Teachers, consider sending a weekly email with updates on how your classes are doing. This Web site is operated and maintained by AIR. Official websites use .gov Engage students, families, public and private social service agencies, and other agencies as partners in developing and implementing policies and practices that create and maintain a safe school environment. As far as creating a safe school environment goes, there are a multitude of. This video clip just released this month reveals the alarming statistics of some of our children who are victims of bullying in our schools today! One of the ways to do that is by teachers and parents working together to support student needs. Help them understand violating the rules results in consequences: I know you can stop [negative action] and go back to [positive action]. Knowing what the vocabulary was went a long way to helping me show that I meant business and was ready to accept and respect whoever I was talking to. Biased and discriminatory behaviors are unacceptable, and everyone involved in the school community needs to be aware of this. Students are taught to stand up for their peers who are getting hurt and intervene if they feel confident in their own skills. It no longer requires physical intimidation to be a bully. Though civics education has become pass in todays world, high schools must shine more light on it in order to create a safer and more equal school environment. Sure, a young person is less like likely to have the depth and breadth of experiences that an adult has had, but that may not always be true. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Take a forthright unequivocal stand against bullying. These conferences are of preventive character as they are aimed at dealing with lower levels of unacceptable behavior. Make expectations clear. Bystander training teaches students that it is expected of them to act reasonably and challenge the unacceptable behavior directly or indirectly by reporting the incident to their teachers. | Houston, Texas 77014 | Phone: 281-440-4220 | Fax: 281-440-4280, New! All staff can keep an eye out for bullying. But first they have to know if their children bully or are bullied by others. School leaders and staff members, along with community members and leaders, have a shared responsibility to ensure that schools are safe and orderly. Do not disrupt or interfere with classroom/school operations. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS "Most young people don't know how to talk about these experiences and to be honest, most adults don't either," Abedesco said. If you really want to reach young people, if you want to know what helps them feel safe and cared for and ready to learn from you as an educator or school administrator or camp counselor, read on. Enlist the help of all school staff. By knowing and applying these concepts, teachers and other school staff can help LGBTQ+ youth feel more welcomed at school. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) codified SRTS at 23 U.S.C. Creating safe and supportive environments (SSE) emphasizes aspects of the school environment that encourage students to be more engaged in their school life and feel connected to important adults at school and at home. Establish school safety leadership and threat assessment teams that include key personnel: principals, teachers, school-employed mental health professionals, instruction/curriculum professionals, school resource/safety officer, and a staff member skilled in data collection and analysis. Expanding access to mental health supports by employing an adequate number of school-employed mental health professionals who are trained to infuse prevention and intervention services into the learning process and to help integrate services provided through schoolcommunity partnerships into existing school initiatives. Balancing physical and psychological safety to avoid overly restrictive measures, like armed guards or metal detectors, that can undermine the learning environment and instead combining reasonable physical security measures, liked locked doors and monitored public spaces, with efforts to enhance school climate, build trusting relationships, and encourage students and adults to report potential threats. Creating Safe School Environment: Role of School Principals - JSTOR Chronic Absence. Allowing students to share their thoughts and opinions in a non-judgemental environment is a powerful tool for nourishing trust. So many ills can be alleviated with concentrated respectful listening. ERIC - EJ959984 - Creating a Safe School Environment: How to Prevent School environments that are safe and supportive connect adolescents to a network of caring peers and adults, including parents, other primary caregivers, and teachers. State educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) can use federal grant funds to implement programs to address student and school safety. That is why, no matter how stressful the period may be, you should strive to keep a positive attitude and smile as often as you can in the classroom. Teachers can practice assertive training with their students by: Many schools use restorative practices to deal with and respond to unacceptable behavior. When these situations pop up, freely share the question with the classroom, and ask for assistance. If you choose to continue, then [consequence].. to help build a more inclusive and sustainable school community that never puts emotional safety in jeopardy. If any student senses an attitude of Boys will be boys or Kids need to toughen up or Its not that big of a deal, youve already lost them. What Should Schools Do To Create a Safe and More Inclusive School Environment? Dismissing what the child is saying with statements such as It will make you tougher and Lots of students are being bullied, do not worry about it will only make things worse. Our schools must be safe places to learn. It cannot be overstated that everyone has a shared responsibility in creating educational environments that help students thrive and reach their full academic and social potential. They play a significant role in dealing with student safety and wellbeing (regardless of being a target, bystander, or bully). this holds true even as they grow older. Students are often asked to talk and write about their feelings, fears, strengths, and weaknesses. Communicate clearly so that everybody involved knows that they are in this together, Stay calm at all times and avoid making accusations, Discuss the schools policies and procedures regarding unacceptable behavior. Sit for awhile. Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment in Our Nation's Classrooms is designed to support classroom teachers, other educators, and support personnel to reduce instances of bullying behavior and to build a supportive classroom climate in which bullying is less likely to occur. Creating a Safe School Environment That Fosters Student Academic and Social Development. (2021). Creating Safe, Equitable, Engaging Schools: A Comprehensive, Evidence Use open-ended questions or prompts such as: Share an example of a student who helped someone at school this week. Some of my fans Twitter bios read like this: Im an a-romantic pansexual trans-fem DMAB. I realized at a certain point that I needed a vocab lesson if I was going to be of any use at all! Bullied students typically: Parents and caregivers have an array of actions at their disposal when they recognize that their child is being bullied or is bullying other students. Without names, share an example of someone who made another student feel bad. is a mandatory step for creating a safe school environment. Creating Safe Schools for LGBTQ+ Youth | DASH | CDC Students are often asked to talk and write about their feelings, fears, strengths, and weaknesses. http://www.stopbullying.gov/parents/index.html. By tackling these disparities and strengthening social support, we can create an environment that protects the well-being of our children and youth during and beyond these crises," Dr Kluge added.Dissecting the findings: mental health, school closures, social support One of the new reports highlights the multifaceted nature of the pandemic's . Use positive terms, like what to do, rather than what not to do. This webpage provides strategies and resources to create healthy and supportive school environments and strengthen students emotional well-being. Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment in Our Nation's Classrooms - ed Drowning Prevention Week: what children learn about water safety at school Creating a Safe Classroom Environment | Education World Children must be reassured that it is perfectly normal to feel hurt, lost, angry, and anxious when they are being subject to unacceptable behaviors. Lastly, teachers and the school staff give students opportunities to express their concerns about their safety and wellbeing. Students who are enduring bullying and harassment have a tough time focusing on learning because of the threats lurking behind school doors. Ideally, you'll want to do this at the start of the semester or school year, though doing so at any time is fine. Ensure that all public health guidance for schools issued by local, state, and federal health authorities is followed and administered, including recommendations for student and staff vaccinations as well as other health and safety measures. A positive school climate includes positive relationships among and between staff and students, a safe environment where students feel they belong, and equitable supports to meet high expectations. Dont believe the lie that you need to do it all yourself. A safe and supportive school environment is crucial in preventing bullying. The physical school environment | Unesco IIEP Learning Portal Provide adequate time for staff planning and problem solving via regular team meetings and ongoing professional learning communities. It is important to make an appointment with the teacher instead of unexpectedly showing up at the school, as this will grant the educator more time to gather much-needed information. Provide meaningful professional development and supports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Revisit racial and gender dynamics among the students, school vision, students communication, and families involvement in the school community. 7 tips for teachers on how to create a safe school environment +1.800.258.8413| ncssle@air.org. Encourage Students To Report Unacceptable Behavior Provide Support to Those Who Need It the Most Inspire Students To Be Active Shine a Light on Civics Education Focus on Inclusion and Diversity Assess School Culture and Make a Change They respect me. Classroom meetings are typically short and held on a regular schedule. For whatever reason, many teachers just tend to assume that a students views and experiences are a little less valid than an adults. An official website of the United States government. Along these lines, please ask follow-up questions. Effective Ways to Begin the Semester There are other ways for teachers to create an effective emotional environment. Notify each other when we have information that affects student safety and/or success. Safety starts in the classroom. And there are a few magical things Ive learned about how to treat them. . 25 Strategies to Engage Early Learners, http://www.stopbullying.gov/parents/index.html, School Climate: Working Together for Success, New Year, New Look! Safety starts in the classroom. Stories should be broad and lead to solutions that build trust and respect between students. . Make your home or school that safe place by providing activities that build "togetherness." Mental Health. Positive greetings. Toxic high school environments have a detrimental effect on our educational system. give students opportunities to express their concerns about their safety and wellbeing. PDF A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools - NAESP 1. How hard or easy would it be to do? The U.S. Department of Education (Department) administers multiple federal programs designed to improve school safety, address critical areas of need for improving the conditions for learning and school climate, and to improve access to systems of support for schools, such as mental health services, trauma, violence prevention, social emotional . PDF Creating a Safe, Supportive, and Affirming School Environment for At school this might be participating in community service projects or daily "check-ins." The contents of the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments Web site were assembled under contracts from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools to the American Institutes for Research (AIR), Contract Number 91990021A0020. High schools need to be public and loud about their community priorities.