How to Create an Interactive and Engaging Classroom Atmosphere

I write this the week before school begins, closing out another week of professional development and classroom setup. Since I didn’t have to move classrooms or take everything down for renovation, classroom setup was relatively simple and gave me a chance to enhance my room from last year. My goals this year were to create a classroom atmosphere that is:

• Engaging
• Interactive
• Comfortable

Here are some tips and resources to help create a classroom space that inspires learners and calms minds at the same time.

Tips for creating an ENGAGING classroom atmosphere

Build a classroom library

One of the most important components of any learning space is a classroom library. (This does not only apply to ELA teachers, by the way!) Having a classroom library tells students that you value reading and shows them the titles that you recommend. Be sure to have a method for students to check out books, be it a scanner or simply a clipboard. Also, number your books so students can write which one they check out. Add a book return bin as well!

Offer book recommendations

Another great tip for engaging student readers is to show them what you’re reading. I made a simple poster that says, “Mrs. Kortuem is currently reading:” and laminated it. I write my current book in dry erase marker and update it as the year goes on. You’d be surprised how many students ask me about it!

Another tip is to invite other faculty members to share their favorite books, just like librarians and book store staff would do. See below for more information on this idea!

Non-academic bellringers

You may already know that I’m a big fan of bellringers. Currently, all of my bellringers are academic. However, I have several colleagues who use bellringers as warm-ups or icebreakers and do not tie them to academics. These include playing Wordle or posing trivia questions. If you have a particularly sleepy class, this can be a great way to liven them up.

On this day in ELA

Another bellringer or warm-up idea comes from my passion project from a few years ago, On This Day in ELA. Over the course of a year, I researched and posted an ELA-related event for each day of the calendar. I even had an Instagram account dedicated it. Ultimately, the project proved too much work for what it was worth. However, I do have all of the dates available on my old website here. I also have printed posters for each month on TpT. I post these outside my door and they’re a fun way to celebrate all things English.

Have a classroom theme

One of the ways my teacher friends and I engage our learners is by having a classroom theme. Sometimes we update these and sometimes they stay the same. Last year I transformed my learning space with a travel theme. My friends have used themes like cozy library, quirky coffeehouse, Scandinavian cottage, and even Star Wars! While it can be a lot of work, classroom themes are great for creative and crafty teachers who want to truly transform their classroom.

Tips for creating an INTERACTIVE classroom atmosphere

Create spontaneous poetry with a typewriter

One of my favorite spaces in my friend Janette’s classroom is a small table with a typewriter on it. She keeps it filled with paper and invites students to use it to write spontaneous poems. If they’re proud of them, they can post it on a bulletin board nearby. It’s a brilliant way to encourage creative writing, not to mention recycle an old typewriter!

Create a “Staff Picks” book display

One of my newest classroom displays is a shelf that shows faculty book recommendations. I passed out small review cards to the staff and explained my idea. They returned the cards, I paired each with the corresponding book, and suddenly I had staff picks! My students were already looking through them during our open house and several faculty members have been scoping out the recommendations as well. It’s a great tool for encouraging reading a building rapport between students and faculty.

Click here if you want the Canva link to the review card!

Incorporate QR codes into your displays

When I was creating my travel-themed classroom, one idea I had was to use a huge world map to show where various authors were born. I wanted to show my students that great writing could come from anywhere and that they’d be able to “read the world” if they wanted. Using my map, some images from Google, twine, and a QR code creator, I finished my Read the World masterpiece.

By hovering over each QR code, students are linked to a poem, excerpt, or YouTube video that pertains to that author. I originally only created this to be a decorative piece but ended up using it as our first day lesson in World Lit. You can buy the QR codes and corresponding pictures on Teachers Pay Teachers here.

Create a self-help writing station

This is rare moment where I’m going to plug someone else’s resource, but it’s so brilliant that it needs to be shared. A few years ago, Ashley Bible of Building Book Love created her Fast and Focused Feedback resource. It is a grading resource but I mostly use it as a teaching tool and room display. When a student is struggling with a concept that I’ve taught but they just don’t get it, I can direct them to grab a card from our corresponding Self-Help Writing Station. Each card offers a quick writing lesson and a QR code for further instruction.

Create a classroom playlist

In past years, my students and I have created course playlists on Spotify. Each student offers a song recommendation and I add it to the list. You can even create a class “vibe” or align it to a particular novel as a lesson. This is a particularly great idea for small classes or study halls.

SEL Check-ins

Another idea I love is incorporating social and emotional learning as a bellringer or warm-up. Hang a mini whiteboard or denote a special spot in your room for SEL Check-ins. As students enter, they grab a post-it and stick it to section that describes them (see picture below). You can ask students to put their names on the back, if you wish, or simply keep on eye on where students stick their post-it. At a later time, you can connect with struggling students and find out what’s going on.

Tips for creating a COMFORTABLE classroom atmosphere

Offer charging stations

One of my students’ favorite things about my classroom is that I have many spaces for charging devices around. There’s a phone charging station in the front and each wall has extension cords and surge protectors for laptops. My students never have dead laptops and their phones are often out of their hands!

Create soft spaces

It’s true that most of us don’t get a say on our classroom furniture, such as desks and tables. However, any way you can implement soft spaces for your students will help them feel more at ease. I have an armchair that students get to sit in (on a rotation, to keep it fair). I also have seating pads in a basket for those that want to sit on the cold, hard floor. Little touches like armchairs, cushions, lap desks, etc., communicate that you value your students’ comfort, but the space is still meant for learning.

Use soft lighting and accent lights

Another thing we often can’t control is our classroom’s lighting. If you’re blessed with big windows, I envy you. I’m in a windowless room with harsh, fluorescent lighting. However, I’ve hung several lamps and placed lamps around the room so I never have to use the overheads. Students and parents appreciate the “cozy” vibe it creates, but it still remains light enough to read.

Word of caution: make sure you don’t break any fire codes when hanging lights! Some schools have strict rules about this.

Use flexible seating as a reward

I’m a big lover of seating charts. However, I make sure to offer flexible seating as a reward to each of my classes at least once a week. I made this flippable sign (free on TpT) that I post with a magnet on my whiteboard. When they have earned it, I flip the sign and give students flexible seating. This often includes the armchairs around my room, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students appreciate the freedom to relax and socialize from time to time, but I maintain classroom management as well.

Make it cozy!

My students like to feel cozy, maybe because we must learn during a five-month long winter season. Some ways I make my room feel cozy include:

• Play soft music when learning. I like Chill Vibes, Cinematic Chillout, and Music for Concentration on Spotify.
• When you’re not displaying notes, find a YouTube channel that shows a fireplace or library setting on your projector. Here’s a list to get you started. Many of these are eight hours long so you can leave them up without worrying about them.
• If allowed, run a diffuser. This helps block out any post-P.E. smells and can calm your students. I’m partial to lavender, peppermint, and patchouli oils.

This tip comes with a bonus tip: remember that you’re still creating a learning space. Avoid workspaces that are too comfortable (I don’t recommend couches) and don’t use blankets or anything that encourages sleeping!

Offer supplies, if possible

It doesn’t take too much to provide the basics to your students to keep them comfortable. This doesn’t have to be extravagant, but be sure your room is supplied with tissues, hand sanitizer, lotion (especially if you have harsh, dry winters like me!), and maybe even some spare writing utensils. Usually your school can help provide some of these items. If not, I find that friends and family are often happy to help donate supplies to struggling teachers. Have them on hand to keep your students healthy and ready for learning.

Do you have any other ideas or tips for enhancing your classroom’s atmosphere? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear them!