Supportive Climate
Most research reviews suggest that school climate is central to academic success (e.g., Mackenzie, 1983). Caring schools and classrooms improve bonding to school, commitment to school values, and academic achievement (Power, Higgins, & Kohlberg, 1989; Solomon, Watson, & Battistich, 2002). Caring school communities have specific characteristics that are associated with multiple positive outcomes for students: (a) teachers promote student autonomy, self-direction, and influence; (b) teachers encourage student interaction, collaboration, and participation in open discussion; (c) teachers provide warmth, acceptance, support and modeling; (d) teachers emphasizes common goals and purpose (Schaps, Battistich, & Solomon, 2004; Solomon, et al., 2002).
