- You are committed and caring professionals dedicated to your students' development and learning.
- You are sensitive to their developmental needs and levels and you incorporate this knowledge into lesson planning.
- But you also know your classroom must be safe for all the students who enter.
The hallmarks of high quality teaching go far beyond conventional academic curriculum. It requires setting norms for behavior in the classroom; refusing to permit violence; asking students to help set penalties and enforce the rules; insisting that students not resort to name-calling or teasing; encouraging students to demonstrate the respect they expect; engaging students in developing standards of acceptable behavior; teaching with enthusiasm.
Students engaged in work that is challenging, informative, and rewarding are less likely to get into trouble. We have to help them learn and teach conflict resolution and anger management skills. We have to help our students practice applying such skills in everyday life. We have to discuss these skills in the context of what we teach. We must also celebrate our students' achievements.
Learn how to recognize the warning signs that a child might be headed for violence and know how to tap school resources to get appropriate help.
Obviously 'common areas' are just as critical for your student’s safety as your classroom.
It is important that teachers take responsibility for those common areas outside as well as inside the classroom. Teachers must also be engaged in emergency management planning. Anticipating emergencies and planning/training on addressing these events can support your classroom and school’s wonderfully engaging learning environment.
Some specialized tools the Montana Safe Schools Center can help you with are listed below. We exist to serve you and your students.
1) Student achievement
a. Positive Behavioral Supports
b. Assets
2) School safety assessment
a. Safe Schools Assessment and Resource Bank
b. Threat assessment
c. Environmental design
d. Emergency Management
3) Student Safety
a. Bully prevention
b. Peer Mediation training
c. Conflict resolution
d. Internet Safety
e. Suicide prevention
4) Professional Development
a. Playground/School Ground Safety
b. School Bus Safety
5) SRO
a. Selection
b. Policy development
c. Training/supervision
6) Grant writing/partner development