In this episode, we move beyond superficial "get to know you" activities to genuinely deepen connection and shared understanding among your students. We dive into Day 7: Building Classroom Community, exploring how to create a classroom where students don't just sit next to each other, but truly know and support each other. As Helen Keller famously said, "Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much."

Key Takeaways:

• For Deeper Connections & Psychological Safety:

• Understand why true community building requires sustained, intentional opportunities for sharing, listening, and connecting.

• Learn how to facilitate impactful Community Circles or Pair-Shares using structured prompts and a "talking object" to ensure every voice is heard.

• Discover questions that invite vulnerability and foster genuine relationships (e.g., "What's something others might not know about you?").

• For Impacting Learning (Connection to John Hattie):

• Explore how strong Teacher-Student Relationships and rich Classroom Discussion are directly strengthened by these activities.

• Understand how a cohesive community contributes to high Collective Teacher Efficacy.

• Learn how co-creating a "Classroom Constitution" or "We Belong Here" poster aligns with Student Voice and Teacher Clarity.

• For Holistic Development (Connection to Gholdy Muhammad's Hill Model):

• See how intentional community building profoundly impacts the Hill Model's five areas of student development:

• Identity: Affirming individual place within the collective.

• Criticality: Analyzing and upholding collective well-being.

• Skills: Practicing active listening, empathy, and collaboration.

• Joy: Experiencing positive connection and shared purpose.

• Intellect: Engaging abstractly with social constructs.

  In this episode I mention:

• The "First 10 Days: Building a Welcoming and Respectful Classroom of Belonging" Resource Bundle

• FREE Day 1 Lesson Plan & Materials

• Community Circles or Pair-Shares

• "Classroom Constitution" or "We Belong Here" poster

• John Hattie's Visible Learning research (Teacher-Student Relationships, Classroom Discussion, Collective Teacher Efficacy, Student Voice, Teacher Clarity)

• The Hill Model (Identity, Criticality, Skills, Joy, Intellect)

• Quotes from Helen Keller and Phil Jackson

  Ready to take action?

• Download your FREE Day 1 Lesson Plan here: customteachingsolutions.com/btsfree

• Explore the full "First 10 Days" Resource Bundle here: customteachingsolutions.com/btsbundle

  Reflection Questions:

• How can I consistently create opportunities for students to share and listen deeply in my classroom?

• What specific questions will I use to spark genuine connection during community circles or pair-shares?

• How will I involve my students in co-creating a "Classroom Constitution" that truly reflects their shared commitment to belonging?

• In what ways can I continue to nurture classroom community beyond Day 7 to support all five areas of the Hill Model?

  Stay Connected:

• Email: [email protected]

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cts-custom-teaching-solutions/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iteachcustom/

• Website: https://customteachingsolutions.com

Key Takeaways from this Episode:In this episode, I mention:Ready to take action?Reflection Questions for Educators:Stay connected: