When a child enters a classroom they should feel comfortable, accepted, safe, challenged, supported, cared for, and loved. Yes, they are coming to school to learn, but we all know that classrooms serve much more purpose today than ever. Classrooms are becoming "home". As defined, home is a place that provides both emotional and mental support. Home is a place you look forward to being in to get away from the outside world. Home creates a feeling of belonging and importance. So yes our students enter our classrooms to learn, but they leave having grown academically and interpersonally if a strong classroom community is built. Our classrooms should promote high student achievement both in and out of the books.
Here are some teacher sites with great ideas on how to start building a classroom community:
http://one-lesson-at-a-time.blogspot.com/2014/07/5-ways-to-build-classroom-community-in.html. http://teachingrocks.ca/the-tuesday-12-12-ways-build-classroom-community-the-first-day-school-any-time-really/
http://missashleighsblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/morning-meetings-are-great-way-to-build.html
http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/2011/09/classroom-community.html
Here are some teacher sites with great ideas on how to start building a classroom community:
http://one-lesson-at-a-time.blogspot.com/2014/07/5-ways-to-build-classroom-community-in.html. http://teachingrocks.ca/the-tuesday-12-12-ways-build-classroom-community-the-first-day-school-any-time-really/
http://missashleighsblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/morning-meetings-are-great-way-to-build.html
http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/2011/09/classroom-community.html