How do you intend to create a safe, caring learning environment?

I think there are many factors that go into creating a good learning environment for

students inside a classroom. One I would like to implement in my own class would be on the first

day everyone in the class would write their names on a slip of paper and create a drawing that

they think reflects something about themselves on that piece of paper. I would laminate these and

bring them back to the class and have them taped to the student’s desk so that they always know

where their desk is and can easily see who their neighbours are if they’ve (or I’ve) forgotten their

name. Another thing I want to make clear in my class is that everything we do is about learning.

I really liked what we did in the becoming a teacher workshop regarding the hands up policy.

Instead of putting your hand up if you know the answer, you put up a gesture that lets me know

how firmly you grasp the concept. Maybe a thumbs up, sideways, or down, depending on what

you know. I want every student to feel equally valued and that simply knowing the answer to a

question does not mean you are “smarter” than anyone else. I want every student to feel like their

voice matters, so if they have any suggestions, questions, or concerns I will be addressing them

in a timely manner. I would like to implement an exit slip in my class, for younger grades this

might just be 5 minutes at the end of the class we take to ask questions and receive feedback, or

if they want to talk privately, I could ask them to come to my desk at the end of the day and talk

with me one on one. In older grades this would probably be a slip of paper they could write what

they wanted to ask down on and dropped in a box by my desk. These open (and sometimes

private) lines of communication would help students realize that I am there for them as much as

they need and that I am a part of the class as much as they are. In broader terms I want to

emphasize trust, respect, and collaboration as key factors in the decisions I make when I’m
planning a lesson or talking to the class. Every student wants to feel valued and respected, not

just by the teacher, but by each other as well. I would make sure that all students know that they

are always on an equal playing field. Nobody is better than somebody else, and just because

someone might catch on to a subject faster, or be able to kick a ball further, doesn’t mean they

hold any more value than someone else.