minor consent services, the National Center for Youth Adolescent Health Law Law’s Project is an easily accessible resource. Teachers play a critical role in cultivating safety, engagement, and inclusivity by creating positive learning environments in their classrooms. Professional learning and collaboration can help teachers apply appropriate classroom management strategies. Classroom policies, procedures, and communication strategies must be in place to ensure that students engage appropriately within the classroom as well as on the school campus. Teachers and students may work collaboratively to create expectations and norms for student discourse. Examples of strategies teachers can use to establish a safe, confidential, inclusive, and engaging classroom include: sending a welcoming postcard to each student before the school year begins; greeting each student at the door as they enter the classroom; positive letters, e-mails, and phone calls to parents, guardians, and caretakers; asking students to reflect upon and write down a success that they achieved at the end of the day; and allowing students to participate in the process of establishing classroom rules. Though health is a personal subject matter and can be subjective, every effort should be made to refrain from asking students to share personal information or their own individual experiences for sensitive subject matter. If there is the potential to share sensitive or confidential information in the course of classroom discussion, teachers should advise students in advance that they are not required to share this information. Teachers should inform their students that as mandated reporters they are required report suspected abuse or neglect. Teachers are also obligated to get help if a student reveals that they or anyone is in danger (Telljohann 2015). Aside from classroom connectivity, students must have opportunities that give them a sense of purpose and belonging to their school and their community. Examples include special interest clubs, LGBTQ+ and ally groups, sports programs, opportunities for student leadership on councils both with other students and as student members of stakeholder groups, participation in service learning programs, and school-sponsored activities that include parents, guardians, caretakers, families and community members. All students and staff should feel comfortable and safe in the school environment
minor consent services, the National Center for Youth Law’s Adolescent Health Law Project is an easily accessible resource. Teachers play a critical role in cultivating safety, engagement, and inclusivity by creating positive learning environments in their classrooms. Professional learning and collaboration can help teachers apply appropriate classroom management strategies. Classroom policies, procedures, and communication strategies must be in place to ensure that students engage appropriately within the classroom as well as on the school campus. Teachers and students may work collaboratively to create expectations and norms for student discourse. Examples of strategies teachers can use to establish a safe, confidential, inclusive, and engaging classroom include: sending a welcoming postcard to each student before the school year begins; greeting each student at the door as they enter the classroom; positive letters, e-mails, and phone calls to parents, guardians, and caretakers; asking students to reflect upon and write down a success that they achieved at the end of the day; and allowing students to participate in the process of establishing classroom rules. Though health is a personal subject matter and can be subjective, every effort should be made to refrain from asking students to share personal information or their own individual experiences for sensitive subject matter. If there is the potential to share sensitive or confidential information in the course of classroom discussion, teachers should advise students in advance that they are not required to share this information. Teachers should inform their students that as mandated reporters they are required report suspected abuse or neglect. Teachers are also obligated to get help if a student reveals that they or anyone is in danger (Telljohann 2015). Aside from classroom connectivity, students must have opportunities that give them a sense of purpose and belonging to their school and their community. Examples include special interest clubs, LGBTQ+ and ally groups, sports programs, opportunities for student leadership on councils both with other students and as student members of stakeholder groups, participation in service learning programs, and school-sponsored activities that include parents, guardians, caretakers, families and community members. All students and staff should feel comfortable and safe in the school environment
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