Implementing Finnish Teaching Methods in Your Classroom: Practical Tips

What if your students could love learning again? Not just tolerate school, but genuinely look forward to it each day. Imagine their eyes lighting up with curiosity, their hands raised not out of obligation, but because they’re excited to share an idea.

What if your classroom became a place of curiosity, calm, and creativity—where joy and learning go hand in hand?

A space where questions are celebrated, mistakes are part of the process, and every student feels seen, heard, and capable. A classroom that feels less like a factory—and more like a garden, where learning grows naturally, with care and freedom.

Around the world, educators are turning to Finland’s education system for inspiration. Known for its innovative and learner-focused model, Finland has created classrooms where students thrive, without the pressure of constant testing or competition.

This blog is your practical guide to bringing the spirit of Finnish education into your own school, no matter where you are. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, or education innovator, you'll discover real, actionable steps for applying Finnish methods that are simple, human-centered, and highly effective.

What Makes Finnish Education Unique?

Finland’s education success isn’t built on longer school days, piles of homework, or constant testing. In fact, it’s often quite the opposite.

Instead of pushing students harder, Finland focuses on helping them learn better—in a way that feels natural, meaningful, and deeply human. It’s not about competing or comparing. It’s about building a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Here are the core principles that make Finnish education stand out around the world:

• Students come first: Everything in the Finnish school system is designed with the learner in mind. Their well-being, personal interests, and sense of independence are at the heart of every decision. When students feel safe, respected, and engaged, they’re more willing to take risks and explore ideas.
  

• Teachers are trusted professionals: Finnish teachers aren’t seen as just employees—they’re seen as experts. They receive high-quality training and enjoy a great deal of freedom and respect. There’s no micromanagement, no rigid scripts. Instead, teachers are trusted to make the best decisions for their students.
  
  
• Standardized testing is minimal: In Finland, students rarely take national standardized tests. Instead of teaching to the test, teachers focus on real learning, critical thinking, and creativity. Students learn not for scores, but for understanding—and that changes everything.
  
  
• Learning is lifelong: Education isn’t just about passing exams. Finnish schools aim to instill a love of learning that continues long after students leave the classroom. The goal is to help young people become curious, capable, and adaptable in a changing world.
  
  
• The environment supports calm and focus: Finnish classrooms are calm, relaxed, and welcoming. They’re designed to feel more like homes than institutions, with natural lighting, flexible seating, and soft colors. This atmosphere helps students feel comfortable and ready to learn.
  
  

And perhaps most importantly: these aren’t just policies written on paper—they’re everyday practices. Step into a Finnish school, and you’ll see these values in action. You’ll see students exploring ideas freely, teachers guiding with care, and a culture that truly believes education should be joyful.

Let’s explore each of these core principles one by one.

Student-Centered Learning: Let Students Lead the Way

At the heart of Finnish teaching is a simple but powerful belief: students learn best when they feel in control of their learning. Rather than treating students as passive recipients of information, Finnish classrooms empower them to be active thinkers, curious explorers, and decision-makers. This shift in approach transforms the classroom into a space of mutual respect and shared responsibility. Students are not just told what to learn—they’re invited to help shape how and why they learn.

What Does Student-Centered Learning Look Like in Finland?

In Finnish schools, classrooms are flexible, dynamic, and responsive to students’ needs. Instead of rigid lesson plans, teachers create room for personal expression, collaboration, and choice. Some of the most common features include:

• Students choosing topics based on their interests or current events. A student fascinated by space might turn a general science project into an exploration of black holes or planetary life.
  
  
• Group discussions and cooperative learning, where students learn from each other as much as from the teacher.
  
  
• Personal projects, such as building models, writing stories, or creating art that connects with what they’re learning.
  
  
• Teachers acting as mentors or learning coaches, guiding and supporting rather than delivering one-way lectures.
  
  

This model nurtures autonomy, confidence, and curiosity—qualities that serve students far beyond the classroom.

How Can You Apply This in Your Classroom?

You don’t have to overhaul your entire curriculum to embrace student-centered learning. Often, the smallest changes can have the greatest impact. Here’s how you can begin:

• Choice boards: Offer students a selection of activities to choose from when practicing a concept. For example, after a history lesson, students could write a diary entry from a historical figure’s perspective, design a timeline, or create a short skit.
  
  
• Flexible learning spaces: Rearranging your classroom—creating quiet corners, group tables, or open floor areas—encourages different learning styles and gives students freedom to collaborate or focus alone.
  
  
• Project time: Dedicate even just one hour a week to independent or group projects. Let students pick a theme that excites them and build a presentation, experiment, or portfolio around it.
  
  
• Self-assessment tools: Use checklists, reflection questions, or learning journals that invite students to consider what they’ve learned, what they enjoyed, and where they’d like to go next. This builds metacognition and helps them take ownership of their progress.
  
  

These practices help students feel like school isn’t something done to them—but something they are an essential part of. The result? Greater engagement, stronger motivation, and a classroom where every learner has a voice.

Reduce the Pressure: Move Beyond Standardized Testing

Imagine a classroom where students aren’t constantly worried about the next exam. A place where teachers aren’t rushing through the syllabus just to prepare for a test. That’s what you’ll find in Finnish schools—a learning environment with less pressure and more purpose. In Finland, standardized tests are rare. In fact, most students only encounter a major national exam at the end of upper secondary school (around age 18). Instead of testing students frequently, Finnish schools focus on deep understanding, creativity, and personal growth. This shift away from frequent testing does more than reduce stress—it creates space for authentic learning experiences that truly stick.

Why Less Testing Works

Reducing standardized testing may sound risky in some education systems, but in Finland, it’s proven to be a game-changer. Here’s why it works so well:

• Students experience less anxiety and more curiosity: Without the constant pressure of exams, students feel safe to explore, question, and make mistakes—an essential part of real learning.
  
  
• Teachers can focus on real learning, not test prep: Instead of narrowing lessons to fit a test format, teachers are free to design activities that build critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
  
  
• Assessment becomes a tool for growth, not judgment: In Finland, the goal isn’t to rank students—it’s to support them. Assessment helps teachers understand how each student learns and how they can help them grow.
  

The result is a calmer, more supportive environment—one that values progress over perfection.

How to Adopt This Approach

Of course, many countries still require national or regional exams. But even within those systems, classroom assessments can be reshaped to reflect the Finnish model.

Here are some practical ways to begin:

• Replace quizzes with portfolios: Instead of asking students to memorize and regurgitate facts, invite them to create portfolios that show their growth over time. These can include writing samples, project summaries, photos of experiments, or even recorded presentations. Portfolios offer a more complete, human picture of student learning.
  
  
• Use open-ended tasks: Move beyond multiple choice. Ask students to explain their thinking, reflect on what they’ve learned, or apply a concept to a real-world situation. Questions like “Why do you think that happened?” or “How would you solve this problem differently?” spark deeper thinking.
  
  
• Offer feedback instead of scores: Numeric grades don’t always tell the whole story. Use rubrics, written comments, or short one-on-one conferences to give constructive, specific, and supportive feedback. When students know what they did well and where they can grow, they feel more confident—and more motivated.
  

By rethinking how you assess learning, you give your students a powerful message:
What matters is not how fast you learn, but how deeply you understand.

And when students feel safe, supported, and seen, they learn better—not just for the test, but for life.

Interdisciplinary Learning: Teach Through Real-Life Topics

Have you ever stood in front of your class, teaching a topic like algebra or grammar, and heard a student ask, “But when will I ever use this in real life?”

It’s a common question, and a valid one. Students want to understand how their learning connects to the world outside the classroom.

In Finland, that connection is built right into the curriculum. Finnish schools don’t just teach subjects, they teach real-life problems, ideas, and themes. Learning is not broken into isolated parts. Instead, it's woven together, much like life itself.

This approach is called phenomenon-based learning, or PBL.

What Is Phenomenon-Based Learning?

Phenomenon-based learning is a teaching method where students explore one big idea from multiple angles. It’s not about memorizing facts in separate subjects. It’s about making connections—between science and society, between math and the environment, between history and the present day.

For example, instead of having a separate lesson in science, literature, and geography, Finnish students might explore a single broad theme like:

• Climate change
  
• The human body
  
• Migration
  
• The future of cities
  
• Space exploration
  
  

Each subject contributes a different perspective, allowing students to see how knowledge is interconnected.

This method does more than build knowledge—it builds skills. Students learn to collaborate, research, solve problems, and think critically—the same skills they’ll need in the real world.

How You Can Apply This

You don’t need to redesign your entire school to use this method. Start with a theme and build cross-subject connections.

Let’s take “The Ocean” as an example:

• In science, students explore marine ecosystems, the impact of pollution, or the food chain in the sea.
  
• In language arts, they might write imaginative underwater adventure stories or persuasive essays on ocean conservation.
  
• In math, they could calculate average ocean depths, track global water usage, or analyze ocean temperature data.
  
• In art, they might create visual pieces inspired by coral reefs, ocean life, or seascapes.
  
• In social studies, they could investigate how oceans affect trade, migration, or coastal communities.
  
  

With this approach, students don’t just learn facts—they see how those facts relate to the world they live in. This makes their learning becomes more authentic and more memorable. They stop asking, “When will I ever use this?”—because they’re already using it.

Formative Assessment: Feedback That Builds Confidence

In many classrooms around the world, grades are the final word—an end point that defines success or failure. But in Finland, the focus is different. Assessment is not about labeling students. It’s about supporting their growth. Feedback is constant and meaningful, but rarely in the form of a letter or number. Instead, Finnish teachers provide students with regular, thoughtful input that helps them understand what they’ve learned, how they’ve improved, and where they can go next. This kind of formative assessment shifts the role of the teacher from judge to guide. And it transforms how students see themselves—not as performers being evaluated, but as learners on a journey.

Why Formative Assessment Matters

Formative assessment goes far beyond correcting mistakes. It shapes how students think, feel, and engage with their learning:

• It builds trust between student and teacher: When feedback is supportive and ongoing, students see their teacher as a partner—not someone waiting to penalize them, but someone invested in their success.
  
  
• It helps students reflect and take control of their progress: Instead of waiting passively for grades, students learn to monitor their own understanding. They become more aware, more curious, and more responsible for their learning.
  
  
• It reduces fear of failure: In a system that doesn’t rely heavily on high-stakes grading, mistakes are seen as part of the process—not something to fear, but something to learn from.
  
  

Ultimately, formative assessment is about empowering students. It teaches them how to learn, not just what to learn.

Practical Techniques to Try

You can bring the spirit of Finnish-style feedback into your classroom with small but meaningful changes:

• Exit tickets: At the end of a lesson, ask students to write down one thing they learned, one question they still have, or something they found challenging. This quick reflection gives both you and the student a clear snapshot of understanding.
  
  
• Learning journals: Encourage students to keep a weekly log where they write about what they’ve learned, how they felt about a lesson, and what they want to explore further. Journals offer a private space for reflection and self-assessment.
  
  
• 1-on-1 conversations: Dedicate just 5 minutes each week to chat individually with each student. Ask them about their goals, their progress, and what support they need. These personal moments can build connection and uncover insights that grades alone never show.
  
  
• Narrative reports: Instead of handing back a grade, try writing a few sentences about what the student did well and what they can improve. Use clear, encouraging language that focuses on effort, strategy, and progress.

Yes, these strategies take time. But they also build something incredibly valuable: students who are confident, reflective, and deeply engaged in their own learning process.

Autonomy and Trust: Let Teachers and Students Breathe

One of the most remarkable aspects of Finland’s education system is its deep commitment to trust. In Finnish schools, teachers are not seen as employees following orders—they’re viewed as skilled professionals who are fully capable of making the right choices for their students. There are no rigid scripts. No long lists of mandated tasks. No surveillance-style supervision. Instead, Finnish educators are given something precious: freedom. Freedom to teach in ways that make sense. Freedom to experiment, reflect, and innovate. This professional trust creates a working environment where teachers can truly thrive—and it benefits students just as much.

When teachers are trusted, they feel more confident, creative, and motivated. And when students see that trust in action, they learn to trust themselves too. In Finland, students often get to make meaningful decisions about how they learn, what they explore, and even how their classroom functions.

The result? Classrooms that are not only more effective—but more human.

How to Foster Autonomy in Your School

Even in education systems with strict policies, there are ways to carve out space for freedom and collaboration. Here are a few ways to bring the Finnish spirit of autonomy into your school:

• Allow teachers to design their own units or methods within curriculum guidelines: Trust that your teachers know what works best for their students. Offer broad objectives, but let them choose the tools, resources, and pacing that suit their classroom. This fosters ownership and creativity.
  
  
• Involve students in setting class rules or learning goals: At the beginning of a term or project, ask students: “What kind of class do we want this to be?” or “What would you like to achieve by the end of this unit?” When students help shape the learning environment, they feel more connected to it.
  
  
• Reduce unnecessary paperwork or reporting, if possible: Administrative overload can drain a teacher’s energy and focus. Look for ways to streamline reporting systems or cut out non-essential documentation so that more time can be spent on teaching and connecting with students.
  
  
• Create a collaborative culture, not a competitive one: Encourage teachers to share ideas and support each other, rather than compete for recognition. Offer time for peer observation, co-teaching, or joint planning sessions. Foster a school culture where teachers lift each other up.
  
  

When autonomy is part of the culture, everyone benefits. Teachers feel empowered, students feel respected, and learning becomes a shared journey rather than a top-down directive.

And as Finland continues to show, trust doesn’t lower standards—it raises them. Because when you believe in your people, they rise to meet that belief.

Wellbeing and Calm: Create a Classroom that Feels Like Home

Learning is hard when students feel stressed or unsafe. Finnish schools know this powerful truth: students learn best when they feel safe, supported, and emotionally grounded. That’s why wellbeing is not treated as a “bonus”—it’s a foundation. Finnish schools intentionally design spaces and routines that promote comfort, peace, and mutual respect, helping students relax enough to truly engage with learning.

When stress levels drop, focus rises. When students feel calm, they’re more open to new ideas. And when the classroom feels like a second home, it becomes a place where real growth can happen.

Tips for Building a Supportive Learning Environment

Even if you teach in a busy or crowded school, there are small and meaningful changes you can make to bring more calm and comfort into your classroom:

• Decorate with natural colors and soft lighting: Harsh fluorescent lights and bold primary colors can be overstimulating. Choose calming shades—like light blues, greens, and earth tones, and use lamps or natural light when possible. These details may seem small, but they can have a big effect on mood and focus.
  
  
• Offer quiet corners for students who need a break: Create a small nook with pillows, books, or calming activities where students can go when they feel overwhelmed. This doesn’t encourage avoidance, it teaches emotional regulation. In Finnish classrooms, these spaces are common and respected.
  
  
• Limit homework, especially for younger students: In Finland, primary students typically receive little to no homework. Instead, they’re encouraged to play, rest, and enjoy family time after school. While your system may require assignments, you can still scale back, focusing on quality over quantity.
  
  
• Take breaks outdoors, even in winter!: Finnish students go outside in almost any weather. Fresh air and movement aren’t seen as distractions—they’re essential for energy and mental clarity. Try scheduling short outdoor breaks between lessons, or build movement into your classroom activities.
  
  
• Use classroom rituals to reduce anxiety and build trust: Simple routines—like greeting each student by name, starting with a calm breathing exercise, or having a consistent end-of-day reflection—create predictability and emotional security. When students know what to expect, they feel more confident and in control.
  
  

These aren’t luxury features. They’re practical, research-backed strategies that contribute to better behavior, stronger relationships, and more effective learning. Because a calm classroom isn’t just a peaceful space—it’s a powerful tool for unlocking potential.

Bring the Best of Finland to Your Students

By adopting even a few of Finland’s teaching methods, you can transform your classroom into a space that’s more engaging, more human, and more effective. When you give students the chance to lead, shift the focus from grades to meaningful learning, and replace judgment with supportive feedback, you create an environment where growth flourishes. Most importantly, you build a classroom where every student feels safe, valued, and genuinely curious to learn.

Ready to Experience Finland’s Education Firsthand?

There’s only so much you can learn from reading—nothing compares to seeing it in action. TechClass invites you to step inside real Finnish classrooms, observe innovative teaching methods up close, and feel the calm, student-centered atmosphere that makes this system so admired around the world. Come discover what truly makes Finnish education exceptional—and leave inspired to reimagine learning in your own school.