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In grade 7, my homeroom teacher wanted our space to feel calm, relaxing, and fun as much as possible. We had a bar top table so groups could work together in the back of the classroom along with a reading corner with a small library and a couch for us to sit on. My teacher was always kind, respectful and had great classroom management with good authority but also made sure to always stay positive so everyone in class felt safe and welcomed into our classroom.

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Grade 7 English class had beanbags and students were allowed to sit any time during the class. The proposal was to provide comfortable space when students are doing independent works. Initially certain students took advantage of the system and hid away from the teacher (it was behind the line of sight for the teacher), but slowly more and more students gotten motivated to carry out their works sitting on a comfy beanbags

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My most recent memory of a comfortable classroom is my grade 12 french classroom. The class was not set up with the traditional rows of desk. Instead we had bean bags, rolling chairs, rolling tables, etc. This flexible seating arrangement made it easier to go to class because I knew after a long day, I didn't have to force myself too much to "sit up properly" to do my work. In some ways, it felt like the pressure to perform was reduced and I could get my tasks done in an environment that suited me. The option to choose how and where I wanted to sit in the classroom made me feel comfortable and ready to complete tasks.

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Perhaps it's because my Grade 4 teacher passed away in 2011, but I really felt a sense of belonging in her class. My teacher was sensitive to our differences, but also recognized how we were the same. She was not afraid to experiment with table arrangements, or field trips, such as a trip to a Candy Factory and Scenic Caves in Collingwood. This was also the only class that I remember having a student teacher, who shared the responsibilities with my regular teacher fairly. I regularly reflect on my memories of that Student teacher, relating them to my own. I remember having choice regarding my projects, and having fun with them. My regular teacher also read us the book "Holes" , which I fondly enjoyed. I think those of us who were in her class, remember her "Skittle Machine", which was her "performance reward system".

-Vincent

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My favourite classroom environment was my video technology class in grade 11 and 12. The teacher had a very relaxed vibe in the classroom but at the same time had excellent classroom management. He was very respectful to everyone and in turn, we respected him. Everyone completed their assignments in a professional manner and did a great job on their assignments.

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My gr 8 teacher arranged her classroom in a giant "U" shape in her classroom. I always liked this arrangement because it made everyone in the class feel like their on the same level. No one was in the back of the class and no one was in the front. We could all see one another and it was always fun when our teacher would sometimes come into the centre of the space to teach.

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My favourite classroom environments were from my grades 2 and 3 teachers. I feel like they were the VETERANS of teaching. It felt like they had everything down pat. They were besties so they worked closely together a lot. They were so engaging and soft spoken, yet their classroom management was unmatched. I remember being so happy when I had them as my teachers two years in a row! They made me want to come to school.

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I love environments that can shift into what you need for classrooms that can move around a go outside and around to learn in different areas

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This was one of my favourite classes because my teach Mr Guile was so passionate. He was so engaging, you couldn't help but listen to and care about what he was talking about because he was so enthralled. He was welcoming and built a great relationship with his students which altogether made it a fabulous experience.

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The best classroom environment I experienced as a student was my high school music room. It was the best because it was always a welcoming and encouraging environment. At any time we could go find the music teacher in her office, and she could let us in before or after school or during lunch or spare periods to practice. She was also very open to allowing us to try out different instruments. She trusted us completely to take care of the instruments, which in turn made us more careful so that we would not disappoint her trust.

Sophia Franc

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In grade 12 English, our class was a mix of AP and Academic, but we were not separated within the class. In my other classes, AP students all sat together, but by breaking it up, we were able to discuss and share ideas with everyone. I found it a lot more inclusive. There was also a lot of space in the class because there were only about 18 of us. There were resources, natural light, and ways to move around so we did not get overwhelmed. I remember such a fun and positive vibe in the room.

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My best classroom environment I experienced as a highschool student was my grade 10 history class. The teacher's method of teaching followed a story-telling structure that kept us engaged in the weekly topics. The teacher also fostered lots of room for growth and development of our own particpation in the course with group projects and presentations.

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One of my favourite classrooms was my grade 10 history/grade 11 French classroom (same teacher and class). The way my teacher structured the classroom made everyone feel very relaxed and welcome. We sat in rows of 3 and did a lot of collaborative work. As well, the teacher always played music quietly while we had time to work independently or individually. I personally have trouble concentrating when it's too quiet so the music playing helped me focus better.

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The best classroom environment i've experienced in my educational career was in my Grade 12 Leadership Class. The class was full of students who were open to trying new things, zero judgement, so many team-building games, and every day was based around having as much fun as possible. Our classroom was set-up in a circle of desks, but we were rarely sat at them and constantly working in teams on projects or activities. I think it made it extra special and comfortable to be in that class during Grade 12 as we all knew it was our last chance to have fun together before we separated.

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One of my best classroom experiences was actually in college, specifically an Introduction to Music Technology class taught by Andrew Mullin. The class size was generally small, so it can be comparable to a school environment.

If I were to assess what made Mullin's classes really great (as I had him for a couple courses), I would say it was that he was very kind and informative. I learned a lot of useful material regarding ProTools, computer shortcuts, acoustic sciences, and industry trends that stuck with me over the years.

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The best classroom environment I have experienced in my educational career was one of my morning dance classes at York University for my undergrad degree. The freedom we had to explore and the opportunities to strengthen ourselves gave me confidence. I also loved the class dynamic, my friends, and the topics we explored.

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The best classroom environment I have experienced in my educational career was one of my morning dance classes at York University for my undergrad degree. The freedom we had to explore and the opportunities to strengthen ourselves gave me confidence. I also loved the class dynamic, my friends, and the topics we explored.

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Christiano DiDomenico

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The best classroom experience I had was in my history of rock n' roll class in University. Our professor was extremely down to earth and very passionate about the material. He would bring musicians in and allow us to explore the music in creative ways. It was a class you just did not want to miss. The lecture hall was nothing special but the atmosphere always felt relaxed and exciting at the same time.

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My Best Classroom Environment Experience

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My Best Classroom Environment Experience

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Throughout my educational journey, the best classroom environment I experienced was my high school music classroom. While in this classroom, I felt calm, and motivated to learn a variety of musical techniques on my clarinet.

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Vianna

One of the best classroom experiences in my educational career was my Grade 12 dance class. It was more than just a class—it was a farewell to a program and a teacher I had built a strong relationship with over the years. Our teacher was like a mother to all of us, striking the perfect balance between structure and play. The environment she created was free from competition, fostering a space where we could be both disciplined and creative.

One of the most valuable aspects of this class was the room for creativity. Our assignments were engaging and fun, allowing us to explore our artistic expression without feeling restricted. I have always loved the arts, and this class deepened that passion. We even had the incredible opportunity to take a trip to New York, an experience that further enriched our learning and appreciation for dance.

Beyond the curriculum, what made this experience so memorable was how our teacher genuinely cared for each of us—not just as students but as individuals. She took the time to have private meetings with us, discussing our future careers in dance and helping us navigate the next steps beyond high school. This personal investment in our success proved that she valued us as whole people, not just as dancers in her class.

She also understood the realities of our lives outside of school. Many of us were heavily involved in extracurricular activities, particularly dancing at private studios, which left little time for schoolwork in the evenings. Recognizing this, she provided extra time during class to work on assignments, easing some of the pressure we felt. This level of understanding was crucial, especially in contrast to other teachers who were less accommodating, often causing students unnecessary anxiety. I personally struggled with test anxiety, so having a teacher who was flexible and understanding made a significant difference in my learning experience.

What stood out most was how practical and applicable our assignments were. Instead of focusing solely on theoretical knowledge, we worked on creating CVs, résumés, and dance reels—essential tools for those of us considering careers in the dance industry. These assignments had real-world value, preparing us for life beyond high school in a way that many other classes did not.

Overall, this class was a perfect example of what a positive learning environment should be. Our teacher set clear boundaries while fostering a sense of warmth and encouragement. She provided structure without rigidity, creativity without chaos, and most importantly, she made us feel seen and supported. This experience reinforced for me the kind of educator I aspire to be—one who recognizes students' individual needs, nurtures their passions, and prepares them for the future in meaningful ways.

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The best classroom environment I experienced in my educational career. 

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The best classroom environment I experienced in my educational career. 

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The best classroom environment I experienced in my educational career was in my Grade 10 English class. One reason for this is that the classroom setup was different from the traditional seating arrangements we were used to. The teacher was also very kind and open minded, always willing to listen to students if they preferred not to sit in a certain spot for any reason. Additionally, she encouraged us to contribute our own ideas to the activities we did in class. For example, when we read Hamlet, the class expressed interest in performing a play, and our teacher supported this idea, something that many teachers don’t typically do.

Kausa

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A classroom environment that sticks with me even today is my Grade 12 English class. My teacher was dedicated to us, her students, and was also passionate about the subject. Knowing that she was so dedicated to us and the subject, made myself and my classmates feel safe and comfortable in our space. She was also committed to cross-curricular lessons and assignments. Overall, reflecting back on this time in my life, I can see how my teacher was able to create this classroom environment. -Christina

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Grade 6 my teacher made me feel very comfortabke toexplore my passions, this made me feel very welcome and open to learn and i think this made me want to come to class.

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In my grade 11, my teacher wanted the classroom to be a relaxing and fun place so she designed the wall to have a lot of posters and asked us to participate. We would also use designs or products that we make from arts & craft class or technology class to put at the back of the classroom. Furthermore, the teacher was always kind and inclusive to everybody's culture. She was great at classroom management and looking back, I realize that she gives out a positive attitude but has strong authority.

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The best classroom environment I experienced was in Grade 12 Personal Life Management with Ms. Morris. She made learning practical and engaging, ensuring we understood every assignment. We didn’t just learn life skills, we practiced them. She taught us to change a tire on her own car, took us on a team-building field trip, and guided us through budgeting for our first car, which some students later used to make real purchases. Ms. Morris cared about our success beyond the classroom, creating a supportive, hands-on learning experience that truly prepared us for life.

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My most memorable and inspiring classroom experience was my Grade 11 dance class. The teacher radiated positivity, creating a warm and uplifting environment where every student felt valued. Her unwavering optimism set the tone for a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. She welcomed and celebrated everyone’s ideas, offering thoughtful guidance without ever dismissing requests for help. With great insight, she provided opportunities tailored to each student's strengths, fostering an inclusive space where we could express ourselves freely through dance. I eagerly looked forward to every class, excited to participate, contribute, and even teach on occasion. This experience holds a special place in my heart, and it’s always a highlight when I reflect on my high school journey. I am deeply inspired to create a similarly enriching and empowering environment for my future students.

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The best classroom experience I ever experienced was one where the room was set up into a u shape with the desks. I had 2 co-teachers in the room (a first for me). We also had room in the centre of the room for class discussion and presentation.

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my grade 8 class had plenty of bookshelves that allowed students to pick up books and read when they were done. It encouraged individual reading time and a quiet, relaxed environment. I hope to foster the same kind of environment when I have my own class.

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My grade 7 class was really fun. My homeroom teacher had a strange seating arrangement, but looking back it allowed for students to move in between tables for colloboration and group projects. There was also a computer lab at the back and that made the classroom feel like a conductive learning experience. He managed our computer time well, which enabled us to explore topics that we were curious about. He also had his desk tucked into the corner. By doing this, he showed that he was part of the class by always sitting at the meeting table at the front. This table was for class presentations and group discussions.

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My grade 12 Politics classroom was an awesome learning environment. The overhead lights were turned off, and the space was lit using lamps and string lights. There were no desks or chairs in the room. Students sat on couches and bean bag chairs which were organized in a circle. The classroom always felt like a safe space in which everyone could relax and speak freely.

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There were two classrooms where I felt most at home at - the communications technology room and the drama room. As a teenager, I loved to act in plays, create movies and take photos. My parents wanted me to go into the science and maths, I was forced to take all of them even though I didn't like them. When I would get to the drama room or the comm tech room, I'd feel at peace. I'd feel like I was finally able to be myself, to create something that was mine.

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A memorable classroom was my music class during middle school, where instead of rows and instruments were grouped together, the room was set up in a circle, where we would all be facing each other. We would naturally gravitate towards those who were playing the same instruments, but that was a choice we made and not something that was forced on us to do. It was such a different setting than what we were used to with groups of tables or rows for us to be facing forward where instead we were all put together as a single group of students.

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The best classroom experience was in my grade 8 class. Though I was in the portables for my grade 8 year, my teacher arranged the desks in such a way that allowed for much movement and freedom in sitting. We were not bound to our seats and were able to sit on top of our desks for lessons or move to another spot. It made the classroom environment more engaging and gave us autonomy in our learning.

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In my grade 11&12 politics class their was a teacher who incredible. She was very engaging and got us thinking about different policies, political view points, and more. She made student feel very comfortable to share their opinions and debate one another to really deep dive into the information. Even though it was a politics course she never influenced our thinking with her own views she just allowed us to create our own opinions. She was also extremely kind, caring, and empathetic which made the classroom enjoyable and comfortable

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I teach chess to JK-1 students. After the winter break, and a few missed classes because I was moved around between programs, I was told to come back and run an informal assessment of their chess knowledge and understanding. I chose and brought in 2 worksheets. We began our work. Their behaviour, participation, and effort were highly impressive and better than ever before! I was so proud of all of them. Some students that usually didn't perform as well were trying their best and working hard!

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My mentor teacher has everyone on google classroom that was it’s more organized for her and her students. As papers can easily get lost and makes it hard to mark. With the google classroom parents also have access to it in a viewing sense where they can see what homework there is and projects that are being done.

My mentor teacher also has a tool that she uses for assessment where she’s able to put the student’s assessment in and it helps create a a graph (Bar, circle, etc) that shows her how many students still need help, how many understand. She uses this to help plan her next lessons

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The best classroom I have been in was my grade 8 class. We had the responsibility and the freedom to be able to work in different areas of the room, on the floor or in groups in order to complete work effectively and efficiently, but collaboratively. This was really great for us to be able to learn about time management and how to work with peers.

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Actually not gonna lie, gym class was the best class!

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Actually not gonna lie, gym class was the best class!

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The best classroom environment I experienced was in grade 5. My grade 5 teacher made every subject fun. She knew how to engage students in classroom activities and material. She was also a very approachable teacher, so I felt safe an comfortable to respectfully state my opinions in class. The best part of her classroom was she loved holidays and harry potter so every holiday she would decorate the classroom and dress according to the theme of the holiday. She also let us watch harry potter movies when we had free time.

-Siarah