From the moment children step foot into a classroom at the start of the school year, they have to be presented with an environment that is safe, friendly, and trusting. Students must know that their classroom environment is one in which they can feel comfortable expressing their individual voices, and they must do so - often. These individual voices must always be valued by peers and teachers alike. The notion of taking a risk to express yourself and your ideas, even if the risk does not result in reward, is a critical foundation for any classroom community. This principle is best exemplified in Steve Meyers's classroom ("Walking Trees", p. 88-9). Ralph enters Steve's classroom one day to find him jumping rope (miserably, and much to the amusement of his students). Steve explains to Ralph that with this demonstration he is showing the children that it is encouraged to take a risk and try something you may not be good at, or express something you may be hesitant to share, in his classroom. To try and fail is far better than to not try at all.
Additionally, it is imperative to let students take an active role in classroom decision-making. Whether it be voting for student council representatives or picking groups for an assigned project, a classroom community hinges on the uninhibited participation of its students. If students do not feel comfortable expressing their voices and making decisions in the classroom, a classroom as a community can never be adequately established.
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3 comments:
I have to agree...allowing students to have influence in your classroom is important. If they don’t feel like they are valued or respected then they could careless about what community means, in addition to not wanting to become apart of a community at school. To take it a step further, no sense of community in the classroom means no genuine sense of community at home.
I think back to our days in the classroom, it was scary to get the wrong answer and many kids sat quietly and listened. Now, we are recognizing how important a community of learners interacting with one another is. My only concern is how much harder is it to form a community in a poor classroom where its not painted, heated, and more? Do those children already feel "forgotten?" I am sure as a teacher you can still form that bond but it must be much harder.
Good points made, we definately have to jump in as teachers and take risks. Definately start by sharing your own stories and experiences as a model for children to do the same.
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