Creating a Safe Environment

Creating a safe environment for your students is critical to promote and achieve literacy within the classroom. EducationWorld has an article written by Dr. Linda Dusenbury, that does an exceptional job describing what a safe classroom looks like.

Organization
It is important to keep your classroom organized and easy to operate for students. Having a clean and well organized classroom also makes it easier to teach as well as your ability to be effective in the material that you are teaching. Organizing your classroom makes it easier for students to focus on the material being learned instead of being distracted, and it promotes organization for the class as a whole.

Materials 
Students need to feel safe in order to learn, so your classroom environment is vital in encouraging academic success. It is important to have all the materials your students might need (calculators, scissors, books, etc.) where your students can get up from their desk and get them without having to ask you for them. This promotes independence as well as encourages students that they are able to be successful by using their own abilities. As a result, this will help raise self-esteem within the classroom.

Respect
Creating a classroom where students respect you as the teacher and each other as classmates is another important aspect in creating a safe place. Students need to exercise individual responsibilities that contribute positively to the class. Classroom job charts is a great example of students holding individual responsibilities. This is a way in which each student can feel like they are needed and appreciated in the classroom. Another reason why respect is critical in creating a safe classroom is because students need to feel like they can ask questions. Asking for volunteers read directions aloud, writing on the board, or showing their personal achievements are just a few more ways that a classroom can be a safe place by showing respect.

These are a few aspects that emphasize the importance of creating a safe environment within your classroom. If you can create a safe place for your students, they will reap the benefits academically. All in all, when you create an environment of safety and respect, learning will follow.