When teaching Young Learners or Kindergarten, the classroom environment is incredibly important. From the moment the children arrive until they leave at the end of the lesson, they need to feel comfortable and secure. The more comfortable they feel, the more ready they will be to learn.
Every teaching situation is different — the room you have, whether it’s shared, how much space there is, and what resources are available to you. But whatever your context, there are many simple things you can do to create a positive learning environment for Young Learners.
Here are ten practical ideas:
1. Create space
Make sure the room is arranged so you can accommodate all the children. Think about whether there are enough chairs, and whether the children have enough space to move, sit together, or work creatively. Wherever possible, avoid having children sitting at tables for long periods of time, if at all. Young Learners need space to move.
2. Have a quiet area
Have a small “quiet area” for when the children arrive and before they leave. A few cushions and some simple storybooks in English are enough. It gives children a chance to settle, take a breath, and feel at ease before the lesson begins.
3. Display children’s names
Have the children’s names displayed somewhere in the room. This helps them feel they belong and are part of the class community. It also helps them recognise their own written name, which is a lovely early literacy step.
4. Display children’s work
Display the things your Young Learners produce whenever you can. It doesn’t have to be perfect – even a drawing on a piece of coloured paper hung on a string means something to the child who made it. You can also let the children choose what they want to display and put it up themselves.
It’s worth explaining this to parents too: it’s the process and the child’s own creation that matter, not the “final product”.
5. Create a tidy, clutter free space
Try to keep your Young Learner room tidy and clutter-free, with resources complete and put away. Broken or incomplete materials are not appealing and can be unsafe.
From day one, build tidy-up routines with the children, both during and at the end of the lesson. Make it fun: race the timer, use a “tidy-up song”, or play a piece of music that becomes the signal for tidying. Clear routines help children understand what’s happening and feel secure.
Looking for ready-made Young Learner lesson plans? Have a look at our Resource Packs:
6. Marbles in the jar
This is a simple and effective whole-class positive reinforcement idea. Draw a large jar, let the children decorate it, and stick it on the wall. Make small coloured circles (“marbles”) and place them next to the jar.
Whenever you see positive behaviour – for example, good listening or great tidying – give a child a “marble” to stick in the jar. Count them together. The children enjoy watching the jar fill up and love being chosen to place a marble. Decide on a target number to reach. You don’t need a reward at the end – completing the jar together is the reward in itself.
7. Ensure all children have a turn
To make sure every child gets a turn during games or activities, invite them to write their names on lolly sticks (or on small rolled-up pieces of paper) and place them in a container. When you need to choose someone, pick a name at random. Once chosen, that name goes into a second container until everyone has had a turn.
This helps avoid accidentally choosing the same confident children again and again, and helps children recognise their own names too.
8. Agree on class rules
One of the first things to do with a new group of Young Learners is to create simple class rules or “essential agreements”. Depending on their level of English, you can develop these together.
You may need to demonstrate some of the rules – such as “always walk” or “hands up” – and invite the children to demonstrate too. This builds understanding and helps them feel involved. Use pictures or photos to represent the rules, or let the children draw their own.
Make the rules clearly visible. Refer to them often, especially at the beginning of the year. Say them quickly, slowly, while standing up, crouching down… Have fun with it! Young Learners engage well with repetition and playful intonation.
9. Use signals
Have a signal that means “stop and listen”. This might be putting your hand up, ringing a bell, or using a homemade shaker (an empty yoghurt pot with rice inside works well). Introduce the signal from the first lesson and praise the children who stop immediately – the rest will follow quickly.
Let different children take turns using the signal from time to time. They love being the “teacher” for a moment.
10. Be fair and kind, but with clear boundaries
Be fair and kind, but make sure your boundaries are clear. Stay calm and avoid shouting. If you need to speak to a child about behaviour, make sure they understand that it is the behaviour – not the child – that’s the issue. Use translation support if needed, and avoid ending a lesson with something unresolved. Sometimes behaviour problems are simply misunderstandings because a child cannot yet express themselves.
Keep parents/guardians informed where necessary – building trust with families is an important part of creating a positive environment for everyone.
Wrapping up
Taking the time at the beginning of the year to set up a positive, safe learning environment will have a huge impact on the children – and on your lessons too.
