Hello colleagues, I'm certain that most of us agree that creating a safe and welcoming space in the classroom is one of the most important aspects of teaching. Rachel Button's recent blog, "The Work of Welcoming," on Edutopia describes several simple strategies teachers can implement to create a sense of community in the classroom.
Button offers a great list of strategies, and I was especially struck by the "Perfect Conversation" technique in which students identify topics on which they differ and then listen to one another's stories about their experiences related to the topic. The students must then accurately describe the other's talking points.
What a great technique to help students develop their listening skills. The bonus is that they deepen their understanding of one another's experiences, which often differ greatly from their own. I'll be eager to try this activity in my own classroom!
As always, your comments and questions are welcome. It would be great to hear how teachers are fostering community in their classrooms!
Cheers, Susan Finn Miller
Moderator, Teaching & Learning CoP
Comments
I loved this article. I have long been a fan of Parker Palmer with my favorite book being Healing in the Heart of Democracy. Perhaps my favorite part of this article is buildling the cultural competency. I think the only way we can truly create a welcoming space for our learners is when they see themselves represented. He states we should provide both mirrors and windows. "Mirrors allow them to see themselves in the class content, and windows give them the opportunity to understand the perspective of another. I incorporate a diversity of races, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and physical abilities in the authors, artists, and speakers whose work I assign."
How do you select materials and content that truly reflects the diversity of our students?
Sincerely,
Kathy Tracey