Learning begins with a safe, positive and happy environment

“We are the sum total of our experiences. Those experiences – be they positive or negative – make us the person we are, at any given point in our lives. And, like a flowing river, those same experiences, and those yet to come, continue to influence and reshape the person we are, and the person we become. None of us are the same as we were yesterday, nor will be tomorrow.”― B.J. Neblett

While laying the foundation of learning for our children we must remind ourselves that what and how they learn today will make them the people they will become tomorrow. It is therefore our primary responsibility as educators to create and foster an environment where children feel safe, happy and free to express themselves through words, actions or play.

The core elements of this learning environment are the teacher, classmates and infrastructure. When we look back at our school days, what do we remember the most – the building, the desks, the swimming pool or our favorite teachers and our closest friends? I can quite certainly say that it is our favorite teachers, the special things they did, how they made us feel and then our friends who stood by us through thick and thin.

If being one of those favorite teachers is our goal and if we would like to be remembered as one of those teachers who always made each student feel special, able and successful then these are some of the things we could incorporate into our learning environment.

Make students feel cared for: Some of the ways we can do this is by greeting each child by their name every morning, caring to know something specific about each child, using this knowledge to make learning personalized and to avoid discussing or bringing up issues which may be sensitive. We must take special care to learn the pronunciations of the names of students who are from different countries and have uncommon names, learn about their country and culture and incorporate examples respectfully into academic content.

Listen to each voice: It is important to recognize that every child has a story to tell. These stories could be about their experiences, families, hardships, fears or about the fun and happy things in their lives. These stories will provide each teacher with powerful information about each child’s cultural background, values they have grown up with, their hopes, strengths and life circumstances. Sharing these stories is also a great way of building relationships among students. It is a channel that helps students identify with those that have similar circumstances.

Be conscious of the physical environment: The physical learning environment pertains to the classroom structure and set up. Classroom setup should be student centered. The decorations should reflect the diversity of the students and their acceptance into the community. Desks should be setup in a way that facilitates collaborative sharing and learning. There should be a clear and all inclusive discussion on positive classroom behavior. The list should be clearly displayed in the class.

Encourage Dialogue and Inquiry: Young minds are curious. When some students see others do things differently, they might have questions. Encourage students to ask questions respectfully without expressing bias or judgment. Have students answer these questions too. This will help them establish a dialogue.

Initiate learning by doing projects: The best way for students to learn about each other, accept their differences and celebrate their similarities would be to involve them in project based learning. They could work on projects about countries, ethnic backgrounds, and historical issues facing some countries. This will not only enhance academic learning but also their appreciation of the diversity amidst them.

Build a strong school community: This is becoming increasingly relevant and critical in the world today where there is so much diversity in schools. In a small international school of a 110 students, in a Central Asian country, 16 countries are represented. In such schools a strong Parent Support group that volunteers to organize events where students, teachers and other parents can learn about all these countries will help develop strong connections. In bigger schools where there the diverse student community includes not just students from different countries but also LGBT students, special needs students and minority students, student clubs and support groups must be encouraged. These are the clubs and groups where students have the freedom to express their concerns or ask questions in a safe environment.

Lead by example: Finally, as an educator, we must lead by example. It is our responsibility to take the care and initiative to learn as much as we can about our students, their backgrounds and their culture. We must learn about the ways of communicating, resolving conflicts, expressing emotions, using non verbal communication and symbols in different cultures. We must also raise our voice, stop and take immediate action against any discrimination based on country, culture, race or sexual preference.

If we take all or some of the steps above, students will have a safe and happy learning environment, one they will always want to come to.