All students, and especially students who have experienced trauma and oppression, need safe spaces in which to learn. JJSE teachers use several key techniques to create safe classroom communities, including:
Warm demander: We hold students to high expectations because we care about them and believe in them.
Jedi awareness: We notice everything, and we address small issues before they become bigger ones.
Control the mood: We establish the classroom mood to support our teaching goals, taking into account the energy students bring with them.
Rituals: We create classroom rituals that provide a sense of consistency, human connections, and clarity around expectations.
Many thanks to Tracy Burt, professor at City College of San Francisco, who developed this Safe Classroom Community graphic organizer which may be useful in viewing the Safe Classroom Community videos.
