Creating a supportive learning environment

Teacher and students with hands raised

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?

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        We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

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              Aboriginal flagTorres Strait islander flagRainbow flagAustralian flag

              We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

              We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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