As an Instructional Assistant, I have observed a positive culture within our school environment through Friends Club. Friends Club allows Regular Education Students connect with their peers who are in the special needs room. Once a week, they visit our room to play games and interact with students who may not go out as much. Friends Club builds a strong connection and ties between these students which allows a more inclusive school environment. It also helps students with special needs build interaction skills with others.

As a student, I witnessed a toxic or negative culture within extracurricular activities, mostly sports. Students who believed they had seniority over lower grade levels on the team tended to bully. This bullying boiled over during the school day, which created a sense of fear amongst the lower grade levels. Thus, causing a never ending cycle until the end of that sports season.

A time that I have witnessed positive culture in a school was when I was observing at a high school in an Agricultural Fabrication Course. The teacher and student did not speak the same language which could have been a point of difficulty when connecting. But, the they shared a love of the content and of agriculture as a whole which superseded the need for the same language to be spoken. Through the use of diagrams and demonstrations the student was able to rise to be one of the most proficient in the course at small engine repair. The usage of these differing instructional methods and the mutual passion from both individuals created a culture where learning was able to flourish regardless of barrier.

When I think of a time that I saw an example of toxic/negative culture in a school, I am reminded about a class I took my freshman year of high school. The teacher was very opinionated and did not hesitate to share their thoughts on all matters. This made students feel judged and not comfortable learning in the classroom because of the rude behavior.

During my senior year of high school, we started a club called Renaissance. This group was created for the purpose of creating a positive culture in the school. This group would make many kind gestures and do activities around the school. One big activity they did was on the first of every month they would start the school day by putting clips on people's backpacks with positive stays. This boosted many people's confidence and created a less stressful first day of school. This positive impact made school seem more fun and welcoming instead of dreadful and unwelcoming.

) My first year at my current school we had a different principal than we have now. That first year we didn't really do anything as a team or have much morale. The last two years we have had a new principal who just takes the extra time to do things for our students and our staff. We use these things that we call bee tickets. The bee tickets are stored in different spots in the hallways where the staff members can give them to any kid who is following procedures in the hallways, cafeteria, bathroom, etc. We use this bee tickets to recognize students at our monthly PBIS assembly. The students names are called and they get to go down on the gym floor where they receive a bee headband and a prize. She also does things to recognize our staff. Recently she has started an Un-Bee-Lievably Awesome award system where she recognizes one certified, one classified and one support staff every week. We are recognized on the newsletter and on our schools Facebook page. Little things like this build morale amongst the staff members which in turn reflects on our students because I feel like they feed off of our energy a lot of the times.

This is my second full year at my current school as a preschool assistant. Last year I got placed in a different classroom because that specific teacher needed some extra help. Upon working in her room I realized rather quickly how negative she was. She made school miserable for me which is saying a lot because I love my job. I started coming in late most days because I just had no joy in being there anymore. I had cried to my principals on a few different occasions while expressing my concerns. She wasn't a very helpful teacher and by the end of the year I found myself doing most of the work plus some while she sat at her computer most days. She would speak down to me and talk negatively about the students to me. This made me feel unappreciated and when I started to change my behavior towards her the students could pick up on that too. It was a long stressful year to say the least.

While I was in my sophomore year of high school, our high school had bes times (homeroom). The school would give us different ideas to do during that time. My best time decided to make a few bus drivers baskets for bus driver appreciation week. We had gathered all of the materials and made the baskets very cute. when we gave them to the drivers they were so happy and loved them. This little gesture of positive culture in our school made the bus drivers have a great rest of the week.

In high school my choir teacher made every student, not just the ones in her class feel as though they could trust her and come to her room for anything and everything. She always made to check in on her students one by one to make sure everyone was doing okay. But one thing I specifically remembered that she always did when we had school dances like prom or homecoming, was write positive things or quotes on the mirrors in the girls bathrooms so that when the girls looked in the mirror they were reminded of how beautiful they were. It just showed that the smallest act of kindness can go a long way.

An example of a toxic/negative culture that I experienced was in high school. I had a teacher who wasn't engaged with her students. We would go to class and she would just hand everyone packets to complete for the day. If you didn't understand something and asked her for help she would get irritable with you and almost make it out to be the student's fault "for not paying attention in class" when really the content wasn't even being taught. This just made students not even want to try because they didn't want to ask for help which ultimately led to many students getting a bad grade in the class.

During my senior year of high school I was in a college writing class taught by one of the English teachers in my high school. She was the sweetest and kindest teacher I had ever had. She always was there for me and other students. Whether it was homework help or a shoulder to cry on she was there for every one of us. She always brighten our day when we walked in her class with her smile. Always checking in on us to make sure we were doing okay.

During my sophomore year of high school I had a chemistry teacher that was brutal. He was so mean and hatful. He would always look down on you if you did not do his work right. If you failed a test he would make it know to the whole class. He would always make sure to call you out even if he knew you were struggling with section. He also hated if he had to take time out of his day to help explain the information better. He was one of the hardest classes ive ever took all because he didn't care about the kids. He was there just for the pay check.

A positive culture that I had experienced was in Kindergarden. The school that I went to mixed both students with disabilities/special needs and those who didn't. I felt as if it really helped all students get to know one another, equally. It also showed who our true friends are. This one girl, had very different facial features. Many people stared and made comments to say, but yet she was the brightest women on this earth. She brought so many of us closer from the start of Elementary school to the day we all graduated. She is truly a one of a kind person and brought a whole classroom together, even at the age of 5.

A negative culture that I had experienced was my junior and senior year of high school. The district I was apart of was the top district in Illinois. We were in a very safe environment within the school and outside the school, we were in a safe community. As some of the boundaries within the counties changed, we had a lot more troubled students coming into the building. Everyday there was a new fight or new lock down. There had multiple drug issues inside the school. None of the staff knew how to control, it. Suspending them was their only answer, but they would come back to do the same thing. A country police officer was stationed at our school, but it honestly never helped. After graduating, i believe the school is still the same and not any better.

Roughly seven years ago I was assisting in a fifth grade classroom during Math group time. The positive culture was overflowing with excitement for learning. As Mrs. Tidwell would work problems on the board she would stop and interact with the students to gain feedback of their knowledge in solving the problem. As the whole class solved the problem together, the whole class got to choose how they would "celebrate" their accomplishment! She had a varitey of movements but my favorite was the roller coaster. It involved the students standing up and making clicking noises like a rollersoaster and using hand gestures like they were riding on one. The kids absolutely loved it! I loved going into Mrs. Tidwell's classroom because her main focus was making learning fun and enjoyable for the students. There were always visitors coming to observe as well so I know she was a very positive educator in everyone's eyes!

When I was in eighth grade I had a negative classroom culture with my Math teacher. She always seemed angry with furrowed brows, and got furious when anyone asked her a question about their work. It always made me think that I would never want to be a teacher. We were scared of getting yelled at for asking how to do the work so we would rely on the students in class that could understand it, and get help from them. The teacher would get angry that we were talking and I recall her even throwing a stapler across the room. I didn't feel safe in her classroom because she was unpredictable and hateful. As an adult teacher I make a strong effort to connect with the students and make them feel safe.

Every student deserves to have that one teacher that leaves an impact on them. The teachers that are always open whenever you have a problem and need help. I was lucky enough to experience this positive impact all 4 years of high school with one of my teachers. She never hesitated to be there for her students and help her students. She provided everyone with a safe space. I strive to be that safe space for my future students.

A negative negative/toxic culture I experienced was last fall before I changed my major. I had an instructor in nursing that was extremely degrading and made me feel as though I was never good enough. It seemed like she had a good relationship with everyone but me. I went home after every class crying because my self esteem felt demolished. She ruined nursing for me but looking back I believe it was God's plan because I have never been happier with my career change!

I recently worked in the Youth Service Center in the high school I graduated at. In this room, there was an abundance of acceptance and joy before we got a new coordinator. I believe that when a student walked into our room, they felt heard, like their opinions matter and what they were feeling was real. These students felt like they had a safe place in their school. To be apart of that was amazing. It made it so hard to resign. These students had a voice in our office that might not have been heard anywhere else in the school. We got involved in a program called Sources of Strengths and this allowed students to take charge of a group of other students who wanted to make an impact in their school. They helped the school feel more like a family than a place they dreaded going to. This program and office I will forever be grateful for.

A negative experience I had while working at the school was when we got a new coordinator in the office. This switch had caused me to quit after a few months of dealing with the negative actions. We had students that were afraid to come down to our office. Students would tell me on the side that they were not being treated fairly, they were scared to come down to the office and often times the students would ask the teachers to have us bring them items because of this. I believe that the "safe place" we once were for these students was completely gone and it broke my heart. Students would come down to the office to confide in me and our coordinator wouldn't let them talk to me. I believe that students wanted so badly to like her, but she was so negative and not friendly that she pushed all the students away. The students not only lost their safe place in the school but they no longer wanted to participate in our programs, they rarely came down to the office for needs such as clothes, shoes, feminine hygiene products, ect. This was something that will hopefully change over time but was certainly a negative experience during my time working in the school district.

I have been working as a daycare teacher for the last 4 months. During my time, I have been with many different age groups. However, one thing has remained the same. The acceptance and love that fill each room is indescribable. I personally believe this starts with the adults in the rooms, and it rubs off on the children. When a new child enrolls, it is like they had been going there for years. The atmosphere of the rooms make the children feel safe, loved and accepted. Each room also makes accommodations to each child's needs. Some of the kids deal with sensory issues or they get overstimulated at times. The teachers in the rooms go the extra mile to make changes that help with calming the kids, and helping them relax. This culture impacts the students positively by making them feel comfortable. The kids deserved to be treated as equals rather than like we (the teachers) are above them. The culture impacts the staff positively by making them feel important and gives a source of freedom to their classroom. Each child will do things differently. Rather than giving step by step instructions on certain tasks, like art projects, teachers can point the children in a certain direction, but still allow their creativity to flow.

A negative culture that I have experience was during my freshman year of high school. I had a math teacher that did not care about the feedback from their students. While my classmates and I were seriously struggling to retain information from the course, they were not willing to hear our concerns. This was extremely frustrating and overwhelming as I wanted to make a good grade in the class. It eventually got to the point where I resulted to going to other math teachers in the building to teach me how to do the work. This culture negatively impacted me and my grade, as the teacher was incredibly particular on how she wanted problems solved. Even if we got the right answer, it did not matter unless it was the exact same way the teacher got it. However, I did not feel as I could go to my teacher for help since they were not willing to hear my concerns. I never want to become a teacher like that, and I hope that my students will always feel comfortable speaking up.

As a clinical student doing observations, a positive cultural I experienced was stations in the classroom. The students love getting up and rotating and also not doing the same thing throughout the day. If there is a teacher table in the classroom, that is also an easy way to assess where the student is with content and know what needs more review or more explanation. It helps the class to flow and get the students engaged.

A negative culture that has been observed in the classroom as a clinical student, is different behavior and academic challenges in the general education classroom. Having no help in the classroom with a paraprofessional makes it very challenging for the teacher. It takes away from students who are higher academically. It is hard to meet the needs of every student with a huge cap between behavior and academics in one class. Even though, mixed ability groups are good to have for all students, it is challenging for the teacher.

During my time as a school member, I was part of a facility with an exceptionally positive culture that made a significant difference in both student and staff experiences. This school created a culture of inclusivity, support, and collaboration. This was done by faculty, staff, and students at the school who were always actively supporting one another and their students, emphasizing a strong community. But I felt that the main positive culture was their open communication where feedback felt encouraged and valued. It was notable that students were comfortable sharing their thoughts and worries, knowing that their opinions would be heard and handled positively. 

One positive culture that I have experienced as a student was how supportive and welcoming my school was. I feel as a student going through my school district back home I always felt like people within my school district were there to help me out as I grew and went through the school district. My school was very welcoming to all students and always made me as a student feel welcome. Especially in high school I felt like I always had a support system inside of my high school. I had teachers and admin who made a huge impact on me and always were there for me when I needed help with anything and as teachers they made a big impact on me. These teachers and admin I was lucky enough to know are now part of the reason I want to teach and the reason I found love for wanting to be a teacher. I am hoping that one day I am able to make an impact on my students like they did.

A positive culture that i have experienced is how welcoming my school was. I attended the same school from freshman all the way to high school and i was always treated great. Through my whole experience through my school i had many teachers and admins that treated me like family. This had a very positive effect on my school. I made friends that i feel i will know a life time. I still communicate with some of my teachers to this day.

A negative culture that i experienced is how some of the teachers had favorite students. it reflected on the people who didn't like the favorite student. this became a problem that the school ended up taking effect on. Many of the teachers were not this way and only a few actually showed their favorites.

My senior year of high school, I had the experience of aiding for my favorite English teacher during one of her classes. I would often come into the classroom a few minutes early and stay a few minutes late to talk with her and some of the other teachers in the same hallway. It was surprising to see a change in dynamic as I felt like I was accepted into a group of teachers as opposed to just being a student. The short time before and after class was a really good time to lighten the mood and break up the monotony of the work day. I realized that the culture and chemistry amongst the staff can greatly impact the students in that they are more likely to engage with their teachers if they see that teachers have their own circle of friends and aren't so different from the students themselves. I believe it also makes a largely positive impact for a teacher to be reminded that they have the support of their peers, as would be demonstrated through small acts of kindness like giving a compliment or exchanging baked goods.

A toxic or negative culture that I experienced in the classroom was often when teachers had a favorite student or group of students, treating them with much more leniency in comparison to the other students. This was very a very popular sentiment with teachers who were also coaches or were big fans of school sports. Even though I was on the high school soccer team, none of the teachers attended those games and would instead regularly attend the basketball and football games. I wasn't concerned with the teachers' preferences in sports, but rather with how these teachers would treat the students who participated in them. Teachers would often let the basketball or football players slack on assignments, speak uninterrupted in class, and even arrive late on occasion. As a result, many people that I knew would dread going to their classes, and didn't often make good grades in them. I don't believe the teachers were just giving them failing grades, rather that there is a correlation in how students approach a classroom in which they feel welcome versus one in which they feel unwelcome. I wholeheartedly believe that if a student finds a classroom or teacher to be toxic or negative, then they will be less motivated to learn the material and feel unrelatable to the subject.

A positive culture I have experienced was in high school I had a Spanish teacher who genuinely cared about the students. She would consistently walk around the classroom and help everyone with their assignments. Her teaching methods ensured that every student in the room was constantly learning. It made it easy to get an A in this class which was an honors class. I was terrible at Spanished but quickly picked up things with this teacher. I had her in the morning and she would constantly have high energy. This was the kind of energy that no matter how rough of a morning you had the energy would make you happier. This was just a positive learning environment that made everyone feel welcome. Everyone seemed to be friends very shortly into the year and were very helpful towards each other. When I graduated she came to my graduation party and even got me a gift. She went on that year to win teacher of the year for the fourth time.

One toxic environment that I experienced was my high school English class. It is a little ironic that I had a much better time in my Spanish class than in my English class. This teacher was very frustrating to work with. It almost always felt as if every assignment and test was me vs. the teacher. He never really walked around and helped anyone in the class. He was a very big narcissist and was not afraid to tell someone they did badly on something or weren't getting the idea of the assignments. He was the kind of guy who believed in dumb questions and would grill you in front of your peers. It genuinely seemed like he enjoyed making us feel stupid knowing that he had all the power over us. A lot of teachers spoke negatively which is an unprofessional thing to do but this should prove my point that he was not the best. Overall this was a toxic learning environment and I can honestly say I didn't learn much in this class.

I have worked as a teacher at a daycare facility for the past two years. I have worked with ages that range from two months to five years old. In these two years, I have experienced a love like no other from my coworkers and the families we have. The parents and their kids become our family. We try to keep our environment as open and friendly as we can. This helps our students, and their parents feel safe. The way we present ourselves has a huge impact on our students.

One negative culture I have experienced is favoritism in students. My bosses have children who attend the facility, and I know it can sometimes be a struggle to work in the same building as your children. However, I noticed that to make it easier on the parent the child would be given special privileges. This then makes it hard on the teacher and the students. The teacher then has to try and explain to the other why they can't do what the other child gets to do.

Over the summer I worked at a day care, I worked with 5 month olds to 3 year olds and I have experience how much the kids click with you. This helps them be able to feel like they are in goods hands and they they will be okay without their parents around and not feel like they don't belong there. The love that we as teachers give off to them, they see that and they give it right back to us.

A negative culture is where I went to high school it was a last name school. If you had the right last name the teachers/staff would treat you different than the students that didn't have a big name in the town I lived in. They would let the kids with the big last name do whatever they wanted, like skip class, get out of class, or even do nothing in class but the students that didn't have the big name wouldn't be able to do anything like that, they wouldn't be able to get out of class or even really get out of doing the work in the class.