concerted chaos
  • blog.
  • about.
  • workshops.
follow.

Uplift With A Pen & Paper: #flashblog on Classroom Community

10/26/2015

1 Comment

 
I have lots of little tricks about how to build classroom community, but my favorite doesn't involve any technology at all (which probably surprises people).

I find that writing little notes to students on scraps of paper is one of the best ways to create an inviting, caring atmosphere in a classroom. None of them are super, super serious in content. Most, in fact, just say something like, "Hey, that logo you designed yesterday was pretty sweet." And then I add suggestions for revision if I want--but that usually doesn't happen. 

Other times, when a student isn't acting/responding normally, I'll give them a short note that says something to the effect of, "Hey, you seem a little off today. Hope whatever it is improves soon." 

These two types of notes, generally sorted into "You're awesome" types and "Are you ok?" types, make a huge difference in classroom community. I see them stuck into binder covers, and former students tell me they keep them for years. 

It just goes back to my bedrock thesis of education: treat students like they are people, because, you know, they are people.  Notes that just say, "Dude, I see you, your humanity, and your value" carry huge, huge amounts of weight in building the kind of environment we enjoy and can learn in.  
1 Comment
    Picture

    The Writer

    I'm Andrew. I write about learning. I like to learn. 

    The Writings

    October 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012

    The #CFC

    Cheryl Morris
    Karl Lindgren-Streicher
    Crystal Kirch
    Carolyn Durley
    Brian Bennett
    Katie Regan/Shari Sloane
    Kate Baker
    Audrey Double Mac
    Sam Patterson
    Delia Bush
    Lindsay Cole

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.