Starko Chapter 9

Thinking About the Classroom

“Psychological safety requires that every child in your room feel accepted, important, and valued. Examine the images of children and adults found in your room. Consider those in textbooks, posters, calendars, and any other available materials. Think about the mixture of genders and races portrayed. Will it support psychological safety for all your students? Does it suggest you believe everyone has important things to contribute” (Starko, 2010, p. 246)?

In all of the classrooms I have observed, I have only seen white culture decorations that surround the room. I don’t think teachers do this intentionally; however, I do want to be the teacher who tries to share all cultures in my classroom. This goal is a process and it costs a lot of money. If I take it year by year, I can add things to make my classroom unique and comfortable to all students. I have been in a classroom and other rooms where I felt like I didn’t belong because of the messages from the decorations.