Classroom Community Overview
Establishing a strong community within the class is done continuously throughout the year. Achieving this requires balancing multiple classroom components. Of these components the four main areas of focus are intellectual, emotional, social and physical. To facilitate the intellectual aspects of the community I will clearly display and practice all classroom expectation. I will set students up for intellectual success by incorporating all learning styles into lessons as well as make connections from students prior knowledge to new content. Additionally, Students will know that mistakes are OKAY in our classroom. To build up the social side of the classroom community students will be celebrated individuality through activities such as “Star of The Week”. Aside from this activity students will be encouraged to communicate effectively using the “Think, Pair, Share” method, this tool allows students to formulate what they want to say, collaborate with classmates, and share overall thoughts. The emotional component of the classroom community will be supported through checking with students at the Morning Meeting as well as having a “Safe Zone”. This zone is a private area where students having a tough day may go if needed. The last component, physical, will be designed to facilitate a strong classroom community. Having desks arranged in a U-shape students have the best visibility possible while still being able to work in groups. The classroom will also have designated areas where students are encouraged to interact with one another while still being engaged in learning. Furthermore, by incorporating the four community components in my classroom students will have the best possibility for success. In doing this a community is created centered on a positive learning environment where students feel safe and engaged throughout the year.
Establishing a strong community within the class is done continuously throughout the year. Achieving this requires balancing multiple classroom components. Of these components the four main areas of focus are intellectual, emotional, social and physical. To facilitate the intellectual aspects of the community I will clearly display and practice all classroom expectation. I will set students up for intellectual success by incorporating all learning styles into lessons as well as make connections from students prior knowledge to new content. Additionally, Students will know that mistakes are OKAY in our classroom. To build up the social side of the classroom community students will be celebrated individuality through activities such as “Star of The Week”. Aside from this activity students will be encouraged to communicate effectively using the “Think, Pair, Share” method, this tool allows students to formulate what they want to say, collaborate with classmates, and share overall thoughts. The emotional component of the classroom community will be supported through checking with students at the Morning Meeting as well as having a “Safe Zone”. This zone is a private area where students having a tough day may go if needed. The last component, physical, will be designed to facilitate a strong classroom community. Having desks arranged in a U-shape students have the best visibility possible while still being able to work in groups. The classroom will also have designated areas where students are encouraged to interact with one another while still being engaged in learning. Furthermore, by incorporating the four community components in my classroom students will have the best possibility for success. In doing this a community is created centered on a positive learning environment where students feel safe and engaged throughout the year.
Community Building Action Plan Through For The Year
The First Day
Because the fisrt day forms the initial foundation for the classroom community it is essential to dtsrt this buiding process strong. Some example first day community building activities are, first grade roll call (students share information about who they are), Get to know me (teacher shares information about who they are), and roll a question (students roll a dice and have to answer a question corresponding with specific number). By completing these actives students are accepted and established as individual pieces of the community where everyone matters. See source 13 for more information.
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Activities Throughout the School Year
Progressing through the year strengthening the classroom community will be a main goal. Through integrated daily activities the class will build, support and encourage a stronger community. Examples of these integrated activities are shown below. Example 1: Activity Name- Morning Meeting When/Where Does It Take Place?- Each morning at the rug space What Is The Activity?- The morning meeting is a collective classroom discussion to start the day. In this meeting students will share what they did well the day before, what they struggled with the day before, and how they will make today a better day. Students will also share how they are feeling about the day so far by holding a thumbs up to represent great, a sideways facing thumb for okay and a thumbs down for not so good. How does this strengthen the community?- This activity strengthen the community by helping students to building meaningful relationships with classmates through discussing and listening to one another. By having students share how they are feeling about the day both the teacher and classmates can support others based these feelings. Example 2: Activity Name- Classmate Complements When/Where Does it Take Place?- Randomly throughout the year as needed for Class Moral booster/ What is the activity?- Students will write complements to one another to brighten each other’s day. For this activity students will draw a classmates name out of a hat and write a complement bout the person they selected. Once the thought is written it will be turned into the teacher, reviewed and distributed once each student has a written complement. How Does This Strengthen the community?- This activity is a great community builder in that it incorporates both the social and emotional components of community. By having students share the positive attributes of their classmates, empowerment and positivity is spread. By appreciating what makes each student unique the community has a better understanding of individuals that compose it. Example3: Activity Name- Friday Afternoon Rundown When/Where does it take place?- Friday afternoon right before dismissal What is the Activity?- During this activity students will share a weekly recap with the class. To complete this task students will sit in their desks while a discussion ball is passed around the class. The students are only aloud to talk when the ball is in there hands. Once a student receives the ball they must share their high of the week, their low of the week, and something they are looking forward to. Once all the students have shared the Friday rundown is complete. How does this strengthen the community?- Just like the morning meeting the Friday Round up offers students a way to share feelings which contributes to and builds a strong, safe classroom community built on the formation personal relationships . |
End of The Year Goal
As the year closes, knowing my students are moving on to a new classroom in the fall, I hope to see a group of individuals who work together as a single unified community. When I see my students treating each other with kindness an acceptance I will know that a strong community relationships has been formed. Building this type of community will be among the top of my priorities, until these characteristics become normal behaviors, I will be working at strengthening the community . See source 4 for more information.
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