A Climate of Caring In The Classroom
The classroom climate can determine if students are in a comfortable learning environment or miss several days because of fear of safety or depression caused by bullying. Teachers set the tone and example for respect for cultural differences, equity, fairness, and dignity (Kosciw, Greytak, Palmer, and Boesen, (2014).
Students need to have a refuge from prejudice and unfairness in the classroom. Our leaders do not promote this, but students need to come to school to a teacher who encourages empathy, caring, alliances, and celebrates diversity and sameness. Learning is hard when prejudice is in the room.
Social Justice Standards not only teach students and teachers to recognize stereotypes and injustices but encourage teachers to be mindful at every step of preparation. Students recognize unfairness, bias speech and discrimination.
When I went to school in the 70's and 80's we learned out of traditional textbooks which I now know were bias. Some teachers treated poor students worse than those from middle-class families. When I went to school I lived in a primarily white Midwestern town with adults who were prejudiced of anyone who looked or spoke differently from them. Much of the information that we learned in textbooks was biased and politicized (Strauss, 2014). I had to relearn history in college and through the Internet.
I have always been a strong advocate for fairness and empathy. Caring alone is not enough. Education about bias, prejudices and unfairness and practicing alliance is important. I will be mindful and open so that my students are comfortable talking about these strategies teachers have strong support for learning to create a classroom climate that is respectful and fairness. Some strategies that are suggested by Cox (ND).
Strategies for Anti-Bullying:
The diagram below displays the essence of bias of the traditional classrooms and the open diversity of a 21st Century classroom today.
Teachers can learn about students' various cultures, religions, foods, and lifestyles to be more inclusive within a classroom. Even art and music can suggest inclusiveness when a teacher decorates with mindfulness and awareness.
A classroom of diverse students means there may be several different cultural, religious, and racial backgrounds. Besides this, each child has various (MI) Multiple Intelligences, as taught by Howard Gardner. Each student has his or her own style of learning. Differentiated instructions make bridging these differences easier.
Textbooks of the past taught only from Judeo-Christian and Caucassion perspectives and dismissed minorities and different religions. Educated and, caring teacher know that a classroom is made up of students from multiple cultures, religions, traditions, and beliefs(Strauss, 2014)
Teachers may continue to develop skills of cultural competency through continuous learning about their student's cultures, traditions, and practices. Tolerence.org is an organization that has a mailing list teachers can join.
Students and Teachers can help build and strengthen alliances for all students. LBGTQ alliance supports students who identify with one or more of these groups can strengthen each other. My granddaughter was a member of the LBGTQ alliance in California during high school and volunteered for counseling for suicide prevention.
Those teachers who see diversity as a strength within the learning environment, rather than a problem, will bring cultural awareness to the classroom(Teaching Tolerance, 2016 p19).
A teacher who is discussing social injustices might discuss Andrew Jackson's harmful influences against American tribes. Classrooms can discuss the facts and social injustices that have occurred throughout history. The twenty dollar bill will be featuring Harriet Tubman and Jackson's portrait will be on the back side of the Twenty dollar bill.
Prejudices and unfairness are everywhere today, and we cannot guarantee or children physical safety within the classroom. One solid support we can give our students is letting them know the classroom is a safe place to talk about prejudices and unfairness. We can build a climate that is positive and diverse within the classroom while celebrating our differences and our similarities.
LGBTQ students and racial minorities have faced extremely difficult social issues as well as classroom climate problems. Safety is important and some schools have peer-mentoring programs. According to the 2013 National School Climate Survey Full Report, 55.5% of LGBT students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and 37.8% because of their gender expression (Kosciw, Greytak, Palmer, and Boesen, (2014).
A 21st Century classroom is much different from the traditional classroom of the 1960's, 1970'and 1980's. The Internet and personal computers have created awareness among our global neighbors.
References:
Singelton, Michah (2016) Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill
Students need to have a refuge from prejudice and unfairness in the classroom. Our leaders do not promote this, but students need to come to school to a teacher who encourages empathy, caring, alliances, and celebrates diversity and sameness. Learning is hard when prejudice is in the room.
Social Justice Standards not only teach students and teachers to recognize stereotypes and injustices but encourage teachers to be mindful at every step of preparation. Students recognize unfairness, bias speech and discrimination.
When I went to school in the 70's and 80's we learned out of traditional textbooks which I now know were bias. Some teachers treated poor students worse than those from middle-class families. When I went to school I lived in a primarily white Midwestern town with adults who were prejudiced of anyone who looked or spoke differently from them. Much of the information that we learned in textbooks was biased and politicized (Strauss, 2014). I had to relearn history in college and through the Internet.
I have always been a strong advocate for fairness and empathy. Caring alone is not enough. Education about bias, prejudices and unfairness and practicing alliance is important. I will be mindful and open so that my students are comfortable talking about these strategies teachers have strong support for learning to create a classroom climate that is respectful and fairness. Some strategies that are suggested by Cox (ND).
Strategies for Anti-Bullying:
- Tell children that it is okay to say "NO!"
- A teacher's positive body language towards students creates an awareness of a positive climate in the class and the school.
- Encourage observers to step in when they see classmates being bullied.
- Hear all complaints from your students, even when they seem trivial.
- Pay attention to victimization indicators.
- Plan activities to include all children.
- Talk to the classroom about bullying and teach them alternative behaviors.
- Teachers might include an art or music activity that creates an anti-bullying project.
- Tell the person who is bullying that their behavior is unacceptable.
- Stay together in groups.
- Tell children to report any incidents that are harmful or dangerous to an adult right away.
- Walk away.
- Students can create an anti-bullying video and broadcast to the school.
- Schools can have assemblies, invite motivational speakers for bullying prevention.
- Schools and Teachers need to stand in front of the classroom and community against bullying (Cox, ND).
The diagram below displays the essence of bias of the traditional classrooms and the open diversity of a 21st Century classroom today.
Teachers can learn about students' various cultures, religions, foods, and lifestyles to be more inclusive within a classroom. Even art and music can suggest inclusiveness when a teacher decorates with mindfulness and awareness.
 |
| The diagram made by Sandra Hathaway shows a traditional classroom with bias, and classroom on right is a modern classroom that discusses global issues, teaches accurate history and is open to discussion diversity, sameness, prejudices, and alliances. Teachers can respect and honor students through thoughtful preparation in the classroom setup. Art, music, and pictures in the classroom can reflect the teacher's respect for various cultures, traditions, religions, and lifestyles. Empathy, caring, being an ally can be taught every day in the classroom and by the school. |
A classroom of diverse students means there may be several different cultural, religious, and racial backgrounds. Besides this, each child has various (MI) Multiple Intelligences, as taught by Howard Gardner. Each student has his or her own style of learning. Differentiated instructions make bridging these differences easier.
Textbooks of the past taught only from Judeo-Christian and Caucassion perspectives and dismissed minorities and different religions. Educated and, caring teacher know that a classroom is made up of students from multiple cultures, religions, traditions, and beliefs(Strauss, 2014)
Teachers may continue to develop skills of cultural competency through continuous learning about their student's cultures, traditions, and practices. Tolerence.org is an organization that has a mailing list teachers can join.
Students and Teachers can help build and strengthen alliances for all students. LBGTQ alliance supports students who identify with one or more of these groups can strengthen each other. My granddaughter was a member of the LBGTQ alliance in California during high school and volunteered for counseling for suicide prevention.
Those teachers who see diversity as a strength within the learning environment, rather than a problem, will bring cultural awareness to the classroom(Teaching Tolerance, 2016 p19).
A teacher who is discussing social injustices might discuss Andrew Jackson's harmful influences against American tribes. Classrooms can discuss the facts and social injustices that have occurred throughout history. The twenty dollar bill will be featuring Harriet Tubman and Jackson's portrait will be on the back side of the Twenty dollar bill.
Prejudices and unfairness are everywhere today, and we cannot guarantee or children physical safety within the classroom. One solid support we can give our students is letting them know the classroom is a safe place to talk about prejudices and unfairness. We can build a climate that is positive and diverse within the classroom while celebrating our differences and our similarities.
LGBTQ students and racial minorities have faced extremely difficult social issues as well as classroom climate problems. Safety is important and some schools have peer-mentoring programs. According to the 2013 National School Climate Survey Full Report, 55.5% of LGBT students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and 37.8% because of their gender expression (Kosciw, Greytak, Palmer, and Boesen, (2014).
A 21st Century classroom is much different from the traditional classroom of the 1960's, 1970'and 1980's. The Internet and personal computers have created awareness among our global neighbors.
References:
http://www.teachhub.com/anti-bullying-strategies-grade
Kosciw, Joseph G, Greytak, Greytak Emily A., Ph.D., Palmer, Neal A., Ph.D., Boesen, Madelyn J., M.A.(2014) The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Our Nation’s Schools,
GLSEN © 2014 Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, New Youk, NY
ISBN 978-1-934092-13-2
https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2013%20National%20School%20Climate%20Survey%20Full%20Report_0.pdf
Singelton, Michah (2016) Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill
https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/20/11469320/harriet-tubman-will-replace-andrew-jackson-on-the-20-bill
Strauss, Valerie (2014), Proposed Texas textbooks are inaccurate, biased and politicized, new report finds, The Washington Post
Sandra Hathaway
Activity 3: Establishing a Positive Classroom Climate -Teach-Now
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