DEVELOPING SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

COMMUNITY: MAKING IT PERSONAL

In order to build community and student comfortability within the classroom and with me as a teacher, I will personalize my classroom as much as possible with pictures of myself with my old classes (with permission), and with pieces that both show students who I am and create a way for us to relate to one another and build that comfortability. For example, I love nature and plants, and would keep a bunch of potted plants or fake ivy in the classroom to show this side of who I am. Additionally, I would try to keep a small classroom pet such as a fish or a turtle in order to not only show my love for animals, but also because I am sure that many students will be able to connect with me on that, and it will create a more welcoming classroom setting.
As the year goes on, I'd love to have students put some aspects of who they are within the classroom as well.

CREATING FUN & ENGAGING ENVIRONMENTS

Having a classroom be a space in which students want to learn is incredibly important. I will achieve this by diversifying the learning and working spaces within my classroom through using different types of tables, chairs, and other learning areas such as a reading nook. I also hope to utilize exercise balls, bean bag chairs, and other types of more standard classroom chairs as well.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

I will also be focusing on creating a safe environment through inclusive behavior management focused on redirection, modeling, and calling in rather calling out. Some examples of behavior management strategies that I will use are quieting and focusing hand motions such as Quiet Coyote or a Silent Simon Says, and the Take a Break policy which manage student behaviors while also building their responsibility.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS: BUILDING A GROWTH MINDSET THROUGH THE CLASSROOM

For all students, and especially those that identify as POC, it is very important for all teachers to have high expectations for them, and for teachers to help students build these high expectations for themselves as well. One of the best ways that these can be fostered, is through emphasizing and building a growth mindset in all students, in which rather than thinking that you can't do something, you know that you are able to do so but need the time, effort, and support to continue developing that skill. I will achieve this through not only encouraging this mindset throughout my lessons, but also through various posters around the classroom promoting this mindset through statements such as "Mistakes help me learn!" and "I don't know...yet."