Standard 7 Create and maintain safe and supportive learning environments

 

Practice:
Teachers apply professional knowledge and understanding of learners, the curriculum and teaching and learning to:

  • create respectful, positive and safe learning environments and constructive relationships that are based on mutual trust, provide social support for all students and foster positive attitudes to learning, participation and achievement

  • undertake explicit teaching of skills to assist students to assume responsibility for themselves and behave responsibly towards others, participate in decision making, work collaboratively and independently, and feel safe to risk full participation in learning

Knowledge:


Teachers know and understand:

  • how the classroom environment influences learning and can promote responsible behaviour for all students

 

  • How have helped to create a positive learning environment?

During my 6 week teaching block at Helensvale State High school I adjusted my behaviour management strategies to align with those of the school. This allowed me to monitor student behaviour and ensure that all students were on track and on task.  

 

  • How have you applied behaviour management strategies which are fair and consistent?

Initially I instructed students on what was appropriate behaviour within my classroom.  This gave each student an understanding of what was acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Initially I would give a student a warning and re-enforce the consequences if they continued with this behaviour. If the student continued to disrupt the class they would receive the appropriate discipline. I made sure that for every class each student had a clean slate and I never carried over punishment from a previous class. I was also fair in regards to punishing student’s and would apply the same standards across the class. This allowed me to gain the respect of the students and ultimately lead to greater learning opportunities for each student.

 

  • How do you monitor small group work in the classroom?

I monitored small group work by moving around the classroom and checking that each group is on task. In this way I was able to keep the groups on task and the majority of the time they would complete the required work. If students were causing disruptions or failing to work I would remove them from their group and ask them to individually complete questions related to the task.