How to Build a Classroom Community Full of Heart from Day One

Classroom community is, in my opinion, the heartbeat of a classroom. I can’t think of anything more desirable than a group of learners who understand, support, and encourage one another each and every day. A strong classroom community is highly coveted, but absolutely achievable when emphasized from day one. So let’s break down exactly how to build a classroom community that you AND your students can enjoy.

Why is building a classroom community important

Building classroom community from day one is almost more important that the content you will teach. I always say, “Relationships first….everything else, second!” I always thought that I was pretty good at building relationships, but when I became super intentional about nurturing classroom community last year…I couldn’t believe the outcome. My students and I were a family. We had each other’s backs, there was little to no recess drama, we felt safe to share ANYTHING, we cried and laughed together, we became each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and leaving at the end of the year was BRUTAL. The bonus to all of this…we all trusted that our needs would be met through each other.

The majority of the student population we see coming through our doors will have most likely already experienced some sort of trauma or stressful event in their lives inside or outside of school. Building classroom community can combat feelings of anxiety by creating a safe environment for students to open up. Students also feel that their ideas matter and are heard by the class family. A strong classroom community can impact the amount of effort students put forth because they united in their learning. How to build a classroom community can differ from teacher to teacher, but one thing is sure…it MUST start on day one! Here are some easy ideas that you can start using today to build classroom community.

build classroom community From Day one

Greetings: You never know what your students’ morning consisted of for them to actually get to school. Maybe they got dropped off with a hug and kiss from a loved one. On the other hand, maybe your student set their own alarm, poured their own cereal, and walked to school. You want to set them up by greeting them with kindness, love and confidence that they are going to have a great day. I like to meet my students in the hallway before they ever step foot in the classroom.

Create a safe place to share: Start the year off by teaching students that there are no wrong answers, only learning opportunities. We’ve all had that one student who snickers when a student provides an incorrect answer. Nip this in the bud right from the get-go. Teach your students to use positive language instead, “Good try! You’ll get it next time.”

Build community with morning meeting

Morning meeting is a time for students to come together, eliminate worries, and commit to a great learning day. Last year, my classroom never missed a morning meeting. I felt like those 15-20 minutes were our heartbeat for the community that we built together. Here’s how to build classroom community with morning meetings. It’s a simple as…

Greet
Review rules
Go through schedule
Discuss anything that we should celebrate or something to improve one

This year, I want to incorporate some SEL (Social Emotional Learning) activities into my morning meetings. My district adopted Conscious Discipline, and I fell in love with the Brain Smart Start idea. You can read more about it here. Dr. Becky Bailey created The Brain Smart Start to promote optimal learning with four activities: activity to unite, activity to connect, activity to disengage stress, and activity to commit.

You can get started with this model using my FREE Back to School SEL Morning Meeting Slides. Everything is covered for the first five days of school with editable slides included so you can add your own morning meeting activities.

Teach community with picture books

Picture Books: Students of all ages love sitting down and listening to a picture book. Check out the list below for some of my favorite reads for building classroom community. I read most of these during the first week of school, but they can be used at any time during the year if your students need a refresh.