Feeling safe, respected, and joyful are all important aspects of a happy and fulfilling life. When we feel safe, we are able to relax and be ourselves. We know that we are not in danger and that we can trust the people around us. When we feel respected, we feel valued and appreciated. We know that our opinions matter and that we are treated fairly. When we feel joyful, we feel happy and content. We enjoy life and find pleasure in the simple things.
Strategies that support positive emotions
Feeling safe and valued is vital to a child’s development. Learning suffers when students fear for their safety, worry about being bullied, or don’t sense their teachers have high expectations for their success. In a healthy, supportive climate, students are engaged and take intellectual risks¹. A safe and supportive school culture should reflect shared values and take into account the communities and cultures students bring with them to school¹. Emotional safety in schools refers to how safe a student feels in expressing their emotions in school. Students should feel secure and confident as they express themselves and take on challenges that encourage them to try something new².
Positive emotions can also help students be happy and excel:
There are many ways in which students and teachers can promote safety, respect, and joyfulness in school. Here are some tips:
- Let all your students know that you respect and care about them¹.
- Set up a classroom culture of inclusion and respect¹.
- Acknowledge students who demonstrate kindness, respect and thoughtfulness¹.
- Use positive approaches when educating students about acceptable and unacceptable behaviours¹.
- Encourage your students to practice using social and emotional skills in the classroom¹.
Sources
- (1) Children learn best when they feel safe and valued. https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/children-learn-best-when-they-feel-safe-and-valued.
- (2) Emotional Safety | National Center on Safe Supportive Learning … – ed. https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/topic-research/safety/emotional-safety.
- (3) A Safe, Caring School Environment – Inclusive Schools. https://inclusiveschools.org/a-safe-caring-school-environment/.
- (4) 11 Ways Schools Can Help Students Feel Safe in Challenging Times … – ADL. https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/11-ways-schools-can-help-students-feel-safe-challenging-times-en.
- (1) 10 tips for a safe and respectful classroom – ReachOut.com. https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/10-tips-for-a-safe-and-respectful-classroom.
- (2) How to Prioritize the Health and Safety of Students, School … – ed. https://sites.ed.gov/backtoschool/health-safety/.
- (3) 20 Tips for Creating a Safe Learning Environment | Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-tips-create-safe-learning-environment-rebecca-alber.
- (4) 11 Real Ways to Build a Positive School Culture. https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/school-culture/.
- (5) Creating a Safe Classroom Environment | Education World. https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/creating-safe-classroom-environment-climate.shtml.
- (6) 10 Ways On How To Respect A Teacher In Class & In Life -TLV. https://www.thelifevirtue.com/how-to-respect-a-teacher/.