Question

how to build classroom community

Answer 1

All of us learning each others’ namesStudents being grouped with classmates they might not seek out on their own and then being asked to learn something new about themPictures of student work posted around the classroomPhotographs of students used to organize students into groupsA class poem that we wrote together on the first day of schoolOr our class webpage where students can find blog posts of our work in class and photographs of their contributions

There’s no doubt that the membership, the trust, the sense of self that comes from being part of a classroom community keeps kids in school and keeps them engaged.
While creating communities takes time and patience, its more elusive partner, “culture,” may be even more challenging to unearth. While fueled by a strong community, culture requires us to delve into creating shared values, beliefs and attitudes about learning. In our room, we call these dispositions and realizing them starts by elevating us all to the status of learner.

Building culture is an ongoing process for me. I learned early in my career that building classroom culture varies from year to year and depends entirely on the mindset of the students who walk into the room. This means that I have tried and am always trying new approaches. This year is no exception. If you walked into our classroom you’d see and hear the ways I’m purposefully building culture: