Above all else, your students need to feel safe the moment they walk through your classroom’s doors. If a student feels as if a bully is out to get them or that their needs are not being met, they won’t be inclined to learn.
From day one, it’s your job to set the ground rules, so students know how to treat each other with respect and work together toward a common goal. Or, if you’re already in the school year, it’s never too late to try something new in class for the benefit of your students. Below, we’re going to go over how to create a safe learning space for your students. Keep reading below to find out how!
Create a classroom constitution
On the first day of school after you get to know your students, their names, and their interests, sit down together to create a classroom constitution. This is a great way for you and your students to learn about values and democracy. After all, as a teacher, you’re preparing your students to be active participants in society, so giving every student a say in your classroom’s “laws” will serve as a great starting block.
To create a classroom constitution, follow these steps:
- Use a piece of chart paper or your interactive whiteboard and write down a few rules that your classroom must abide by no matter what, such as no hitting, name-calling, and inappropriate language.
- Then, have your students write down 5 rules they think should be enforced in the classroom in their notebook.
- Once they’ve brainstormed ideas, have students come to the front of the classroom and write their ideas down on the chart paper or interactive whiteboard.
- After every student wrote a rule, group common rules together that share similar themes.
- To wrap up, vote on the top ten best rules. Post the final chart paper at the front of the classroom for the entire year, or print out your list from your interactive whiteboard for students to store in their binder.
Monitor online activity
Classrooms look much different than they did just a decade ago. Today’s classrooms are filled with technology that helps students learn and collaborate with their peers. Rather than having a single classroom computer, most school districts are equipping their students’ with their own tablets or laptops, such as Google Chromebooks, to use during the school year. While this serves as a great learning opportunity, it also opens a door to students getting off task.
To prevent students from going to websites that aren’t meant for learning, it’s wise to invest in content filtering. What is content filtering? Content filtering is an online program that blocks sites that are deemed inappropriate, dangerous, or distracting. As a teacher, you’ll have full control over what sites students can visit or not, to ensure students are focused on what they’re supposed to be learning.
Teach students about cyberbullying
With increased access to computers comes increased cases of cyberbullying. To prevent students from posting hurtful comments about others or causing emotional harm, it’s crucial you take time throughout the year to continually inform students about the harmful effects of cyberbullying. Bullying and cyberbullying can have enormous health consequences on students, such as depression, anxiety, and even suicide.
To prevent bullying and cyberbullying in school, consider one of these methods:
- Have students role-play a bullying scenario and discuss feelings and actions that can be taken
- Have students conduct research in the library or on their computers about types of bullying, how bullying can be prevented, and how students can respond
- Maintain open lines of communication and have multiple resources for students to have access to for them to report bullying
- Ensure that all staff are trained on bullying prevention, such as knowing what bullying is, what your school district’s bullying policies and rules are, and how to enforce those rules in school
Once you’ve established a clear network of resources for students to have access to, they will be encouraged to stick up for others and show compassion. When students know they have access to a trusted adult, they’ll feel comfortable and safe knowing they won’t be bullied.
Key takeaways
Creating a positive learning environment for your students is the first step to promoting higher learning and molding successful students. Students need to know their basic needs will be met before they can learn and grow. With these tips on how to create a safe learning space, from creating a classroom constitution to teaching about bullying, you and your students will have a fun and eventful school year.