I’m in the middle of a writing residency and this school has good vibes! The staff have fun together, and most importantly, the students are valued. These good vibes are essential in our schools, especially for students who find learning challenging.
When you think about it, students are asked to take risks day in and day out. Some students have both the confidence and competence which make risk-taking relatively easy. For others though, sharing an answer in front of their peers or writing something to submit to a teacher may be intimidating.
Our schools, and in particular our classrooms, must create an environment of psychological safety: a place where every person feels valued, where it’s okay to make mistakes, ask questions, and express opinions.
Although we work hard to create this environment at the beginning of the year, it is essential that we don’t let fatigue take over during the busy months of May and June. A flippant comment or rushed remark might weigh heavy on a student and impact them more than we realize.
Let those good vibes run deep, leading to psychological safety for each and every student you teach!