For educators, establishing a nurturing classroom environment goes beyond mere physical arrangements. While decorating walls can create a cozy space, the true essence of a classroom home lies in fostering a sense of belonging and safety where every student feels comfortable being themselves. Building strong relationships from day one and engaging in community-building activities, especially in the initial weeks, are crucial for achieving this.
Building a Community of Learners Through Connection
A fundamental step in creating a classroom community is genuinely getting to know your students. Make each child feel seen, valued, and important. Use their names frequently and learn about their lives outside of school and their interests. Just as you would nurture a friendship, cultivate personal connections with each student. This might involve creating a special nickname or sharing an inside joke – small gestures that can make a significant difference.
Dedicate the first few weeks of the academic year to intentional community building. Incorporate team-building exercises and social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons into your curriculum. Enhance these activities with carefully selected read aloud books that emphasize core values such as kindness, acceptance, and mutual respect. Consider collaboratively creating a class pledge or mission statement. Displaying this in the classroom serves as a constant visual reminder of your shared commitment to a positive and supportive environment. This collective agreement reinforces the idea that Our Class Is A Family Read Aloud experience can further solidify.
The Inspiration Behind “Our Class is a Family”
The inspiration for writing Our Class is a Family stemmed from a genuine need observed at the start of a school year. Wishing to instill a sense of unity from the very beginning, the author would tell her students, “Our class is like a family.” However, while searching for back-to-school read alouds to support this message, a gap was discovered – there wasn’t a book that explicitly conveyed the sentiment of a classroom as a family. Recognizing this void, the author decided to create the book she wished she had, believing other teachers would also value a resource that beautifully articulates the concept of our class is a family read aloud.
Bringing “Our Class is a Family” to Your Students
Reading Our Class is a Family to students was always integral to the book’s purpose. The author first shared it with her class virtually during distance learning, emphasizing that their family bond remained strong despite physical separation. She also read it on the first day of school the following year, again via Zoom, prompting a discussion on how they could support each other while learning virtually.
In her classroom, the author utilizes “Author’s Chair,” where students share their writing with the class. When introducing Our Class is a Family, she presented it as her turn for Author’s Chair. The students were enthusiastic and engaged, and this provided a wonderful opportunity to offer them insights into the journey of becoming an author. Sharing drafts of illustrations and discussing the collaborative process with the illustrator aimed to inspire young writers and potentially spark an interest in authorship or illustration. This personal sharing further reinforced the message of our class is a family read aloud and beyond.
A Childhood Love for Reading: “Matilda”
Reflecting on childhood favorites, Matilda by Roald Dahl holds a special place. Relating to Matilda’s passion for reading and admiring her intelligence and resilience in overcoming challenges both at home and school resonated deeply. Miss Honey, a truly inspiring teacher figure, further cemented the book’s impact. This early love for reading and admiration for impactful characters underscores the power of books and the importance of fostering a similar appreciation in today’s classrooms, where books like Our Class is a Family can play a vital role in building community through our class is a family read aloud sessions.
