This article by Rebecca Alber addresses the need for the
classroom to be a safe environment where students feel comfortable and safe. If
a classroom is focused only on the lesson and the teaching of information to
the students, rather than on the students, the environment will not be ideal
for learning.
Ms.
Alber explains the feeling of fear and insecurity that students have if they
are afraid to answer a question incorrectly or fear they will be made fun of by
other students. When a classroom is not focused on making the students feel
safe, their defenses will be high, and as a result the students will not be in
the right frame of mind to learn. As student’s defenses heighten the student is
more likely to either misbehave, or shut down by becoming noninvolved in the
classroom activities. It is also made clear that this is an environment that
needs to be planted at the beginning of the year so that it can be nourished
the remaining time in the class.
There
are four essentials given in this article to aid in developing and maintaining
this safe community for the entire year. First, assure that the community is
strengthened during the year by including activities in the lessons that
encourage students to express themselves. Second, allow students to be a part of
the decision making process while making group guidelines. Essential number
three is to have “Non-Negotiables”. These are rules that must be absolutely
followed. An example given was no name calling. Any time that a Non-Negotiable
is broken there are swift and immediate consequences. The classroom understands
what these are from the beginning, and there are no exceptions to these rules.
These rules help to maintain a safe community for all students. Finally post
students work where they and all can see in the classroom. Rather than the
teacher buying or making posters, have the students make the posters. Posting
the students work will make them feel more valuable.
The
information in this article is presented in a way to make it simple to
understand the importance of a safe and inviting community. Keeping the
classroom as a community where the students work together as a team and they
have the freedom to express themselves allows them to be open to new
information and have the freedom to learn.
Student
Engagement
How
are Happiness and Learning Connected?
March 4, 2013
Rebecca Alber,
Contributing online
editor, Edutopia
Great article review, Sterling! There was a lot of good information that I pulled from the review. Back when I was in elementary, I used to be afraid of answering questions in class in fear that I would answer incorrectly. I think classroom management has come a long way and teachers are creating an environment in which students feel safe. I know that in the third grade classroom in which I work, the students are never afraid of being wrong when answering questions that the teacher asks. The teacher has created a safe environment for her students. I think it is very important for the students to feel comfortable and safe in the classroom. How would you go about making students feel safe in your classroom? Did you pay attention last semester to how your cooperating teacher provided a safe environment? If so, how?
ReplyDelete~Kayla~
Thank you Kayla,
DeleteGood questions, I have found with the more education classes I take how much similarity there is between classroom management and business management. In both cases having a safe working environment is crucial. The only difference is the classroom work environment is the classroom. Students need to understand that it is ok to be wrong and that given the opportunity to make mistakes, and then learn from those mistakes.
I think the "non-negotiable" behaviors is key to a safe environment.
I do recall the way my cooperating teacher provided a safe environment. His way was to allow the students to participate, or totally ignore the classroom activities, as long as they were not disrupting other student learning.
I like how the author of the article lists one of her essentials called a "non-negotiable." This is an absolute must in a classroom! As someone who works in an elementary school, I understand how important it is for a teacher to have the classroom set up as a safe zone.
ReplyDeleteThank you Doug, I agree.
DeleteI completely agree with the article you picked. Students aren't going to get much out of a lesson if they feel unsafe and insecure. I remember in high school there being classes that I felt very comfortable in and was more willing to participate and engaged then other classes where the class didn't feel as comfortable. How would you go about helping a very reserved student into feeling comfortable and to actively participate? What rules would be on your non-negotiable list?
ReplyDelete