Building Classroom Community in the First Weeks of School

Abstract:

The beginning of the school year sets the tone for the year ahead. Teachers should prioritize classroom community building in the first two weeks. This article provides tips for new teachers on how to focus on creating a warm, cooperative classroom culture right from the start. Strategies include facilitating introductions and icebreakers, modeling and practicing manners, creating rules together, incentives systems, daily meetings, protocols and routines. When students feel safe, valued and invested in the classroom community, it paves the way for a respectful, productive school year. The ideas help new teachers promote positive behavior through community-focused activities that encourage cooperation, communication and kindness.

Focusing on manners and community building in the first two weeks of school is the golden rule:

- Model and practice greetings and introductions - Teach students how to politely greet each other, introduce themselves, and shake hands. Role play introductions.

- Establish classroom manners - Create clear expectations for saying please, thank you, excuse me, waiting to be called on, and showing respect when others are talking. Practice in role playing.

- Share stories on kindness - Read books, have discussions, or share personal stories that demonstrate acts of kindness. Highlight examples of good character.

- Create a compliments wall - Have students write compliments or positive notes about classmates and post them on a wall. Emphasize seeing the best in others.

- Do team building activities - Facilitate classroom challenges, games, or projects that require teamwork and collaboration. Highlight examples of good sportsmanship.

- Generate classroom rules together - Develop essential rules as a group, allowing students to give input. Keep it simple: Be respectful, be responsible, etc.

- Role play problem scenarios - Act out potential problem situations, like fights or bullying. Brainstorm positive solutions and responses. Practice apologies and forgiveness.

- Start class meetings - Hold regular class meetings to solve problems, share feelings, appreciate others, and continue building classroom community.

- Send positive notes home - Have students write brief positive letters home about their first days of school to practice gratitude and involve parents.

The key is focusing on creating a kind, positive classroom culture from day one through behaviors, modeling, discussion and cooperative experiences. Let me know if you need any other community building tips!

Here are some ideas to help new teachers focus on community, manners, rules and procedures in the first 2 weeks:

- Create a poster of classroom rules and manners. Involve students in generating the list and decorating it. Review it daily.

- Set up classroom protocols and routines through modeling and practice. Teach procedures for transitions, turning in work, using supplies, etc. Use consistent language.

- Implement an incentives system like Marble Jar or Caught Being Good to motivate positive behavior. Give rewards like stickers, praise notes, or fun Friday activities.

- Incorporate team building activities and ice breakers so students can get to know each other. Play name games and include sharing favorites or interests.

- Start each day with a Morning Meeting for check-ins, community share outs, pep talks, andgoal setting. End each day by having students share positive reflections.

- Role play desired behaviors like sharing, apologizing, disagreeing respectfully. Praise students when they demonstrate target manners.

- Send positive notes home to parents about their child’s cooperation and behavior. Invite parents to share goals for their child.

- Model polite language and conduct yourself. Greet students at the door, use please and thank you, and speak to students how you want to be spoken to.

- Appoint student leaders to help model good behavior. Rotate daily helper roles for line leader, door holder, cleanup supervisor etc.

- Conduct occasional friendship circles to resolve conflicts through discussion. Facilitate apologies and pledges to be considerate.

- Display photos of students demonstrating positive behavior. Frequently compliment students making good choices.

The focus should be on consistent modeling and praising of desired conduct until it becomes habit! Let me know if you need any other first year teacher tips.

Here are some key things Jesus teaches about building community:

- Love one another. Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). Loving and serving others should be the foundation for Christian community.

- Welcome all. Jesus welcomed and spent time with those excluded or looked down upon in society - the poor, the sick, women, children, sinners, etc. Christian community should be inclusive and accepting of all. 

- Humility and forgiveness. Jesus demonstrated humility in serving others and willingness to forgive. Community requires humility and forgiveness to overcome conflicts and differences.

- Generosity and sharing. Jesus emphasized caring for those in need. Community involves generosity and sharing our blessings with others (Matthew 25:31-46).

- Unity and reconciliation. Jesus prayed for his followers to be one just as he and the Father are one (John 17). Community requires seeking reconciliation and unity among all people.

- Put others first. Jesus said the first shall be last and to not seek places of honor for yourself (Mark 9:35). True community involves selflessness and putting others above yourself.  

- Meet needs. Jesus met people's spiritual and physical needs - feeding the hungry, healing the sick, teaching the unlearned. Community is to help meet one another's needs.

- Love enemies. Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). This agape love builds community across barriers and differences.

So in summary, Jesus modeled and taught principles of love, humility, forgiveness, generosity, reconciliation and service to build God-honoring community.

Here are some ideas that teachers can learn from Simon Sinek's teachings about building trust and community in teams that could be applied to the classroom:

- Create a shared vision and purpose - Help students understand the purpose behind what they are learning and doing together as a class. Align on common goals. 

- Focus on relationships - Dedicate time for students to share about themselves and get to know each other on a more personal level. Build mutual understanding.

- Encourage open communication - Create an environment where students feel safe to voice opinions, ask questions, and discuss issues openly. Actively listen without judgement.

- Embrace diversity - Highlight the diverse strengths and perspectives each student brings. Explain how it makes the team better. Value all contributions.

- Allow mistakes - Make it clear mistakes are learning opportunities, not punishments. Model fallibility and create psychological safety. 

- Give appreciation and credit - Recognize efforts and progress students make. Express gratitude for their ideas and teamwork.

- Foster collaboration - Provide activities that require working together, problem solving, and sharing responsibility. Stress interdependence.  

- Lead with empathy - Seek to understand how students feel. Care about their wellbeing beyond just academic performance. 

- Build in reflection - Provide time for students to give feedback on how things are going and ideas for improvement. Listen and adjust.

The ultimate goal is to create an environment built on trust, openness and human connection - where students feel like valued members of a supportive learning community.