Safe Learning Environments

Voila.  A picture from one of my math classes from way in the day… students learning together, collaboratively, willing to share and take risks.  Notice… students are not learning in rows, in isolation.  They are learning with people that they know and trust.  My role was to act as the “expert” and facilitate active learning communities amongst peers.  This is a MATH CLASS.  Remind yourself of your experience as a math student.  For many, learning mathematics was not fun or engaging.  I strived for COMMUNICATIVE ACTION where students dialogued together to make sense of what they are learning.  To achieve this, they had to be working in a safe learning environment.

Guess what?  Kids had fun learning math/science in my classes.  I taught for 16 years in School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast) and I believe that creating safe learning environments for staff and students is one of my strengths as a teacher practitioner.  Feeling safe in a secondary mathematics classroom and building relationships with students are foundational components to learning and feeling a part of the learning community.  When someone feels unsafe, marginalized, or belittled… no one engages.  People who are actively a part of public schools need to feel safe to contribute ideas, question policy, and advocate for children and their learning.  Listening to the story and understanding what is being said is critical to address the learning needs of students. 

Creating SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS is my THIRD PLATFORM for my candidacy as school trustee representing the District of Sechelt.  All stake holders… students, staff, parents, and community members all need to feel safe and valued when addressing the public school system with the intentions of benefiting student learning in a positive way and establishing full-functioning learning communities.  All 3 of my political platforms interconnect, much like people do who make up School District No. 46 (Sunshine Coast):  Student learning, learning communities, and safe learning environments.  It’s about creating a culture where open, authentic dialogue by all stakeholders is the norm and being heard, acknowledged, and listened to is reciprocated.  Thank you for reading.