How can teachers create a positive classroom culture that promotes student engagement and increases academic achievement?

The research question addressed and the motivating factor for this capstone was: How can teachers create a positive classroom culture that promotes student engagement and increases academic achievement? This capstone provides professional development modules to support teachers with building a positive classroom culture. Many of the strategies that are included are ones that have been implemented with both new and veteran teachers and strategies that have brought success in thirty plus years as a teacher and teacher leader. Key influences for the strategies come from research and evidence-based approaches to education that are associated with teacher effectiveness, higher student achievement and improved school and classroom climate. The information was made to emphasize easily accessible and usability for all teachers. The professional development modules have been developed to be used as power point presentations and can be easily tailored to meet the needs of any school building.