​This course revolved around positive practices in the classroom. The participants reflected on their own concept of the ‘’perfect classroom environment’’, and were provided the skills of effective classroom management for further development. The course aspired to support classroom tool building and positive climate habits for the students.
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The above topics and further themes were discussed in the new edition of the courses ‘’Effective Classroom Management Strategies for teachers and education staff’’ and “Effective Group Management in education: building Teamwork among students” that took place in Palermo from 22/06/2025 to 28/06/2025. The participants included Simona and Antoaneta from National school of arts “Dobri Hristov” in Bulgaria, Marija and Tatijana from Primary School Sinisa Janic in Serbia, Victoria and Maria Isabel from IES Acci in Spain, Stefan from BBS Bingen, Paul from Rudi-Stephan-Gymnasium Worms and Christel from SBS Rothenburg-Dinkelsbühl in Germany.

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​One of the first themes learned in class was Social Emotional Learning. This skill is the capacity of individuals to recognize their own and other people’s emotions, to differentiate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior. To better understand these issues, they carried out group activities where they questioned social, educational, and contextual aspects based on the different responsibilities that may exist, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the students’ experiences. The aim was to understand both their own emotions and those of others, so that they could later manage them effectively. The participants will use Social Emotional Learning to create a more tolerant and supportive atmosphere in their class.
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We then later explored group dynamics. Learning how to be attentive to the different dynamics in a class is a crucial element in ensuring a tension-free atmosphere that encourages students participation and also avoids school drop-out. Various activities were performed in order to develop high sensitivity to different behaviors of individuals in a group, and practice inclusive methods.
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The participants later worked on communication, especially investigating the importance of promoting a growth mindset and trust-building conversation, but also how to structure effective and constructive feedback to build the foundations of a good school environment. It is important to create a safe atmosphere in the classroom. To achieve this, we explained what an empathy map is, and each participant shared different examples from their own classes and how to foster empathy towards their students.

In a combination of theory and practice, the participants tested some ICT tools that could be beneficial and helpful in managing a Flipped Classroom, in order to make the management of their classes extremely efficient and effective. Lastly, conflict management was discussed. After exploring their own perceptions and preconceptions, the participants gained insights on how conflicts can also be extremely beneficial if managed in the right way.
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In conclusion of the course, three major factors of Classroom Management emerged as critically important in shaping a supportive climate for students. First of all, engagement: the class should have a strong network of relationships, promoting respect for diversity and school participation. The second factor discussed was safety because the class should be a safe place, both emotionally and physically. Lastly, the environment is essential: the class should be a place which transmits peace and calm, promoting dialogue and understanding. Discover more about this course here.