Question

Describe how building a positive and safe community/culture and learning environment in a classroom that will benefit the common good of all students.

Answer 1

Teachers should aim to provide safe spaces where students of all social and cultural identities are seen, valued, cared for and respected. This creates in an environment wherein students have opportunities to learn from one another’s varied experiences and perspectives. When students feel that their experiences are unwelcome, judged, stereotyped, disrespected or invisible, it becomes extremely difficult from them engage in meaningful discussion of identity and justice issues. Those whose stories and voices are heard and reflected in the classroom are more likely to engage with anti-bias curriculum and translate their learning into real world settings.