How important is the learning environment?

Making sure the  learning environment is welcoming and friendly is key to any classroom setting. Decorated walls creates a friendly, brighter and more interesting environment which is known to have an effect on children and their enthusiasm to learn.

Display materials can include useful direct teaching aids that enrich or reinforce what subject is being taught. It will simply bring the subject to live.
Wall displays can be used to set the scene for a new topic and will help to gain and stimulate interest from the children. They will generate interest and curiosity before the topic is taught.
They can help greatly with learning as children are able to memorise the display material for example, displaying numbers, letters or other important information such a weather or seasons. It can help to make the teacher more effective and gain greater achievements from the class.
A well thought out learning environment is more likely to have a positive impact and make children want to be there and want to learn.

A stimulating environment makes for a stimulated child - the environment in which a child is in can have a very direct impact of their learning, children who feel more engaged in their learning environment are known to be more receptive.

What not to do
Whilst having colourful and populated classroom walls is important, it is also important to not over do it. Finding the right balance between stimulating and over-stimulating displays can be difficult.
Having a wall display that is crowded and erratic can have an adverse effect on children. It can cause children to be distracted, confused and over-stimulated.  A classroom wall display should be focused, clear and simple but most importantly it should be age appropriate.
Having no wall displays can also have a detrimental effect on learning. Plain walls with little colour can be very unappealing and uninviting and will under stimulate children.
Below are a few example of practical displays, yet do not overstimulate the children.

This display shows how a working wall can work in the classroom. Covered up vocabulary to prompt thinking and white strips for children to add their own vocabulary onto, create a practical and useful display in the classroom.

Credit to: Meryal Karqkas (NQT)

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Simple, stylish and fresh looking displays help calm and focus children on their learning. I love the way these boards have consistent colour themes and are free from clutter.  

Credit to: Katie Westacott
(mrswestknowsbest.blogspot.co.uk)

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I created this display to showcase quality texts based on my classes' interests. The book covers were photocopied and placed into frames (poundshop find!) and attached to the walls with vecro so that the children could change them easily. The award rosettes are available to download in my resource shop.

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