Building a Respectful, Learning Focused Classroom Community
How do you create a respectful, learning-focused classroom community? Below is a list Andrea Dixon and I created for a professional development session we lead at a faculty meeting.
1. Remember that each class has its own personality. Keep its specific needs in mind every day.
2. Let students express their opinions and personality. It can create a learning experience for everyone.
3. Kill the negativity as soon as it starts. (even small insults can turn into a big deal)
4. Use social contracts.
5. Treat your class like a party. You are the host/hostess and your students are your guests.
6. Praise your students (honestly). Encourage students to praise other students in class.
7. Ask your students about their family, their weekend, their interests.
8. Remind students of their strengths and tell them you’re proud of them.
9. Create learning focused games that encourage everyone to help everyone else.
10. Create inside jokes with each class. Lessons can be about laughing AND learning.
How do you create a respectful, learning-focused classroom community? Below is a list Andrea Dixon and I created for a professional development session we lead at a faculty meeting.
1. Remember that each class has its own personality. Keep its specific needs in mind every day.
2. Let students express their opinions and personality. It can create a learning experience for everyone.
3. Kill the negativity as soon as it starts. (even small insults can turn into a big deal)
4. Use social contracts.
5. Treat your class like a party. You are the host/hostess and your students are your guests.
6. Praise your students (honestly). Encourage students to praise other students in class.
7. Ask your students about their family, their weekend, their interests.
8. Remind students of their strengths and tell them you’re proud of them.
9. Create learning focused games that encourage everyone to help everyone else.
10. Create inside jokes with each class. Lessons can be about laughing AND learning.