Students need to feel safe in order to learn. These days, workplace health and safety procedures are important for the well-being of both employees and employers because human loss is … An important way to create a safe environment is to meet appropriate group size and child-to-adult ratio limits (Gonzalez-Mena, & Widmeyer Eyer, 2012). One of the major benefits of safe learning environments is that students will begin to take pride in their work and in themselves. COPYRIGHT 1996-2016 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Creating an inclusive learning environment is an extremely important aspect of modern education, which, according to Gravells (2008: p18), ensures that “ […] all learners are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity. Contact us to find out more about how we can help your transform your school. An effective learning environment encourages learning through play with a rich set of materials and learning opportunities. We like parks with clearly marked trails. Teachers should create a welcoming atmosphere where student feel safe and willing to share. Water and hydrogen peroxide mixture 3. Though staff roles may look different across various types of settings (e.g., home-based, center-based, family child care), you remain the most important component of a responsive environment. Apply this to children by greeting them by name and welcoming them at eye level (with a smile!). Of course, learning is strengthened and solidified when it occurs in a safe, secure and normal environment. They’re built for … There are a number of things teachers can do to set up classrooms that feel safe and well-organized. Ensure that the physical environment is tidy and disinfected on a daily basis. Here are some supplies that are useful to have on hand: 1. Classroom setup is an important component in a learning environment because it is an essential piece of classroom management to support both teaching and learning. Model respect for your students, and teach them to show respect for one another. Teachers and family child care providers—all the education staff working with the children are what matter most. By Signing up, you agree to our privacy policy. Assuring that all children experience safe, stable and nurturing environments is an important goal for public health. Adverse childhood experiences threaten healthy development in a … Teachers can enhance their lessons / courses by creating a safe and supportive learning environment. They need to feel secure in order to want to participate. The act of movement heightens student engagement and alertness. The result is that their children are learning … Why it is so important to deliver PSHE education in a safe learning environment Some of the strategies which can be used to help do this PSHE education covers a very broad range of themes but is fundamentally about the way in which we can support pupils to develop the knowledge, skills, understanding and attributes that they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. A safe classroom environment is the only type that is comfortable for learning. Why is security so important to us? Struggling Students? II-B-1: Safe Learning Environment. Lysol wipes 2. Adverse childhood experiences … Show your students that you yourself are comfortable in the environment that you've created. An effective environment will also be responsive, containing features that involve all five senses and provoke thinking, open-ended outcomes, and creativity. positive, safe learning environment. But the most important part of a positive early learning environment is you. As a teacher, you have a moral obligation to create a safe learning environment in which students can grow and learn. All aspects of the learning space described encourage activity, thinking, and learning. Even something as simple as this will put you on your way to creating the safe learning environments your kids always dreamed of. Work together with other teachers and administrators to encourage positive interaction among students. Classrooms should represent the students equally and everyone should know each other's name. When you build a unique relationship with children, learn their cues and communications, their likes and dislikes, their strengths and the areas where they need support, you help them feel safe. What do you hear? Without these conditions in place, learning cannot b… learning environments, some of your learners come into your setting feeling this chip. It also helps with classroom control. Learning Environment It is important to create a safe and healthy learning environment in order to ensure communication. The classroom environment can contribute to problems between students as well as reduce student engagement and learning. Carelessness in the safety can sometimes cause a bigger damage. We look for places that allow us to recognize and respond to any d… Look at your classroom and ask yourself if it is a place that is distracting, or a place that encourages students to do their best. Creating this condition requires thoughtful and constant attention to the security and safety of the facilities; creation of clear policies and procedures for student and staff conduct; frequent and effective communication with parents, families, and the school community; and attention to classroom management as well as the requisite professional development. If a student writes a particular essay you're really impressed with, read it out loud for everyone else to hear. You can find security lights, fences, doors, locks, windows, cameras, alarms, and even mailboxes. Then before you know it they will begin to grow more at ease themselves. Check out our Needs Improvement Report Card Comments for even more comments! If adults are positive, caring, and attentive, the environment in the room will begin to reflect this. Here are some tips: It is also important to think about the environment of the school, beyond the classroom. Take steps to change yourself to fit in with how they want to learn first and foremost. A safe learning environment is focused on academic achievement, maintaining high standards, fostering positive relationships between staff and students, and encouraging parental and community involvement. Staff are protected from misplaced allegations. The physical atmosphere of the classroom can help prevent behavior issues as well as promote and improve learning. Make it easy for students to pull their desks together to do small group work. First, be sure the classroom is clean, orderly, and inviting. Safe learning environments translate into comfortable learning environments. 5 Engaging Ways You Can Teach Critical Thinking, 8 Critical Learning Reflections That Promote Deeper Thinking, 7 Ways of Developing Critical Thinking Skills That Engage Learners, 7 Critical Thinking Barriers and How to Overcome Them, 5 Powerful Critical Thinking Quotes That Define What It Really Means, The Essential Guide to Essential Questions, The One Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Process Everyone Needs, How to Succeed at Solving Any Problem Using Solution Fluency, This is How Solution Fluency Mirrors Design Thinking, This is How the Solution Fluency Process Looks in Everyday Life. Establish and sustain a safe, inclusive learning environment It is essential when teaching that the behaviour of learners is managed effectively and that you promote the appropriate behaviour and conduct, whilst encouraging respect between learners (Petty, 2009). All staffs should have a responsibility for ensuring health and safety in their environment at all time. Take a walk through any home improvement store, and you are likely to see the word “security” over and over again. Everyone in the organisation is clear about roles, responsibilities and … Ask students to write on the board for you. The environment itself plays a significant role in their development. Resolving conflict and preventing violence are important factors in creating a safe learning environment. Sign up for our newsletter. Are they disengaged from one particular topic? Think of how you feel entering a room of people. Students literally become active players in the learning environment, which is an empowering and exciting shift away from the passivity of sitting stationary at a desk for an hour. Arrange your classroom so that you have all the resources you need – all the books, calculators and materials – right where you can find them, within easy reach, so that you never have to stop teaching or turn your back on your students. To do your job well, you must be sensitive to the … The reverse is also true, however. Everyone is an individual, with different experiences, abilities and needs.” Make the environment such that it's okay to express confusion respectfully. In some countries, education is more authoritarian or public dissent and debate may be discouraged. When the students understand that their teacher cares about them and wants them to do well, students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes and taking risks in order to learn something new. One of the best ways to help your kids along on this goal is to skip right to the end result and celebrate their achievements as they are happening. Students not only need to feel physically safe in their school and classroom, but emotionally and intellectually safe as well. Creating a safe learning environment for students is a daunting task. Teachers should keep in mind that the classroom is a child’s second home for the entire school year so they should feel as comfortable as possible (both physically and emotionally), safe, intellectually stimulated and respected. Without these conditions in place, learning cannot b… Carelessness in the safety can sometimes cause a bigger damage. Building a Cheat Sheet for Your Child’s Online Schoolin... 125 Report Card Comments She has produced award-winning videos and online courses, and published more than 75 professional articles and chapters focused on effective strategies to promote student competence and prevent problem behaviors. It's just one single question that drives your whole unit, so be sure to make it count. What not to do Classrooms should represent the students equally and everyone should know each other's name. Students need to feel safe in order to learn. Place mirrors next to the dry erase board and the chalk board so that even when you may have to turn your back to write on the board, you can still keep an eye on students. Here are 125 positive report card comments for you to use and adapt! Students not only need to feel physically safe in their school and classroom, but emotionally and intellectually safe as well. In order to provide a safe and engaging learning environment for students, it is important for teachers to: A stimulating environment makes for a stimulated child - the environment in which a child is in can have a very direct impact of their learning, children who feel more engaged in their learning environment are known to be more receptive. Students who feel safe and secure in their classroom are more likely to do well in school and graduate. A school must be safe. This means maintaining appropriate classroom management (learn more in this course) , encouraging open communication, and following the procedures put in place by a school district to ensure that student safety is a top priority. Unfortunately it's a very rotten task to fix a pipe on time or looking out for cracks in doors and windows. If you want students to be interactive and engaged in your class, what happens at school after they leave your class also matters. If a student draws a particularly striking image, post it in public so everyone else can enjoy it. Your first step should be to ask them what you could be doing to help them: No question is too small to ask and no topic should be off the table. Some schools feel like prisons, where students may not even be allowed to talk, and students may seem overly compliant. An effective learning environment encourages learning through play with a rich set of materials and learning opportunities. Both extremes are likely to take something away from the learning experience. We like parks with clearly marked trails. How Can Students Use Solution Fluency For Article Writing? It’s everywhere: Despite how tough their lives can be, kids wake up ready to laugh. Remind them that failure is a learning experience. If you’re using interactive approaches such as small groups and cooperative learning, it’s especially important to create a classroom where students feel safe asking questions and contributing to discussions. Creating a supportive and understanding learning environment is particularly important when discussion activities deal with sensitive issues in relation to mental health and wellbeing. We prefer well-lit parking lots. Clean surfaces help prevent the spread of illness, which is common in an early childhood setting.Achieving a clean space boils down to having a consistent routine. Safe, responsive, and nurturing environments are an important part of supporting the learning and development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Do they like to work by themselves or are they more comfortable breaking down into teams? According to the National School Climate Center, a safe and caring school environment is one in which students feel positively connected to others, respected, that their work is meaningful, and that they are good at what they do. Education World®     top education news, lesson ideas, teaching tips and more! Ensure that the physical environment is tidy and disinfected on a daily basis. If a student draws a particularly striking image, post it in public so everyone else can enjoy it. When you create a climate of safety and respect, learning will follow. Your movement around the classroom helps make your teaching more engaging. The culturally responsive teaching practices outlined above can help establish a learning environment that sets all students up for success. Just as each of us hold memories of good and negative. A school must be safe. When teachers and schools give careful thought to how the environment is arranged, authentic learning is enhanced and incidental behaviour issues can be prevented. Unsatisfactory . An effective environment will also be responsive, containing features that involve all five senses and provoke thinking, open-ended outcomes, and creativity. When you stand in the hallway or cafeteria, what do you see? Teachers should create a welcoming atmosphere where student feel safe and willing to share. A well thought out learning environment is more likely to have a positive impact and make children want to be there and want to learn. All aspects of the learning space described encourage activity, thinking, and learning. Everyone in the organisation is clear about roles, responsibilities and … Make it safe for students to participate and ask questions. Our professional learning programs,  award-winning blog, and books and resources support the journey. Communication leads to trust, and trust leads to a safe learning environment for the children. Take a walk through any home improvement store, and you are likely to see the word “security” over and over again. If you show kids how important kindness is by taking every opportunity to be kind yourself, they will follow. Feel free to laugh with your students and be vulnerable. Parents talk to other parents about the importance of education and creating a peaceful home environment so children can study. 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