Creating a supportive learning environment
Teachers need to provide students with a safe and supportive classroom environment that facilitates active participation and engagement of all students. Here are some key ideas for making this happen.
How to create a supportive learning environment
Creating a supportive and understanding learning environment is particularly important when discussion activities deal with sensitive issues about mental health and wellbeing. To provide a safe and engaging learning environment for students, it's important for teachers to:
collaborate with students to develop a group agreement that sets the parameters for class discussions
reflect on their own role in discussions - acting as a facilitator of the conversation to help to generate many viewpoints
value all student contributions and make this known
use a range of questioning techniques which open up discussion rather than trying to get to a quick right answer
recognise that some students may not feel comfortable sharing
explore ways of dealing with this such as using think, pair, share activities
explore ways to ensure that all students get an opportunity to speak, such as using talk tickets.
A quick reflection
How can these tips be translated to your staffroom?
How will you share this information with your colleagues?