Building Classroom Communities Introduction

ESTABLISHING A CLASSROOM COMMUNITY A CLASSROOM COMMUNITY IS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY, WHERE THEY FEEL SUPPORTED, AND WHERE THEY FEEL ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE DISCOVERIES EACH NEW SCHOOL DAY WILL BRING. THIS COMMUNITY SITUATION CAN PROVIDE A SENSE OF BELONGING WHERE STUDENTS THRIVE.

Transforming a Group of Students into a Classroom Community Five stages Forming Transforming Norming Storming Performing

Norming The teacher creates the norms intentionally, working toward the classroom culture he or she desires. He or she encourages, models, and facilitates cooperation, support, honor, and trust as part of the normative process, then the class will begin to internalize those behaviors.

Rituals and Routines A ritual is a “regular, consistent practice or activity that sends a clear message, this is important”. Routines that are intentionally practiced will in time become rituals that collectively serve to create a culture of emotional, safety, and security within the classroom.

The Four A’s of Learning Awareness Stage Aware of what the new task is. Awkward Stage Goes from the what to the how Avoidance Stage Negatively imprinted with the experience Automatic Stage Skill has become ingrained 4 A’s