Three Simple Ways to Transform Classroom Culture Tomorrow

Gang, returning to the classroom can be hard after a long winter break.  January is a vital time to reset your classroom and set the tone for a fantastic return to learning.  I’m excited to share three simple yet powerful communication tips you can implement in your classroom tomorrow to improve the climate and culture. These practical strategies won’t require a massive overhaul of your lesson plans and can make a huge difference in how your students connect with you, each other, and their learning environment.

1. Check Your Tone

How do you sound when you interact with your students? As educators, we often get caught up in the energy of managing a classroom and don’t realize how our tone can impact students. We tend to use the wrong tone at the wrong time. For example, when a student misbehaves, we might default to a loud, “daytime DJ” voice that is energetic and intense. “Hey, cut that out! How many times do I have to tell you?!” Meanwhile, when students do something positive, we downplay it with a calm, subdued tone: “Good job.”

It’s time to flip the script. When a student does something right, hype them up with your energized daytime DJ voice: “That’s what I’m talking about! Amazing work!” But when a student does something wrong, switch to a calm, serious, “nighttime DJ” voice: “Hey, what’s going on here? Let’s talk about that.” This subtle shift in how you deliver feedback changes the dynamic. It reinforces positive behavior with enthusiasm and addresses negative behavior without escalating tension. Try it —it works!

2. Alpha and Omega: The Beginning and End of Class

Create meaningful connections with students at the beginning (alpha) and end (omega) of class. I know time is tight, and there’s always pressure to dive straight into instruction. But taking just one minute at the start of class to connect with your students on a personal level can make a world of difference.

Here’s a simple idea: share something about yourself or pose a fun question that gets them thinking. For instance, ask, “What do you think my favorite movie is?” or “Guess how many siblings I have.” Don’t give them the answer right away—make them wait until the end of class to find out. That little bit of curiosity not only builds relationships but keeps them engaged throughout the lesson.

These quick moments of connection help students see you as a person, not just a teacher. Over time, these interactions build stronger relationships and a more positive classroom environment. For more ideas, check out the 10-Minute Classroom Openers series.

3. Communicate with Home

Making connections with families directly impacts the climate and culture of your classroom. It’s easy to rely on emails, apps like Class Dojo, or other tech tools to communicate with parents, but nothing beats an old-fashioned phone call. And here’s the key—don’t just call when something goes wrong. Make it a habit to call home for the good stuff, too.

Even if no one answers, leave a voicemail. Trust me, students will go home and tell their parents to check their messages when there is something positive about them. The impact of a quick, uplifting call is huge! It shows families you see the best in their kids and reinforces positive behavior. A few minutes of your time can transform how a student feels about school and how parents view your classroom.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it: three simple strategies to improve the climate and culture of your classroom tomorrow! Check your tone to foster positive interactions, use alpha and omega moments to build relationships, and connect with families through meaningful communication. Small changes like these can have a significant impact, especially after a holiday break.

Try these out, and let me know how it goes in the comments! If you have additional ideas, I would love to hear them, too! Subscribe to my YouTube channel for practical, energizing tips and strategies that transform the climate and culture of classrooms, schools, and districts around the globe.