Journaling: When students engage in journaling, not only does it allow kids to reinforce their writing skills, but it also provides them with a safe space to process complex ideas or work through their thoughts about disturbing issues. By putting myself on the line too, I send the message that ALL of us are engaging in the self-learning process and that all of us are expected to learn from one another.ДЈ. It's important to note that I always do these activities with my students and I share my poems in the gallery walk as well. I have my students do activities such as ' I Am' poems and ' Bio-poems' and we share these in a gallery walk. I ask my students not only to take a chance in putting their authentic selves out there, but to also risk having their opinions of others challenged and changed. I explain to my students that each of us wants to be known and seen for who we really are, and that while we all know that we are more than what our exteriors may project, often times we don't apply this same understanding to others. My opening message to all students is, YOU BELONG. Identity Unit: The first unit in any class I teach, regardless of course topic, is on identity. This is what WE believe is important! Click here for more information about contracting.Дў. It helps the students to see the class as one cohesive unit. The best thing about these rules is the sense of ownership the kids have about the process. I have students state their ideals in the positive, for example, 'Listen before responding' instead of 'Don't interrupt!' I let the students know that we can amend, delete, or add any agreements as the year progresses, based on the will of the group.

I ask students to envision what an ideal learning environment would look like and what they can personally do to create it. Contracting: In the beginning of the year, I ask my students to create a set of class conduct rules that they will abide by and hold themselves accountable to as a group. I can intentionally and purposely create a safe space where every person is allowed to bring his or her authentic self to the classroom and express the thoughts and opinions that he or she holds. I am given anew the chance to create the classroom environment which will both nurture and challenge my students. At the start of the school year, whether the students know me or not, the classroom dynamics have not been set and the patterns of interaction are yet to be established. After spending a year outside of the classroom, I'll be returning to teaching at a different school this fall and I'm excited to re-establish the pattern of rewarding teacher-student relationships that I've built over two decades.

No matter how long I've been in teaching, there's always this to look forward to with the start of the school year: the promise of a new beginning.

Classroom saferoom