Creating a Positive Classroom Community {Freebies + a Giveaway!!!}

Hello Everyone!

Remember me? I’m Halle from Across the Hall in 2^nd Grade and I’m so happy to be kicking off weeks worth of Back to School posts here on Owl-ways Be Inspired!!!

I hope that you’ve nabbed each and every ROCKIN’ freebie that my friends have presented you with over the last few weeks.  

Seriously, they are awesome!

When I think of Back to School, I think of a new group of kiddos.  They’re excited to be in school, I’m excited to be in school…it's a win/win and I want to hit the ground running with all that good fortune.  That’s why creating a positive classroom community is so important to me.  I spend days and weeks prior to school starting thinking and dreaming up activities that will help me establish a positive classroom climate. Once school actually starts I spend every minute creating an environment where my students feel safe and secure.

I want to share with you a few ways I do that…

It’s the Little Things...

I said above that I spend a lot of time coming up with ideas and activities that create a positive classroom community and I am going to share some of those with you below, but it’s really the everyday little things that make a difference.

*I say good morning to each student individually every morning.  I pick my students up from the main doors and walk them to my room. I spend that walk talking to one or two students about their morning, or their big sister who I used to teach, stuff like that.  Once we get to my door I say good morning "so and so" to each child.  For some of these kids I am the first adult saying good morning to them. It's an important start to our day.

*I don’t yell. Oh, I’ve raised my voice. I think it necessary when circumstances call for it, but I don’t yell.  Can you imagine a student that feels safe enough to take educational risks in a classroom where the teacher screams and yells? Neither can I.

*I listen.  By the end of the first month or so of school I have a pretty good grasp on what makes each child unique; how many brothers and sisters they have, if they play sports, their special talents, whether or not they like to buy lunch at school.  For the shy ones this means giving up a lunch or two to sit down and really get to know them, but it’s worth it.

*I get silly. I don’t know that being silly is essential in creating a positive classroom climate but I know it sure helps me!  At first my kiddos don’t really know how to react when I start singing about proper nouns or odd and even numbers, but soon enough they’re making up songs right along side me.

And last but not least…

*I leave my baggage at the door.  It’s no surprise to you that teaching is stressful.  Everytime we look up there’s a new mandate or policy we have to follow. We have to create lessons that engage every learner at every level. We may or may not have administrators that support us.  I definitely feel the effects of stress at work. My grade partners wouldn’t argue with that statement.  But it’s not my students’ fault and they shouldn’t have to pay for it with a bad attitude or sourpuss look from me.  So I check it at the door.

These are the things I can do each and every day for my students. They require no planning or prep and they make all the difference in the world.

Now, here are some activities we do at the beginning of the year and throughout the year to keep that momentum going…

1} What I Like About My Classroom…

I was inspired by this print on the adorable blog, eighteen25. I actually pinned it LAST summer and forgot all about it! I intended to print it and put it in my room and have my whole class sign it on the very first day.  I was productive and went to  Michael's and bought a frame {with a coupon, of course} and I came home...and...I bought the wrong frame.  I'll just say it now, I STINK at returning things.  Since I knew this about myself I decided to make my own version of this lovely print in a 5x7. {The original has two print options: 8x11 or 16x20}.

My version is "Mac Approved" and you can find it here. I actually made a few different color options if you're interested. If you like the original, you can find it here. It's free there too!

{Please ignore that scary reflection of yours truly. It does not come in the download. Promise}

2} Classroom Compliments

Classroom Compliments is a "program" I started my very first year of teaching...5 years ago...crazy. I came up with it on a whim and it might be the best "fly by the seat of my pants" idea that I've ever had. Seriously. It even made it into Mailbox Magazine!

How it works in MY classroom:

Every Friday, students pull a name randomly and write that person a compliment. I spend a lot of time with my students talking about writing specific compliments, not just "You are nice".  They even keep a "Compliment Suggestions" sheet in their classwork folders. This is morning work for the day and usually takes about 15 minutes {let's be honest...a little longer at the beginning of the year...} Students can color or decorate their sheets if they have extra time. 

Then they pass their compliments to each other and read what their classmate wrote.  Notice I said classmate and not friend. I know that all of my students are not friends with eachother. Some students don't just don't interact socially with eachother.  They may even get into tiffs on the playground or lunch room, but they still need to learn to be kind and compassionate towards one another...not just their best friends.

In fact, if you teach 3rd grade, you might want to give your students a class list and hold them responsible for choosing a new classmate each week {or each time you do Classroom Compliments}

I always call on 2 or 7 or 20 volunteers to read the compliment they received.  And yes, I participate.  Any compliment you write a student will light up their day.  It's basically like getting a compliment from Justin Timberlake :)

Try having a bad day after a Classroom Compliment session. I dare you!

If this sounds like something you'd like to implement in your classroom you can check it out on TpT by clicking here.  

It comes with seasonal "compliment forms" for every month of the year plus some options for anytime. I also give tips and suggestions for various ways to implement it in your classroom.

If you want to WIN my Classroom Compliments unit, comment below with your favorite classroom community tips, trick, advice, or activity. I'll announce a winner on the "Owl-ways Be Inspired" Facebook page tonight!

3} It's Important That my Teacher...

...listens? is smart? reads us a lot of books?

Have you ever asked your students what they want from you as a teacher?  

I have another freebie for you as the last activity I'm going to share today.  This will be a new activity for me this year, but I am really excited and hopeful about it.

I've created a few different sheets {depending on what grade you teach} that allow students to tell you what they find important in a teacher.  This is an excellent, risk-free way, for students to tell you what is important to them.  You can use their feedback to get to know them a little bit more and maybe even differentiate your responses and interactions with each child.

There are 4 sheets in all {3 pictured below}:

I encourage you to make an anchor chart or have a discussion before handing these sheets out, especially with incoming 2nd graders, or you'll get a lot of "pretty" and "nice" answers instead of something a little more constructive.

These are great at the beginning of the year, but also mid-year to see how your students responses have changed.

Grab them here.

I hope I've been able to offer up some new ideas on building a classroom community!  This is only a sample of what I do throughout the year.  Keep in mind that creating a positive environment is ongoing, but worth the work!

I wish you a happy, successful, and smooth school-year!

Be sure to check back over the next few weeks for my great Back to School ideas, tips, and products!

Halle