The educational field changes constantly. As new teachers are certified and move into the field, new ideas constantly cycle in and out of classrooms. New ideas in the classroom are, for the most part, vital in keeping education relevant, as students' needs are also constantly changing. That being said, it is important for new teachers to develop and understand their own core values as they learn to teach in their own style. These values should be reflected in how they treat students, the content they create, and the general environment they create in the classroom.

For example, one value I believe in is learning through collaboration. School can often feel like either a competitive field where everyone is vying for the top spot, or a place where your struggles are your own to deal with. Both of these ideas isolate students in their learning, which is not efficient. As a theatre teacher, I believe it is vitally important to have students work with each other as they learn. I often do this through various group devising projects, whether it is simply blocking a prewritten scene as a group, or by writing and creating a sketch. Throughout these experiences, students should be able to experience various roles within these groups to ensure all students get a chance at leadership. Through these group activities, students develop relationship skills, social awareness, and even self-awareness.

However, in order for students to efficiently engage with each other, they also need to feel safe in the classroom. Teachers help students feel safe through a variety of ways, but one way I think is vitally important is keeping my classroom well-managed. I find it very important to clarify that “well-managed” does not necessarily translate to a “strict” or “mean” style of teaching. I don’t think the solution to managing a classroom is ever to be inherently mean. To me, a well managed classroom simply involves setting clear expectations for students, and creating a clear series of consequences should those expectations not be met. For example, I find it important to start every year with a simple introduction to my personal “classroom expectations,” which can be things involved with how students treat each other, the classroom, and the teacher. It is also extremely helpful to establish a clear routine through activities such as journaling or bell ringer activities. The goal through all of these procedures is to help students have a clear understanding of what is expected in the classroom and keep them safe.

Another core factor to the safety of students when it comes to teacher values is empathy. It is very easy for teachers to forget that students, more often than not, have other things going on outside of the classroom. Most students partake in some sort of extra curricular activity, and some even work their own jobs. As simple as it sounds, it is vitally important for teachers to not only remember that students have lives outside of class, but to take a vested interest in them. I prefer to do this through simple check-ins, usually at the start of class, but even during or after class time when necessary. This simple act helps school go from feeling like a prison, and turns it that bit closer to feeling like a safe space.

These values are not the only tools a teacher needs of course. A good teacher requires preparation, an understanding of the content, and usually a sense of humor. However, these values mentioned are ones I consider to be important to my personal teaching style. Through a theatre classroom, students learn so many SEL related skills, but that can only be done in a secure, empathetic, and collaborative classroom.