a daily guide for creating safe, trusting, and joyful classrooms.
• When teachers model kindness, consistency, and curiosity, children and families thrive.

What Does a Positive School Culture Look Like from a Teacher’s Lens?

A positive school culture comes to life in the classroom. When we get culture right, children experience belonging, teachers model empathy and curiosity, and families feel welcomed as partners in learning. For educators, it is not only about what is taught but how children experience learning each day.

Teachers set the tone for how children feel: welcome, seen, capable, and curious. Those positive feelings become the heartbeat of the broader program culture.

Our Six Positive Messages offer a clear, practical framework for creating that kind of classroom environment. Each message addresses a foundational need of belonging that children must feel to thrive in school and in life.

1. This is a good place to be. This message provides reassurance. Teachers communicate it through warmth and presence, greeting each child by name and creating routines that help every child feel welcome.
2. You belong here. This message shows acceptance. Teachers affirm children’s identities by including their families, languages, and cultures in the classroom and celebrating what makes each child unique.
3. This is a place you can trust. This message assures reliability. Teachers follow through on their promises, keep routines consistent, and model kindness, helping children learn that adults are dependable.
4. This is a place you can be by yourself when you want. This message communicates respect. Teachers provide spaces for children to take breaks, reflect quietly, or simply recharge when they need a moment alone.
5. You can do many things on your own here. This message fosters independence. Teachers create environments where children can access materials, solve problems, and take pride in their growing abilities.
6. This is a safe place to explore. This message nurtures confidence. Teachers encourage children to take risks, ask questions, and learn through discovery, knowing that curiosity is supported and celebrated.

When these messages are woven into the everyday rhythms of the classroom—during morning meetings, play, transitions, and reflection—they build a positive classroom culture that children and families can feel every day.

Build Trust and Belonging

Belonging is the foundation of a positive classroom culture. When children feel accepted and supported, they are more open to learning and families are more likely to engage.

• Greet each child and family warmly, creating a routine that says, “This is a good place to be.”
• Display children’s authentic work and photos to show them they belong and that their contributions matter.
• Keep promises and maintain consistent routines so children know “This is a place you can trust.”

These everyday actions communicate acceptance and reliability. When children and families see that your classroom is a place of safety and belonging, they invest emotionally in the community around them.

Foster Independence and Confidence

Confidence grows when children have opportunities to make choices and learn from them.

• Encourage children to take on classroom responsibilities such as setting tables, watering plants, or helping friends.
• Make materials accessible so children can explore independently.
• Celebrate effort as much as achievement to reinforce “You can do many things on your own here.”
• Invite children to try new things and ask, “What do you want to explore today?” This helps them internalize the message “This is a safe place to explore.”

These small, consistent practices show children that they are capable, trusted, and supported as they grow.

Partner With Families

A strong classroom culture extends beyond the school walls. Families are a vital part of the community teachers build every day.

• Share regular updates about what children are learning, exploring, and enjoying.
• Invite families to share stories, songs, or traditions that reflect their experiences.
• Use class displays and newsletters to highlight children’s work and progress, reinforcing that the classroom is a good place to be for everyone.
• Encourage open conversations with families about routines, transitions, and learning goals.

When families feel seen, heard, and included, they become active participants in improving school culture and strengthening connections across the program.

How Strong Classroom Culture Improves Child Outcomes

Children who feel safe, included, and capable engage more deeply in play and learning. They take creative risks, persist through challenges, and form meaningful relationships with teachers and peers.

Research shows that a strong sense of belonging is linked to improved academic achievement and social–emotional development¹. Classrooms built on trust and belonging give children the stability and confidence they need to explore, problem-solve, and grow.

Practical Tips for Teachers

Small actions create big culture shifts.

• Keep routines consistent so children feel secure.
• Reinforce the Six Positive Messages throughout the day.
• Use positive language and describe what children can do.
• Reflect together at the end of the day: “What made our classroom a good place to be today?”
• Celebrate effort, kindness, and curiosity as much as success.

Each of these simple steps helps create a classroom where trust, joy, and belonging are part of the everyday experience.