All you need to know to create a calm classroom
For teacher and student alike, they both spend 5-8 hours a day in the classroom. It goes without saying that having a calming classroom atmosphere can make a SIGNIFICANT difference in classroom management and having a peaceful day for all. The utilization of calm classroom decor makes teaching more productive and makes learning more soothing to students. In this article we will cover everything you need to know about how to best accomplish that for your school room or homeschool area. Hold on tight as we dive deep into the nuances of cozy classroom décor, calming classroom themes, and relaxing classroom color schemes. Stay with us until the end to learn how to calm students in a matter of MINUTES. Keep these calming classroom ideas on hand for when students need a bigger nudge to quiet down.
You won’t be disappointed. Read this now, and you will thank yourself later!
The Theory of Calm Classroom Management
Before we begin with décor and color schemes, it is important to highlight the mindset behind it all. As a teacher or parent, remember that we do not have control over our students and children. We can only set the tone in the classroom environment and control the way in which we respond to how students act. So, keep a patient persona. Refuse to yell, refuse to spiral out of control, stay firm and confident when giving directions, and always make sure that your directions are clear. Clear expectations make it easy for little ones to follow directions.
Whew!
Now with that said, let’s look at the tangible ways that we can control the atmosphere of the classroom that can give us a greater chance of winning at having a peaceful atmosphere.
Creating a Calm Classroom Theme
Themes help with organizing your thinking so that creativity in decorating can be easily inspired. Make things easy on yourself, by allowing lesson plans, décor items, and color schemes to easily flow within a calming classroom theme.
Calming classroom themes include:
-Ocean theme
-Tropical Rainforest theme
-Garden theme
-A Winter Mountain theme
-Open Sky (Clouds, Sun, Birds) theme
-Farm style/Farm animal theme
Ideal Calm Classroom Color schemes
Most classrooms have a rainbow of color with posters all around the room. Calming color palettes can be used to marry the busy colors around the room, so that it can look more uniform. When deciding a color palette start with two complementing colors and one minimal accent color. Begin by thinking about what dominant colors are largely already present in the space. Perhaps the desks are blue, the walls are yellow, and the flooring is beige. Use these colors as a starting point to work with. Large décor items such as pillows, classroom curtains, cozy carpet squares, and bulletin board back drops can really resonate together when in the same color family.
Here are a few recommendations for calming classroom color schemes:
-Lavender and deep purple
-Coral and Peach
-Turquoise and Aqua
-Sky Blue and Bright Blue
-Light Green and Earthy Green
Calming Classroom Décor
Once the classroom theme and color scheme have been chosen, it is time to consider suitable classroom décor. When choosing décor to make a space calming and cozy, think about what is most appealing to the senses. Perhaps soft carpet squares during story time can make the room feel more comfortable. Clean smells such as a room deodorizer, or basic linen refresher spray can be used to reset the scent of the classroom. Even visually seeing clean organized bulletin boards and nicely framed artwork around the classroom can make a big difference in how visually appealing the space looks. Be sure to think about the senses when choosing décor items that fit within your theme and color palette. When you do this, the room will begin to come together organically.
A few décor items to consider:
-Throw Pillows (Search for outdoor pillows as these can be easily cleaned and wiped)
-Carpet mats / colorful foam mats for story time (Home Depot is a great source for this)
-Plants/Greenery
-Lamps (to let in warm lighting like that of home)
-Smart light bulbs for your lamp (to control the room lighting from your phone. Choose different colors to flow with the theme as it changes.)
-Decorative Wallpaper backdrops (These are often safe adhesive wallpaper rolls that easily peel off)
-Decorative Wrapping paper backdrops (Festive and inexpensive)
-Decorative Fabric backdrops (Use discounted fabric to easily tie in the theme and color scheme in one go! Two to three yards of fabric can be used on the bulletin board instead of paper.)
-Garlands and streamers (A cheap and easy way to make an area festive, and bring in the color palette)
Calming Sounds in the classroom
Appealing to the auditory senses can dramatically influence peacefulness in an atmosphere. Each sound either that of an instrument or of a small jingle, can cue significant meaning to students, and resonate with them much quicker than words could. Save your voice and instead use musical instruments to create transition from task to task, or to communicate that it is time to quiet down. Ultimately, think of sounds that are not jarring, but that can still capture the attention of students.
Calming music examples include:
- A maraca to signal it’s time to switch learning zones.
-A giant rain stick to signal the class to quiet down. (Works great with a tropical rainforest theme)
-A soft sounding windchime. (Great decorative appeal, and dual usage as a transition instrument)
Need to calm your class immediately?
Children are innocently vibrant in their play, and when transitioning from lunch hour, or recess they often need to be reminded to settle down in preparation for learning. Here are two quick tips on how to calm students in a hurry.
-Turn off the lights, close the blinds, and have a 5 min “heads down on the desk” quiet time to reset. You may even play 5-minute instrumental calming classroom music.
-When teaching, begin speaking very low almost whispering. Naturally students will quiet down to hear what you are trying to say.
What was your favorite calm classroom tip?
Leave a comment below on your favorite calming classroom solution and share any advice that personally works for you. Readers would love to hear about your own experiences. If you enjoyed this article and would like more content for early learning, then hop on the train of mama’s and teachers to join the club!