Create an Oasis of Safety and Respect in the Classroom
“...you can ensure that when students are in your classroom, they are in an oasis of safety—a positive environment where students feel cared for, respected, and encouraged.”
It is important to have clear expectations of behavior for your learning space. Keeping the rules simple and memorable will be key since research tells us that people can remember seven (plus or minus two) items consistently (Goodwin & Hubbell, 2013).
One way to create simple rules and have them memorable is by using a class contract or covenant. Mark E. Haskins (2015) asserts that “A classroom is another group enterprise that performs best when all participants engage with each other in ways they have agreed upon in advance.” Matthew has found this to be true as well. In classes and camps working for the Unitarian Universalist Association it is a standard practice to create a covenant or agreement at the beginning of each new endeavor. The agreement is created as a class or group and then signed by everyone. It is also explained that it can be changed and adapted as needed. Finally, it is also explained that there is a process to restore trust with the class if someone breaks a part of that contract. We know that students are more motivated when they hold stake in the class (Goodwin & Hubbell, 2013). This is a great way to involve students in classroom management and restorative practices.
Safety and Respect Resources
References
Goodwin, B., & Hubble, E. R. (2013). The 12 touchstones of good teaching: a checklist for staying focused every day. ASCD, McREL International.
Haskins, M. E. (2015, March). A Classroom Covenant: Teachers and Students Should Promise Up Front How They Will Interact in Class, Says the University of Virginia’s Mark Haskins. BizEd AACSB International. Retrieved from https://bized.aacsb.edu/articles/2015/03/a-classroom-covenant#.XcOe27OH11o.mailto