The way in which teachers interact with pupils and contribute to each child's progress should be considered. An area to look at is the feedback teachers give students about school work, such as essays and exams. As pointed out by research from the U.K.'s Durham University, effective teaching includes concentrating on telling members of the class what has been done well in work and praising them. Talking to kids at length about mistakes should be avoided.
Making technology more available in schools, both to teachers and to students in the classroom, should enable an improved school environment. The Ladies' Home Journal, for example, suggests setting up phones in each classroom for teachers to contact the parents of children and report incidents both positive and negative, as a way of raising morale and discipline. The Internet is a must for 21st century classrooms. Kids can use the Internet to research and to learn to communicate efficiently through technology, which is a useful workplace skill. Classes can access online materials, such as assignments and simulations, to enhance lessons.
In a mentoring program, kids interact with older students, who can work with them in improving certain skills, such as reading or spelling, or perhaps simply provide guidance to help younger pupils feel at ease. Mentors help students to improve in their studies, and such relationships are beneficial for both parties in terms of social development, as the mentor gains experience in instructing others, while the mentored student has an opportunity to interact with an older member of the student body.
The more communities get involved in schools, the more potential there is for opportunities that benefit students. For example, a local business might be able to set up internships for students to experience the world of work and expand their resumes. Other community figures, for example police officials, can educate students about what it's like to do their job.
In many schools, when the academic year ends and summer vacation begins, the students aren't presented with opportunities to expand on what they've learned during the school year. By running student activities during vacations, such as by allowing a sporting organization to use school premises to run coaching sessions, schools can ensure that kids are kept busy and can expand their knowledge outside of the academic year.