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One way to organize the jobs of the week!

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A game for morning meeting!

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Give kids a "Secret Service" mission. Tell them for 1 week, they have to do something for someone else without "blowing their cover." A fun, interactive way to get kids serving others

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This would be a fun way to look back on the year leave a box with paper so the students can write down something they enjoyed about the class or with their friends. And read the last week of school.

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"Your friends are my friends"

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TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

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The More We Get Together - Kids Songs - Children's Songs - Nursery Rhyme - by The Learning Station

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Classroom Management Strategies To Take Control Of Noisy Students

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Building Community in a Challenging Classroom

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Building Classroom Community | Scholastic

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Read how creating a community full of character and student-dialogue can boost confidence in all.

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Activities and games that can be used in the classroom to build a strong community. These can be used on the first day of class and throughout the year when you feel you class needs a little more community

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Building Teamwork - Cassie Dahl | Teaching + Technology

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Teamwork in the classroom is essential in order to have a high functioning and welcoming environment for students. Check out three easy ways to build teamwork with your students.

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What a good way to boost a persons self confidence, and bring the class together!

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The Compliments Project | Cult of Pedagogy

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If you want to build trust in your classroom, you need to see this video about a powerful activity where students give compliments in an unforgettable way.

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This is such an important and sometimes overwhelming prospect: creating a positive classroom community. Daunting because let's face it, getting 20, 7 year olds to be respectful, kind and encouraging for 7 hours, while your main focus is getting through 8 different subjects' curriculum accurately and astutely. To be sure you are: using higher order questioning, scaffolding appropriately and building on prior knowledge. Not an easy task.

As elementary teachers we follow the first 6 weeks of Responsive Classroom, we create classroom rules together, we learn how to share together during daily share time. Are all of these important? Yes. Is there a way to build your classroom community without feeling overwhelmed? Yes!

What's most important in building your classroom community is making sure that everyone feels safe and welcome and a part of the team. It's in creating a climate that is warm, welcoming and safe. Safe is a key word. Your students need to feel safe to share openly, take risks and to think freely. So how do we as teachers accomplish this? It can be broken into 3 areas: meeting daily as a class, open communication and support.

It starts by recognizing that it needs to be done. Everyday should start with a morning meeting. A time to greet one another, share and discuss the days events. Establishing this routine creates predictability and ensures that at least once a day everyone stops to be together, to work together. It builds a sense that everyone is connected and that in the classroom everyone should treat one another as a friend, with respect and kindness. Having this meeting first thing sets the tone for the rest of the day. So that later in the day when a tricky Math lesson is being taught, no one is afraid or to take a risk raising a hand.

Another key component of instilling a strong classroom community is communication. We must teach our students how to communicate with one another. How do we politely say good morning? What is the appropriate tone to have with someone who is upset? What words do you use if someone has hurt your feelings? Each of these scenarios are things that need to be taught, we can't assume that our students understand the ins and outs of communication. A great way to do this is to highlight when you notice a student communicating well. After Jimmy uses his words to help a friend feel better, 'Jimmy, I noticed that you used a kind tone and that you offered words of encouragement to help your friend feel better. Let's all try to do the same.' Jimmy now becomes the model in that moment.

The last piece is support. It is crucial to have a support network within the classroom. As the teacher you are the central support. You intervene when two of your students aren't seeing eye to eye, you scaffold a lesson for a student who is struggling, you allow a student to take a break...to think, after he/she has made a bad choice to think. It's important too that the teacher isn't the only means if support. Students need to play a support role for one another as well. By giving your students this responsibility it instills that they are a valid piece of the community and that they play an important role. You can do this by handing the job over to them. At the beginning of the year tell them that one of their jobs for the year is to be a 'helper.' A helper in the classroom, on the playground, in the cafeteria. If they see someone who needs help to help that friend out. If they see a friend making a bad choice, to remind that friend what they should be doing. If they see someone hurting another friend, to go to a teacher and ask for help. Children are able to take on this role and it enables them to have a real part in making good choices and helping others to as well.

When it comes down to it, your classroom community is what you make it. It takes some time and some effort, but the results are priceless. Why not take the time to make it a place where everyone is a part of the team?

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This is such an important and sometimes overwhelming prospect: creating a positive classroom community. Daunting because let's face it, getting 20, 7 year olds to be respectful, kind and encouraging for 7 hours, while your main focus is getting through 8 different subjects' curriculum accurately and astutely.

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By tom Rath
"How did you feel after your last interaction with another person? Did that person ? your spouse, best friend, coworker, or even a stranger ? "fill your bucket" by making you feel more positive? Or did that person "dip from your bucket," leaving you more negative than before?

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Families are all different but they all have things in common. Learn where your students come from

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Dollar Tree Stuff for Teachers & Classroom Ideas

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Children in Laura Hampton's kindergarten classroom work together to learn about their similarities and differences.

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"To establish a positive classroom climate, safe emotional environment, and to begin building community immediately requires deliberate, conscious planning and strategies."

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Especially in the first few weeks of school you want to be friends with everyone and these activities will really help the class come together and become a team. Not only will your students get to know each other, but you get to know them as well.

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The first week of school is a crucial time for both teachers and students and can often set the tone for the entire school year. Luckily, there are a multitude of fun activities that can help form bonds that will strengthen all year. From orienting students to the new classroom to learning how to collaborate as a team, these interactive ideas will get students and educators off on the right track.

1. Classroom Treasure Hunt

The Treasure Hunt activity is a great way to help your students get to know the setup of their new classroom while also learning how to work together as a team.

Make a list of several important items in the classroom, such as reference books, art supplies, staplers, paper and more. Then, in teams of two or three, have the students locate each item on the list. A simple, but effective, game that will have everyone feeling more at home in no time.

2. Tennis Ball Transfer

This game requires small groups to focus and collaborate on a task-building on skills students will need in the classroom and beyond.

Each group of about four to five children will need a cup, string, a large metal washer and a tennis ball. The students will need to work together to decipher the best way to hold the strings and balance the tennis ball on the washer while walking toward the cup. (The teacher should determine how far the students need to walk based on age/grade level.) Once the team arrives at the cup, they'll need to work as a group to figure out how to drop the ball into the cup without touching either object.

3. First Day of School Puzzle

This clever craft project allows students to express what's special about themselves, learn about fellow classmates and create a unique art piece they can enjoy year-round.

Come to class prepared with puzzle piece cutouts -one for each student-in various colors (be sure they connect as a complete puzzle). Using old magazines and any other materials you like, have the students decorate their puzzle pieces with cutout photos, words and visuals that describe who they are. Go a little deeper and have each student give a brief presentation of their puzzle piece before fitting them all together.

The overall message: Every piece of the puzzle is different and it takes all of them to make a complete picture.

4. One-Minute Talk

Based on topics either chosen by the students or determined by the teacher, have students give an impromptu 60-second talk on anything they are interested in. It could be a favorite book, a memorable vacation or even a hobby they're passionate about.

This exercise may be best suitable for middle to high school aged students, but could also work with younger kids, depending on the topic.

5. Inside-Outside Circle

It can sometimes be difficult for students to open up to one another, but this kinesthetic activity is designed to get students moving and talking.

Instruct students to form a circle within a circle-aim for an equal number of students for each circle. Students in the inside circle turn and face those in the outside circle. The group facilitator-this can be the teacher or a student-determines a topic and the partnered students share their thoughts on that subject, alternating every 30 seconds or so. Then, ask the inside circle to rotate and repeat the exercise.

These short exchanges involve everyone and can be used to dig deeper into a lesson or simply as a means of getting to know each other.

6. Alien Greeting

Perfect for new groups that don't know each other very well, Alien Greeting is an amusing game that's rooted in improv.

Have students form a circle. Then ask each to imagine they are from another planet and to think of a sound or movement that would be used as a "hello" on their fictional planet. Give them a few minutes to think of something.

When ready, ask each student to greet the student on their left with their unique "alien greeting." Next, have everyone share their greeting with the class along with some insight into how they came up with their idea.

7. Where-We-Come-From Map

This mapping activity is a wonderful way to illustrate how diverse your classroom is.

Project or hang up maps of the United States and the world. Ask each student to write their name on a piece of paper or sticky note. One at a time, have each student come to the front of the class, tell everyone their name and where they were born, while placing their piece of paper on the state or country they are from. For some younger grades, students may need a teacher's assistance to find their state or country on the map.

There are plenty of follow-up opportunities, such as creating a graph that shows all of the different states and countries the students are from, geography lessons, research projects and more.

8. Q&A Hands

Students will learn important information about their fellow schoolmates and create a fun display for their classroom with this project that combines sharing and art.

In pairs, ask students to trace their partner's hands on paper and cut them out. Students should write one question on each finger. It's helpful if the teacher provides some questions, but it's also fun to allow students to come up with some of their own.

Some examples are "What is your favorite TV show?" What's your favorite subject?" and "Which countries have you visited?"

Have students write the answers to their questions on the fingers and then ask them to share their answers with the rest of the class. When the activity is complete, hang the hands on the wall for an informational art display!

9. Classroom Promise

Having an agreed upon set of rules will help create a classroom atmosphere that's collaborative and respectful. By developing a promise or mission statement with your students, it gives everyone a chance to take ownership of their actions.

During the first week of school, lead students in a discussion about responsibilities, respect, safety and more. As a class, write a promise, pledge or mission statement that incorporates tenets from that dialogue. Recreate the classroom promise on a poster. Hang it prominently in the classroom and refer to it often throughout the year to instill a positive classroom climate.

10. Have You Ever

Have You Ever is one of the most popular "getting to know you" games for a reason-it's simple, effective and fun.

Have students stand in a circle, each on a marker, with one person in the center. The person in the center of the circle is "it" and will ask a question starting with "have you ever?" followed by something they have done (Example: "Have you ever gone to Disneyland?").

The person who is "it," and everyone in the circle who has done the thing that was asked, must move to an empty spot, but not the spot right next to where they were originally standing. Whoever is last to get to a safe spot becomes "it."

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10 Team-Building Activities for the First Week of School " Connections Article

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The first week of school is a crucial time for both teachers and students and can often set the tone for the entire school year. Luckily, there are a multitude of fun activities that can help form bonds that will strengthen all year.

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This may not be something that every school can do but this would be an amazing opportunity for the school and the students.

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A young person's character shapes their destiny and impacts their community. Research shows that students with high social-emotional learning and character skills perform better academically and take responsibility for the culture of their school. Character traits are built and enhanced by experiences throughout our lifetimes.
Youth Frontiers reaches kids at critical ages and provides dynamic experiences that enhance self-awareness, empathy and connectedness.

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A young person's character shapes their destiny and impacts their community. Research shows that students with high social-emotional learning and character skills perform better academically and take responsibility for the culture of their school. Character traits are built and enhanced by experiences throughout our lifetimes.

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Simple ideas that can make a big difference!

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We asked DonorsChoose.org teachers for activities that make students feel welcome in the classroom. They shared enough ideas for a whole school year's worth of warm fuzzies. Here are five of our favorites:

The icebreaker that keeps on giving.

In the first week of school, Jill Weaver 's students make birthday cards for the person sitting next to them. Using teamwork, the kids then line themselves up by age. Throughout the year, the activity continues to reward. Jill explains: "When someone has a birthday, we get out their handmade card and the whole class signs it. It makes everyone feel accepted."

Find someone who...Bingo!

Jessica Dell'Era fills Bingo board worksheet squares with creative get-to-know-you challenges. Students have to find a peer who, among other things, "has a pet that is not a cat or dog" or "was born in the same month as you." Writing their names on each other's boards, she says, "gets the kids up and out of their seats, meeting both familiar and new classmates." (Bonus! The activity also helps English language learners with question formation.)

No prep needed. Giggles guaranteed.

Dena Haselwander gets her students laughing on the first day of school with a round of tongue twisters. Throughout the year she keeps the verbal acrobatics going as a five-minute brain "reboot" that helps create a positive classroom atmosphere. "The fact that I really stink at all of them is an added bonus for the class," she says. "And the variations of 'unique New York' get even the toughest kids to smile." Dena's all time favorite twister? "Irish wrist watch."

Classroom family photos.

fosters community with a simple yet meaningful gesture. Each student brings to school a photo of themselves with family or friends. The pictures are then put in donated frames and placed about the room, creating a cozy, family-like atmosphere.

What's in the sack?

Also known as "Surprise in a Bag", this popular activity is an opportunity for students to get better acquainted do some sleuthing. In Veronica Serna 's version, each student fills a paper bag with a trinket or photo from home. The student shares three clues about the mystery object and their classmates guess what it might be. "Students really love bringing in a piece of their home life," Veronica says. "One year a girl brought in an old-fashioned pressing brush for straightening people's hair!"

Check out more fantastic ideas on our Pinterest board . Do you have an activity you'd like to share? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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5 Activities to Bring Your Students (Closer) Together

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We asked DonorsChoose.org teachers for activities that make students feel welcome in the classroom. They shared enough ideas for a whole school year's worth of warm fuzzies. Here are five of our favorites: The icebreaker that keeps on giving. In the first week of school, Jill Weaver's students make birthday cards for the person sitting ...

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Video is no longer available, but these 5 ideas would be great to incorporate into the classroom