What can I do as a teacher to create a community of learners? What is the evidence that my classroom is a community of learners? The question is more about me. Well, what kind of a project is that? I do this and this and this. What good does that do, a list of things I can do [to create] a community of learners. Once the question shifted to what is the evidence, that's where I started to get lost. I feel like there's an artificialness about collecting data in this case. I need to be recording the things I do to create a community. I felt like last year I didn't focus at all on community building, the culture of the classroom, addressing issues that had to do with social stuff, but only academics. If something came up then you just dealt with it. It was very rarely that I could drop everything and attend to that. We want these kids to be better human beings. Although it was there, that was what Julie Valdez said to focus on on the first day of school – the purpose is to create good human beings. It was only when I was faced by a crisis, that's when I knew…the water had gone over a threshold. So I decided I was going to do something about it, before the year started. There's definitely more deliberateness this year…giving an opportunity to the kids to collaborate, just the class meeting aspect...teaching the patience of letting other people share. And I think the dynamics of the classroom is different…[last year there was] complicated dynamics between two alpha males…This year there's not this dynamic…annoying kind of button-pushing behaviors…So I do think that…I've emphasized you want to treat each other how you want to be treated aspect…been trying to follow the Life Skills curriculum…get the kids to suggest the names of people who have displayed that behavior…who are the life skills stars…I let the kids decide that because…I'm quite pleased with the kids that have been picked…"so and so is really good at getting out of the game when he's out"…it's good to see the kids recognize those strengths in each other…because I wanted to focus on community building…the one piece I clearly want to do…have a conversation, class meeting…about topics, about issues in the classroom is what's needed…I feel like I need to think about what it is I want to address…[how to] treat each other….need to really pinpoint, pin down, the few issues that I want to discuss. One has to do with treatment of each other, working together, like being like a family in a way…luckily the curriculum in first grade matches up with that...What's a family? How do people help each other?…Although I'm not happy with how the discussion is set up…I don't think it's as thoughtful…like a discussion…it becomes more like a lesson where people have the right answer…it's not going in [just teacher-student question and answer]…it's not processing something new. What I can do in the next few weeks…use the social studies curriculum. I think I need to…when I get to community, talk about how the classroom is a community. I need to identify the main things I want to teach them...how they are working together like a family, care for each other as a family…put up with each other, when you're annoyed…solve problems as a family when they come up…work together to solve them…But how do I get evidence of how kids learn together…never really have the gratification of knowing they are thinking this way because I have done this. Yeah, I guess it's worthwhile doing.
I thought this would be a good way for kids to appreciate each other…so and so is truthful because every time he is out I don't have to argue with him…they are a good friend…So that's some evidence.
Have a little box for kids to draw their concerns for me…I can create that setup…also have some sort of reflective thing…I think I just need to give them tools…for someone to address…and respond to…teach them how to address something they don't like…I don't like it when you push me…I'm sorry…totally not sinking in…half the time it's 'XYZ, I told you not to do that to so and so!'…I think I'm talking about…community has to do with being kind and caring of each other…I think kind and caring comes when you're able to solve problems in a constructive way…able to resolve issues…and have tools to do it…to work together, care for each other…to work together to achieve the same goal…people who live together, like a family.
I think I am going to make time, fifteen or twenty minutes, have kids write about issues and drop it in the communication box. Is something bothering them about recess?…their time to quietly think…any problems that they're having…that will be my data, what I look at…based on that, put into place.
