How do you create a safe and healthy learning environment?

                                                                                                      

                                    

                               8th Grade: In Washington DC for our few day trip with the school 

 How do you Create a Safe and Healthy Learning Environment? 

Research: 

The first article we needed to read was "Ohio Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports" written by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. In this article, we read about what PBIS is. In our field, they use PBIS points for students that are doing what they are supposed to, have what they need, or did something good. Every few weeks, the school holds PBIS events for the students that got so many point or have everything done. The article talks about how PBIS is a guide for school teams that show improving academics, social and behavior outcomes for students, and evidence-based practices. The framework uses four elements: Data, Systems, Interventions and practices, and outcomes. Teachers are required to schedule trainings through STARS. The state provides the schools and districts with actionable recommendations to create a safe and supportive learning environment for both the students and the teachers. 

    The next article we were assigned to read was "Journal of Teacher education: Toward a Conception of Culturally Responsive Classroom Management" by Carol S. Weinstein, Saundra Tomlinson-Clarke, and Mary Curran. The article touches base on teaching children, the components of culturally responsive classroom management, having knowledge of students cultural backgrounds, having ability and willingness to use strategies, and commitment to building a caring community within the classroom. All of these have touches based on things that we have gone over before. We as teachers need to be able and willing to use the students backgrounds in our classroom and we need to be able to create a culturally responsive caring classroom that welcomes all students into our classroom. It had been an issue of teachers not being able to do this but the more we inform and teach, the more care and welcomeness our students will feel.

Field: 

    In the field, Ive noticed many of the students starting to feel comfortable with me around. So far, I feel as if I have placed a very straight forward teacher to friend ratio status with the students. I feel as if they are starting to feel more safe around me like they do with Mrs. J. The students seem to feel safe to talk to Mrs. J about many things. On Friday, I noticed a student (who I won't name or use Pronouns for) was transferred into the class. They did not want to be there. They were transferred in for bullying issues which does not make a student feel safe in the learning environment. The student then refused to sit next to a student that would make them feel safe. I feel as if them standing up for themself made a safer feeling for the student. The other students in class are very open to talk with Mrs. J and seems that they know she cares about them. The classroom has become more mellow and less chatty turning this into a healthy environment. 

Personal Connection: 

    When I was in middle school, specially 7th grade, I had a teacher named Ms. Perry. She made the classroom feel like it was my home. There wasn't any issues, she understood my problems, and it was a welcoming environment. Around December of that year, I had Bells Palsy and missed over a month of school due to complications. I was nervous to back to school because half of my face was paralyzed. I didn't want students to make fun of me because I couldn't move half of my face. Ms. Perry made me feel so safe walking in there even though I was covering my face. She encourage I explain to people about the issue that I was having when they asked. It was better to inform others instead of hide what was going on. She didn't force me to speak in class and she didn't force to me get up in front of the class knowing I was self conscious. She made the whole class feel safe and healthy especially when each one of us had an issue going on. That was just my personal experience of feeling that I was in a safe and healthy learning environment. 

Future Classroom: 

    In my classroom, I obviously want my students to feel safe. I want my students to be able to come to me if there is any issues or they feel an issue. For me to create a safe and healthy learning environment, I can reward the students for their accomplishments, show I care about them, show up for them, and I could allow the students to bring up thing they feel is necessary. Having the students know you care for them can and will only make them feel like your classroom is caring and important.