How do you build classroom community with your students?
My favorite way is to let them share their thoughts, feelings and opinions.
How do I do this? By using sharing prompts!
5 Ways to use Sharing prompts to build classroom community:
- Use a smartboard and have students respond digitally
- Create an anchor chart and have students use sticky notes
- Pair and Share
- Gallery Walk
- All share during morning meeting
Let’s learn more about these classroom community building strategies
⭐On your Smartboard or other digital device display the question and when students enter the classroom let them respond digitally on your board or through their own device. If students all use the Smartboard-they can respond to others’ thoughts and feelings as well.
⭐Create an anchor chart with the prompt for the day. When students arrive, they get a sticky note and write their response and put it on the chart. Share the responses during whole class meeting. Using sticky is always highly engaging!😁
⭐Pair and Share-Students pair up and share their thoughts with a partner. During morning meeting, partners can share each other’s responses.
⭐Gallery Walk-Write 5 different prompts on chart paper and display around the room. Students walk around and respond on the chart paper with markers or sticky notes. This allows for students to see different prompts and to see their classmates’ responses.
⭐All share-This is done during morning meeting when all students are in circle and there is a talking stick. Each student has a turn to respond to the prompt.
Listening and Speaking
Building community involves sharing your thoughts and opinions, however it also involves listening with respect and empathy to others. Establishing listening expectations is a must in building classroom community because students feel respected when others are listening.
If students have the opportunity to share, then others need to have the opportunity to practice listening.
Here’s what I know about listening:
⭐Students need to be taught to listen to instruction and to each other
⭐Students need to know what their body looks like when they are listening
⭐Students need to know how to respond respectfully without blurting
⭐Teachers need to be consistent with their expectations.
Grab these resources to build classroom community!
Sharing prompts 👇
Listening expectations 👇
Want more ideas? Read this blog post with 3 more tips!
Cheering you on! 💖
