Journey Summary
In this session, you will learn the value of—and how to maintain—classroom community. You will investigate norms, including approaches for establishing norms with your learners, and how norms can be a guiding force within your learning environment throughout the year.
Curriculum-framing Questions
Essential Question
- What makes a community?
Unit Questions
- How might teachers build a community culture of learning within their classrooms?
- How might community-building strategies be implemented in the classroom?
Content Questions
- What is a classroom community?
- What strategies and techniques establish and sustain classroom learning communities?
- What are classroom norms?
- What is the difference between classroom norms and rules?
- What are class-building activities and what is their purpose?
- What are some class-building strategies I can use with my students?
Introduction
As educators, we know that classrooms develop a community culture whether we actively contribute to its formation or not. It is important that we intentionally develop and nurture a positive and encouraging environment that supports the 4 Cs: Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity throughout the year to make a positive impact on learning. Explore strategies you can implement and infuse these essential elements into your classrooms to enrich the educational experience for both educators and students alike.
Theory Behind Practice
All eMINTS materials are grounded in research-based best practices in K-12 education.
Digging Deeper
Agenda
- Opener: Communities or Champion
- Defining Community
- Classroom Norms
- Comparing Rules and Norms
- Creating Community
- Locating Classroom Community-building Strategies
- Closer: Mindful Reflection
Classroom Visit w/Students
During the visit, ask your eIS to assist, help with, participate in or model a class-building or norm-setting activity.
Classroom Visit w/out Students
During this visit, consider asking your eIS to review the plans you recorded on the My Journey to Classroom Community scaffold during the session. You might also look at the community-building library you began developing during the session. You may also have a conversation to plan or reflect on the use of community-building activities in your classroom.
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