Creating a Classroom Community
A successful classroom community promotes positive social skills and academic achievement. Children learn best when they feel they are part of a community, where everyone feels accepted and where individuality is encouraged. Creating a Classroom Community requires planning and practice. Read how you can help foster a sense of belonging where children learn how to participate in class meetings, work collaboratively and resolve conflicts peacefully.
Articles
Help For "They Won't Let Me Play with Them!"
by William Kridler
Student talk about what behaviors, attitudes, and actions they think contribute to a climate of caring in the classroom, and play games that reinforce these values.
Building Community in the Classroom
by Ellen Booth Church
Early Childhood Today |
September ,2008
Ellen Booth Church discusses the different elements that help to create a sense of community in the Early Childhood classroom at the beginning of the year.
Big Friends, Little Friends
by Andrea J. Spillett
Younger and older students are paired to work on team projects and play games.
Be A Good Friend
Woof! Woof! The focus of this lesson is to encourage awareness of good manners through literature and creative expression.
8 Ways to Welcome Students
by Marissa Ochoa
Third grade teacher Marissa Ochoa explains how she makes students feel welcome and motivated them for the year ahead.
Building Bridges of Friendship
by Mackie Rhodes
Instructor Magazine |
August ,2002
Presents a unit on friendship that involves music, crafts, teamwork activities, and identifying shared values and interests.
Lesson Plans
Portrait of a Friend
by Tracey Roudez
Students get to know themselves and their classmates by filling in the blanks to create a mini-biography.
Aloha — Welcome Back
by Renea Shuey
Take a tropical approach to the start of the school year as students learn about our 50th state, get to know each other, and establish classroom expectations.
New to School Student Booklets
by Marci Ruiz
In this fun getting-to-know-you classroom activity, students make their own books out of supplied paper shapes and strips of pre-typed text.
Move and Make Friends
Early Childhood Today |
An activity plan for teachers of preschool aged children.
Time to Rhyme
Early Childhood Today |
An activity plan for teachers of four and five year olds to do with their students.
Do You Want to Be My Friend? Lesson Plan
by Jeremy Brunaccioni
Children love Eric Carle's colorful illustrations and animal characters in Do You Want to Be My Friend? I do an author study with my class; my students love making painted paper in the style of Eric Carle and taking their own book home.
Building Relationships in a High School Classroom
by Mariama Sesay-St. Paul
The diagnostics in this unit will help teachers get to know their students both academically and personally.
Come Explore Your Neighborhood
by Steven Hicks
Use this lesson to teach your students the value of friendship and community. Discuss friendship and introduce students to the community around them with walks and mapping and modeling projects.
