Four Things That Boost Emotional Safety in the Classroom

1. Four Things That Boost Emotional
Safety in the Classroom
By: Walter Wallace Maine

2. Four Things That Boost Emotional Safety in the
Classroom
Experienced academic leader Walter Wallace serves as the principal of Brunswick Junior High
School in Maine for nearly a decade. The president of WB Education, LLC in Cumberland, Maine,
Walter Wallace consults schools and school districts about different educational needs of students.
He has also given numerous presentations about the emotional safety of students.

3. Four Things That Boost Emotional Safety in the
Classroom
Emotional safety refers to a situation in which someone feels safe and confident enough to take
risks, express their feelings, and challenge themselves. In the classroom, emotional safety is
essential to ensure that students feel comfortable learning. Below are several things teachers can
do to improve emotional safety:

4. Four Things That Boost Emotional Safety in the
Classroom
1. Admit to being unsure - No one can know everything all the time. Instead of pretending, teachers
should readily admit when they aren’t sure of something and be open to looking up the answer
instead. Doing so is a great way of showing students that their teacher isn’t perfect and that it’s
okay to not know everything.

5. Four Things That Boost Emotional Safety in the
Classroom
2. Always stay calm - Once teachers snap or yell at students, they lose the safety and trust of their
class. Rebuilding this trust takes a long time and may require months of effort. When teachers
begin getting frustrated, they should walk outside the class for a bit to calm down.

6. Four Things That Boost Emotional Safety in the
Classroom
3. Set non-negotiables - Every classroom needs a set of rules so students know what is expected
of them each day. However, in addition to these rules, teachers must have non-negotiables, such
as name-calling, that they tackle swiftly and immediately so other students feel safe to be
themselves.

7. Four Things That Boost Emotional Safety in the
Classroom
4. Move around the class - Too many teachers give students tasks and then sit at their desks until
the class finishes. This makes it difficult for teachers to monitor student progress and address any
tension building between groups before it gets out of hand.