10 things every teacher needs for class meetings! Caring School Community The CHARACTERplus Way™ “Take Ten”

#1: Teacher FIRST What do you need to effectively facilitate a class meeting within the constraints of your room and your students? Examine your attitude toward class meetings. If you do not think they will work for you, write down the barriers and seek support. Reflect on your comfort zone. Ask to observe or have a meeting modeled.

#2: Safe, nurturing class environment Class Meetings are most successful in classrooms that have a warm, caring, supportive environment -- classrooms in which students feel comfortable to learn, feel safe to share their ideas, and feel free to ask questions and take risksClass Meetings Students in this type of classroom are supportive of one another, work together cooperatively, encourage one another, assume responsibility for their own learning and behavior, and are allowed to make decisions Common language = voice and choice; autonomy

#3: Format Prepare students for meetings in two to three lessons during the first weeks of school, or when you decide to implement Teach students How To’s: Circle-up, take turns, listen, use “I” statements Utilize every opportunity for: Teambuilding, encouragement, and creative problem solving Collaborate with counselor, other teachers and CSC Coach to provide guidance Use CSC “box” and other resources (books, websites) Facilitate practice and trial meetings, leading and modeling the process- can be done in 15 min or less Upper elementary students can become meeting leaders, with each student taking a turn as discussion leader during the school year

#4: Cues, tools and procedures Use a class meeting sign to generate a common cue on your classroom door with meeting time, or during calendar, schedule, smart board, etc. Use concrete “talking” toy, stick, ball or appropriate item- can change up! Establish Stop! Procedure (signal, cue) Practice procedures: Time to circle, readiness drills, stopwatch activities Be prepared with minute-glass or timers Be consistent- same place, same circle, etc

#5: Ground Rules Circle Up- use your cue or class language Explain there are ground rules that are non- negotiables Define ‘safe’ and make chart with students about rules using character words, such as respect; break words into “what it looks like/sounds like” Include: One person speaks at a time; say ‘people’ instead of specific names; encourage: no put- downs Define: Reflect and practice at the end of the meeting

#6: Strong collaborative structures An essential structure: Think/Pair/Share- Students take time to think individually about their response to the guided question Tell students to turn to their neighbor (partner) and share their thoughts by taking turns and active listening Upon pre-determined signal, students face teacher to prepare to share Cue students on eye contact to speakers Share responses “round-robin” style; however, passing is always an election Modification: Pair/share

#7: A role The teacher: acts as a coach/facilitator Reflects and defers to group Models and cues for eye contact on persons speaking Fulfills the role of scribe Offers open-ended questions and reflective comments only when necessary to keep the tone positive and helpful Does not utilize class meeting time for “teachable moments” Creates his/her comfort zone for silence

#8: Equipped Students brainstorming/consensus Help students understand that they will not be put on the spot Brainstorming is getting ideas out on a ‘first come to mind’ basis There are no comments made when recording the ideas All ideas are recorded Consensus is a process to make a group decision Establish the way class will reach consensus and the signals to use vs. voting Teach how to combine ideas, alter ideas and compromise Address unproductive meetings and return to topics at later time (parking lot idea from Kagan)

#9: Family Use every opportunity to get the process home! Provide opportunities for parents to use same principles for family meetings Model class/family meetings in every group interaction, when possible Use reflective journaling to further class meeting accomplishments and students’ sense of voice and choice Celebrate class and family successes

#10: Perspective Perfection is not the end product Celebrate people and process Even your worst meeting has something to offer Trust your students Always incorporate teambuilding and relationships as focus for community

“Take Ten” CSC Coaching presented by Robin Adkison Teachers are BUSY! Everyone competes for a teacher’s limited time, but teachers WANT to serve their students and WANT to have time to do so! “Take Ten” offers a 3-5 min. CSC slideshow with a page of activities and resources designed to take less than 10 min. The slideshows can be designed for staff’s particular needs and can be used individually, in team meetings or during staff meetings led by SLT’s In addition, teachers are then free to book coaching for hands-on classroom development To access your CSC coach for questions, additional resources, site visit, etc. please or call

Feedback, Please! CSC overarching Goal: Competence Please a reply to: Yes/No 1.This slideshow met my needs 2.I will use info for my classroom 3.I would like more slideshows on this and other topics Suggestions… For response ease, cut & paste a response on this slide to