How can classroom climate be distinguished from classroom culture?

Classroom climate and classroom culture, while related, focus on different aspects of the learning environment. Climate is primarily concerned with the current emotional and physical environment of the classroom—the feelings of safety, support, and engagement that students experience on a day-to-day basis. This can include how welcoming the classroom feels, the quality of interactions among students and teachers, and the overall mood within the classroom.

On the other hand, culture encompasses the deeper norms, values, behaviors, and practices that develop within a classroom over time. It reflects the shared beliefs of both students and teachers, including how students are expected to behave and interact, and the underlying attitudes towards learning and teaching. Culture is shaped by ongoing relationships and experiences within the classroom and can influence long-term educational outcomes.

By acknowledging that climate is about environmental conditions—such as how students feel in the moment—and that culture is about the established behaviors and norms that guide interactions, we can clearly distinguish between the two concepts.