The same concept is true of young students. Model respect for your students, and teach them to show respect for one another. As a teacher, you have a moral obligation to create a safe learning environment in which students can grow and learn. Organize the physical space of your classroom for movement and interaction. They may taken additional measures to cut down on fights by improving traffic flow through the hallways by staggering the times classes dismiss, or removing obstacles such as trash cans. Simply put, students learn better when they view the learning environment as positive and supportive (Dorman, Aldridge, & Fraser, 2006). We prefer well-lit parking lots. Classrooms should represent the students equally and everyone should know each other's name. 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. If you want students to be interactive and engaged in your class, what happens at school after they leave your class also matters. Creating a positive learning environment is essential for success in the classroom. Everyone is an individual, with different experiences, abilities and needs.” It encourages students to be directly involved, it helps them develop a basic skill –writing so that others can read what they write, and most importantly, it will save you work and allows you to keep your face to the students. If you show kids how important kindness is by taking every opportunity to be kind yourself, they will follow. Water and hydrogen peroxide mixture 3. 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. We look for places that allow us to recognize and respond to any d… Without these conditions in place, learning cannot b… The importance of building safe learning environments for your learners is something that cannot be overstated. We know these words describe the kind of inclusive school climate we want for our children—an environment where students, parents and staff feel safe, comfortable, and accepted. Health and safety is one of the most important factors to consider when a practitioner provides an appropriate environment for learning and development. 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). There are a number of things teachers can do to set up classrooms that feel safe and well-organized. 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. These thoughts only get us goose bumps. Teachers who use humor in the classroom also create more positive environments. Students who feel safe and secure in their classroom are more likely to do well in school and graduate. Struggling Students? While it's true that every student learns a bit differently from the next, the environment itself plays a significant role in their development. Health and safety is one of the most important factors to consider when a practitioner provides an appropriate environment for learning and development. They need to feel secure in order to want to participate. Do they like to work by themselves or are they more comfortable breaking down into teams? If a student writes a particular essay you're really impressed with, read it out loud for everyone else to hear. In order to provide a safe and engaging learning environment for students, it is important for teachers to: 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. Adverse childhood experiences threaten healthy development in a … A clean child care center looks good to prospective families. Appreciation is the … We like parks with clearly marked trails. If there are papers on the floor or things falling out of desks, it is distracting. Carelessness in the safety can sometimes cause a bigger damage. It's report card time and you face the prospect of writing constructive, insightful, and original comments on a couple dozen report cards or more. Providing children and youth a safe space to learn is essential. Remind them that failure is a learning experience. By Signing up, you agree to our privacy policy. These days, workplace health and safety procedures are important for the well-being of both employees and employers because human loss is … When you create a climate of safety and respect, learning will follow. Explore these questions for an effective and engaging discussion. Involved students are not going to be quiet, and being able to monitor their behavior helps keep things orderly. The student may not be comfortable with this, though. 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. 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. Classrooms should represent the students equally and everyone should know each other's name. Think of how you feel entering a room of people. Students need to feel safe in order to learn. If you ask most adults why they're afraid of public speaking, one of the most common answers that you will get is that they're afraid of being judged. Uses inappropriate or ineffective rituals, routines, and/or responses to reinforce positive behavior or respond to behaviors that interfere with students' learning. As such, they'll feel a sense of trust if you ask them first. The result is that their children are learning … Your movement around the classroom helps make your teaching more engaging. Everyone in the organisation is clear about roles, responsibilities and … Creating a classroom that is organized and that is characterized by mutual respect makes it a lot easier to teach effectively, and one of the most important things teachers can do to promote learning is to create classroom environments where students feel safe. Many children view school as a refuge such as the children that live in the school district known as the ‘Corridor of Shame.’ When you stand in the hallway or cafeteria, what do you see? It also creates a good environment for the kiddos and the teachers. Creating a safe learning environment for students is a daunting task. If a student draws a particularly striking image, post it in public so everyone else can enjoy it. One of the major benefits of safe learning environments is that students will begin to take pride in their work and in themselves. Learning Environment It is important to create a safe and healthy learning environment in order to ensure communication. Teachers should create a welcoming atmosphere where student feel safe and willing to share. It also helps with classroom control. The physical atmosphere of the classroom can help prevent behavior issues as well as promote and improve learning. Smaller group sizes and lower child-to-adult ratios help you create and maintain an environment that promotes health and … Our professional learning programs,  award-winning blog, and books and resources support the journey. We all have a need to feel safe in our environment. Water and hydrogen peroxide mixture 3. In some countries, education is more authoritarian or public dissent and debate may be discouraged. Here are some tips: It is also important to think about the environment of the school, beyond the classroom. It also creates a good environment for the kiddos and the teachers. Staff are protected from misplaced allegations. Unsatisfactory . An effective environment will also be responsive, containing features that involve all five senses and provoke thinking, open-ended outcomes, and creativity. Even something as simple as this will put you on your way to creating the safe learning environments your kids always dreamed of. If a student writes a particular essay you're really impressed with, read it out loud for everyone else to hear. All aspects of the learning space described encourage activity, thinking, and learning. You can create safe learning environments for children if you also lead by example. Move around and interact with students, and create a connection. COPYRIGHT 1996 - 2020 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Make it easy for students to pull their desks together to do small group work. Holiday Cheer - Supporting Colleagues from Afar. 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. Allow students to be openly expressive and encouraging to others. Adverse childhood experiences … A positive classroom environment is an important tool for establishing a successful and effective school year. In the long run, engaging students in learning will make all your teaching more effective. Practice useful failure and turn mistakes into learning opportunities. I believe the most important aspect in a safe and positive learning environment is the rapport between a teacher and his or her students. 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. Carelessness in the safety can sometimes cause a bigger damage. If a student draws a particularly striking image, post it in public so everyone else can enjoy it. learning environments, some of your learners come into your setting feeling this chip. EducationWorld is pleased to present this administrator resource shared by Linda Dusenbury, Ph.D., a researcher and expert in evidence-based prevention strategies designed to promote student competencies and motivation, and to create safe and nurturing classrooms and schools. Adults caring for children can set the emotional tone of the room. Needs Improvement Proficient Exemplary Maintains a physical environment that is unsafe or does not support student learning. Of course, learning is strengthened and solidified when it occurs in a safe, secure and normal environment. International students coming from these educational or social backgrounds may be extremely hesitant about questioning the instructor, asking for clarification, or even answering questions posed by the instructor. Some schools feel like prisons, where students may not even be allowed to talk, and students may seem overly compliant. 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. 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. Deep thinking, helpful insights, and inspiring stories from schools around the world. All staffs should have a responsibility for ensuring health and safety in their environment at all time. They are places where learners feel at home. Consider simple addition… Resolving conflict and preventing violence are important factors in creating a safe learning environment. Are they disengaged from one particular topic? Safe, responsive, and nurturing environments are an important part of supporting the learning and development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. A positive classroom environment is an important tool for establishing a successful and effective school year. Make it safe for students to participate and ask questions. Lysol wipes 2. Students not only need to feel physically safe in their school and classroom, but emotionally and intellectually safe as well. When teachers and schools give careful thought to how the environment is arranged, authentic learning is enhanced and incidental behaviour issues can be prevented. 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. A master’s degree in educational leadership can provide you with the knowledge and skills you will need to create and foster culturally responsive 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. Show your students that you yourself are comfortable in the environment that you've created. That's why providing nurturing, responsive, and effective interactions and engaging environments is the foundation of the Framework for Effective Practice, or the House Framework. I believe the most important aspect in a safe and positive learning environment is the rapport between a teacher and his or her students. You can find security lights, fences, doors, locks, windows, cameras, alarms, and even mailboxes. A school must be safe. 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. Just as each of us hold memories of good and negative. Ensure that the physical environment is tidy and disinfected on a daily basis. It's just one single question that drives your whole unit, so be sure to make it count. The student may not be comfortable with t… Teachers should create a welcoming atmosphere where student feel safe and willing to share. Creating a supportive and understanding learning environment is particularly important when discussion activities deal with sensitive issues in relation to mental health and wellbeing. Emotional Environment Creating a positive learning environment is essential for success in the classroom. 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. If adults are positive, caring, and attentive, the environment in the room will begin to reflect this. They need to feel secure in order to want to participate. Sign up for our newsletter. 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. Too slowly? Safe, responsive, and nurturing environments are an important part of supporting the learning and development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Use these 10 Essential Questions, Restorative Practices: Better Outcomes Through Solution Fluency, Mindful Assessment: The 6 Essential Fluencies of Innovative Learning, Growing Global Digital Citizens: Better Practices That Build Better Learners. 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. In your quest to foster safe learning environments, your biggest ally along the way will be your learners themselves. No matter what a student says, make it a habit to respond with respect. 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. Ask students to write on the board for you. It’s everywhere: Despite how tough their lives can be, kids wake up ready to laugh. Learning Environment It is important to create a safe and healthy learning environment in order to ensure communication. A positive environment is one in which students feel a sense of belonging, trust others, and feel encouraged to tackle challenges, take risks, and ask questions (Bucholz & Sheffler, … Parents talk to other parents about the importance of education and creating a peaceful home environment so children can study. Safe learning environments translate into comfortable learning environments. If you want to survive the school year, then you must set clear expectations … The culturally responsive teaching practices outlined above can help establish a learning environment that sets all students up for success. Teachers can enhance their lessons / courses by creating a safe and supportive learning environment. We prefer well-lit parking lots. Such environments also help to prevent challenging behaviors and serve as a core component of interventions … They’re built for … Dr. Dusenbury has worked as a Senior Research Scientist with The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Tanglewood Research, Inc., Drug Strategies, and numerous other organizations focused on improving the lives of young people. Create a list of guidelines that are "law" (ex: no name-calling, bullying, etc.). Take steps to change yourself to fit in with how they want to learn first and foremost. Staff are protected from misplaced allegations. Teacher's Lounge Virtual Instruction Advice - Keeping My Smile. Communication leads to trust, and trust leads to a safe learning environment for the children. The act of movement heightens student engagement and alertness. We would love to keep the conversation going on social. Why a safer learning environment is important: When learners feel safe and secure, they are able to concentrate on learning. Unfortunately it's a very rotten task to fix a pipe on time or looking out for cracks in doors and windows. First, be sure the classroom is clean, orderly, and inviting. These tips are based in part on "Best Practices in Classroom Management," a training DVD that Dr. Dusenbury helped develop. Apply this to children by greeting them by name and welcoming them at eye level (with a smile!). Other schools can be totally out of control. You can find security lights, fences, doors, locks, windows, cameras, alarms, and even mailboxes. 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. 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. Learners can rely on those in positions of trust. Everyone is an individual, with different experiences, abilities and needs.” II-B-1: Safe Learning Environment. To combat this, you need to go out of your way to create an environment free from judgment. The key to achieving this goal will require you to keep a few important things in mind. An effective learning environment encourages learning through play with a rich set of materials and learning opportunities. Take a walk through any home improvement store, and you are likely to see the word “security” over and over again. Is tidy and disinfected on a daily basis 1996 - 2020 by education WORLD, Sign up our... 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