#5thchat is for people interested in chatting about topics in education, especially as they relate to Grade 5. The goal is to connect people who enjoy learning & sharing, plus supporting & creating partnerships worldwide!
Welcome to everyone! Let's talk about building classroom community.
There are so many ways to help build classroom community.
Q1: What kind of discussions do you help facilitate to help students build the community they want?
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A1: I try to focus on learning. We discuss what helps us be better learners - our energy and positivity (or lack thereof) affects us. We talk about it. Doesn't take long, but oh so important.
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A1: Teaching theatre, I want to ensure that it's always a safe space for the kids. I start out reiterating to students that our class is a non-judgmental zone where they're free to be themselves! #5thchat
Welcome to everyone! Let's talk about building classroom community.
There are so many ways to help build classroom community.
Q1: What kind of discussions do you help facilitate to help students build the community they want?
#5thchat
A1: I think it's important for students to come up with their own goals for the class that year, so they can take ownership of their classroom community! #5thChat
A1- Discussions about what they need in order to be successful. They are very self-aware of what they need, and it leads into further discussions about what needs to be in place in order for it to happen. #5thchat
A1 I am a BIG believer in @responsiveclass . The students learn how to have general conversations with each other. They practice appropriate responses and how to ask follow up questions.#5thchat This is just morning meetings not academic disussions.
Actually, finding out where they struggle and have strengths helps me be a better teacher - I use this knowledge to my advantage - and hopefully theirs. :) #5thchat
I always like to start the program or class out by sharing an embarrassing story, a meaningful story, and a hope or goal that we have - getting the kids to laugh and share something special to them seems to help! theatre games always help too :) #5thchat
Learning about each other is so important.
Q2: What strategies and activities do you use to help students get to know and care about each other?
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I totally agree! I've always found that my kids are much more self-aware that they're often given credit for. Having conversations about success and how to get there is a great idea! #5thchat
A2: I think discussions are important and sharing about each other. They start to care when they know about someone. If it's just "someone" they aren't as invested. I saw great ideas this year on Twitter and one was the selfie bingo where students found someone who.. #5thchat
A2: I think that doing small team building/trust activities everyday can help develop a caring relationship between the students. Consistency helps! #5thchat
Q2: When making assigned seats, it's great to have each table function as a "team" that is always working together in order to accomplish a goal (e.g. gaining points for good behavoir). Allowing time for this group to bond/talk is positive too! #5thChat
A2: I teach summer programs, so most of the kids don't know each other at all. I always start out with a couple classic name games to get the kids on their feet and out of their comfort zones. From then, I facilitate team activities, mixing up partners and groups! #5thchat
Learning about each other is so important.
Q2: What strategies and activities do you use to help students get to know and care about each other?
#5thchat
A2: My last class is trying new seats (and partners) everyday this week, thanks to an idea from @AngieMChurch - they really need to get to know each other better. #5thchat
The problem I struggle with is that my kids know exactly what they need (in a classroom environment, from their learning partners, etc.) but getting them to provide those same things to others in the class is the problem. Do unto others type of thing. #5thchat
A2: After ice breakers, I'd throw out some topics that they're all bound to have opinions on. This way they can all hear where the other kids are coming from and hopefully gain some new perspectives through discussion. #5thchat
I've watched a teacher do a train from their classroom to the music room and had all her students close their eyes except for the one in the front. I thought that was an interesting way to build a trusting community! #5thchat
A3 My kids set REALISTIC improvent goals. We do a lot of pre-assessments so the kids sit together and talk about their goals and how they plan on reaching them. #5thchat
A3:My coteacher and I work together to guide our Ss to build impactful/attainable goals.We talk about how writing goals down makes it more likely to be fulfilled, and we proudly display goals in the classroom!When the goal is reached, we celebrate, and post a new one! #5thchat
A3:My coteacher and I work together to guide our Ss to build impactful/attainable goals.We talk about how writing goals down makes it more likely to be fulfilled, and we proudly display goals in the classroom!When the goal is reached, we celebrate, and post a new one! #5thchat
A3: I try to have students make academic and social goals and talk to them during whole class discussions about how they are doing. The brave souls who share first give others encouragement to share. I'd like to incorporate in a digital portfolio too. #5thchat
Q3: Having students share what is important to them in a friend or classmate allows them to reflect on how they are acting as a friend/classmate, and strive to work towards being a better community member! #5thChat
A3: I encourage students to stay humble but never doubt their abilities. I encourage them to just be the best version of themselves, Sometimes a kid who is succeeding gets insecure - I use that opportunity to write an encouraging note reminding them of their greatness! #5thchat
A4: empathy is a hard for kids. It confuses them, but through morning meetings and being completely open and honest they learn. We have empathy stems to choose from such as "I understand...", "I know how you are feeling because..." #5thchat
A4 My kids share a lot of personal information during our Morning Meetings. We have had cousins with cancer, grandparents with heart issues, surgeries, etc. The kids are great to listen and offer well wishes. #5thchat
A4: In theatre, empathy is incredibly important to teaching kids how to understand and relate to the feelings that their character has. I also strongly believe empathy is necessary in all different classrooms thru inclusive readings and discussions. #5thchat
A4: My students can share things that are happening in their own personal lives and listen to others to learn about their classmates and what they might be going through. #5thchat
This is such a lovely idea, because if students have something bothering them they can get it off their minds with a loving friend to help them. #5thchat
A4: I think when it comes to understanding empathy, it helps to present the idea of walking in someone else's shoes. That helps create discussion as well! #5thchat
I love that all your kids are comfortable to share personal information and receive such wonderful support from each other! That builds such a loving community! #5thchat
This is such a lovely idea, because if students have something bothering them they can get it off their minds with a loving friend to help them. #5thchat
A2: Having my students get to know each other early in the year will help them to form interests and bonds with each other that will last the rest of the year. #5thchat
A4: I helped in a 3rd grade class last year that often lacked empathy. The adults always made it a point to give students who were being good friends to their classmates a shoutout, detailing the specific way the student was a good friend!
A5: My students are constantly looking out for each other. If someone is left out of a group project or is sitting alone, it's only a short matter of time before someone rushes over to include them. #5thchat
A5:Every Monday in morning meeting, we make a short list of "weekly work-ons".These are things that the Ss see as things that need some extra attention in our class community. We revisit on Friday to evaluate our success. If need be, they choose to send it to next week! #5thchat
A5: Students pick up after each other and when someone else sees, they step up too. I love when students do a give me 5 to remind each other something or help them out, many are at that point this year and I'm loving seeing it so soon! #5thchat
Q5: The classic "classroom jobs" are always great for giving students a responsibility to their class and peers. These jobs can rotate every week! #5thChat
A5 I think this starts with the teacher. I tell my kids they are my school family. I tell me each and every day how happy I am to see them and get to spend time with them. #5thchat
A5:Every Monday in morning meeting, we make a short list of "weekly work-ons".These are things that the Ss see as things that need some extra attention in our class community. We revisit on Friday to evaluate our success. If need be, they choose to send it to next week! #5thchat
A5: My students can help build community in the classroom by being assigned rotating jobs which gives responsibility throughout the class and gives everyone a task that others will rely on them doing. #5thchat
A6: One way to create opportunities for students to share their talents is by making projects in the classroom more open-ended so that students can choose to complete the task in a way that shows off what they are best at. #5thchat
A6 I have "Ask Me" tags for students who are "experts" with skills. I realized I don't have to be one to help all the time. You can find an expert in all children if you look hard enough. Such pride when they get the tag put on their table! #5thchat
A6: I am always a fan of a classic talent show! Talents and passions come in so many forms - whether in singing, art, math, or karate - and it's important to give kids a chance to share that with their classmates. Shy kids can work with friends or even with me! #5thchat
A6: I think having a morning meeting to collect your thoughts as a class and allow students to talk about anything that is on their mind (no matter how random!) is a great way to share interests. #5thchat
This also promotes community because students are helping students and they can feel more connected by helping others in areas they feel they are best. I love this idea! #5thchat
A5:Every Monday in morning meeting, we make a short list of "weekly work-ons".These are things that the Ss see as things that need some extra attention in our class community. We revisit on Friday to evaluate our success. If need be, they choose to send it to next week! #5thchat
I think little things like show and tell or presentations can help share talents in a casual setting not quite as intimidating as a talent show and within the support of their classroom! #5thchat
A6:Through knowing that learning happens at ALL times.Ts need to give the Ss the time and opp to share their talents and info,Even if it is quick. We do "Fun Fact Friday" where they can share a personal FF or an info FF! Allow them to express who they are! #5thchat
A6: In my classroom, I want to let the students work on projects together and help each other learn. I want all of the students to work together and share their talents. #5thchat
A7: I feel that once a good community is set within the classroom, that hopefully standing up and advocating for one another comes naturally! Its all about a good base within the classroom first! #5thchat
A7 Once that sense of family/community is built, you will notice that the kids start looking out for each other and be more willing to help when one of the family struggles or deserves a celebration. #5thchat
A7: One way to start the trend of advocating for others in the classroom is by doing it yourself as the teacher. As soon as students see their teacher engaging in this, they will begin to do it themselves and from there more and more of the class will join in. #5thchat
A7: I am strongly in favor of a classroom with inclusive and diverse literature and discussions. Once students are exposed to different topics and people that they may not learn about on their own, they can be fierce advocates for each other! #5thchat
A7:My Ss LOVE to role play scenarios.We come up with one as a class, choose volunteer actors, and then evaluate the situation: "What happened and why?","What could help this situation?",etc Providing them with the opp to think about it before it actually happens helps! #5thchat
Okay, I have to get this one in before we're done...
Q8: How do you handle a student who upsets the community you are working so hard to help create?
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A7: I want to add this into my lessons and chose text that show this. I also want show this by having the students help each other when they need help. #5thchat
A8 First and foremost.... personal conversation with that student. Show them respect like you want them to exhibit and talk with them alone about your concern. #5thchat
Q8: If the community is built properly, the other Ss are able to express their feelings to one another. Having mini mediation sessions can help. Other times, that S just needs to talk it out, or see other perspectives which can be done 1:1 #5thchat
A8: Helping the student to understand the consequencesthey are creating for the entire community may keep them from being disruptive in the future. If they value the classroom as a community, they will be less likely to disrupt what the entire group has worked to create. #5thchat
I agree that a good base within the classroom helps. I think creating a solid community from the beginning of the year will help the students to keep the ball rolling and keep building a stronger community throughout the year. #5thchat
