10 things every teacher needs for class meetings! caring school community the characterplus way™...
TRANSCRIPT
10 things every 10 things every teacher needs for teacher needs for class meetings!class meetings!
10 things every 10 things every teacher needs for teacher needs for class meetings!class meetings!Caring School CommunityCaring School Community
The CHARACTERplus Way™The CHARACTERplus Way™
“Take Ten”
#1: Teacher FIRST• What do you need to effectively
facilitate a class meeting within the constraints of your room and your students?
• Examine your attitude toward class meetings. If you do not think they will work for you, write down the barriers and seek support.
• Reflect on your comfort zone. Ask to observe or have a meeting modeled.
#2: Safe, nurturing class environment
• Class Meetings are most successful in classrooms that have a warm, caring, supportive environment -- classrooms in which students feel comfortable to learn, feel safe to share their ideas, and feel free to ask questions and take risks
• Students in this type of classroom are supportive of one another, work together cooperatively, encourage one another, assume responsibility for their own learning and behavior, and are allowed to make decisions
• Common language = voice and choice; autonomy
#3: Format• Prepare students for meetings in two to three lessons during
the first weeks of school, or when you decide to implement • Teach students How To’s: Circle-up, take turns, listen, use “I”
statements• Utilize every opportunity for: Teambuilding, encouragement,
and creative problem solving• Collaborate with counselor, other teachers and CSC Coach to
provide guidance • Use CSC “box” and other resources (books, websites)• Facilitate practice and trial meetings, leading and modeling
the process- can be done in 15 min or less• Upper elementary students can become meeting leaders,
with each student taking a turn as discussion leader during the school year
#4: Cues, tools and procedures
• Use a class meeting sign to generate a common cue on your classroom door with meeting time, or during calendar, schedule, smart board, etc.
• Use concrete “talking” toy, stick, ball or appropriate item- can change up!
• Establish Stop! Procedure (signal, cue)• Practice procedures: Time to circle, readiness
drills, stopwatch activities• Be prepared with minute-glass or timers• Be consistent- same place, same circle, etc
#5: Ground Rules• Circle Up- use your cue or class language• Explain there are ground rules that are non-
negotiables• Define ‘safe’ and make chart with students
about rules using character words, such as respect; break words into “what it looks like/sounds like”
• Include: One person speaks at a time; say ‘people’ instead of specific names; encourage: no put-downs
• Define: Reflect and practice at the end of the meeting
#6: Strong collaborative structuresAn essential structure:• Think/Pair/Share- Students take time to think
individually about their response to the guided question• Tell students to turn to their neighbor (partner) and
share their thoughts by taking turns and active listening
• Upon pre-determined signal, students face teacher to prepare to share
• Cue students on eye contact to speakers• Share responses “round-robin” style; however, passing
is always an electionModification: Pair/share
#7: A roleThe teacher: • acts as a coach/facilitator • Reflects and defers to group• Models and cues for eye contact on persons speaking • Fulfills the role of scribe • Offers open-ended questions and reflective comments
only when necessary to keep the tone positive and helpful
• Does not utilize class meeting time for “teachable moments”
• Creates his/her comfort zone for silence
#8: Equipped Students brainstorming/consens
us• Help students understand that they will not be put on the
spot• Brainstorming is getting ideas out on a ‘first come to
mind’ basis• There are no comments made when recording the ideas• All ideas are recorded• Consensus is a process to make a group decision• Establish the way class will reach consensus and the
signals to use vs. voting• Teach how to combine ideas, alter ideas and compromise• Address unproductive meetings and return to topics at
later time (parking lot idea from Kagan)
#9: Family • Use every opportunity to get the process
home! • Provide opportunities for parents to use same
principles for family meetings• Model class/family meetings in every group
interaction, when possible• Use reflective journaling to further class
meeting accomplishments and students’ sense of voice and choice
• Celebrate class and family successes
#10: Perspective• Perfection is not the end product• Celebrate people and process• Even your worst meeting has
something to offer• Trust your students • Always incorporate teambuilding
and relationships as focus for community
“Take Ten” CSC Coaching presented by
Robin Adkison • Teachers are BUSY! Everyone competes for a teacher’s
limited time, but teachers WANT to serve their students and WANT to have time to do so!
• “Take Ten” offers a 3-5 min. CSC slideshow with a page of activities and resources designed to take less than 10 min.
• The slideshows can be designed for staff’s particular needs and can be used individually, in team meetings or during staff meetings led by SLT’s
• In addition, teachers are then free to book coaching for hands-on classroom development
• To access your CSC coach for questions, additional resources, site visit, etc. please email [email protected], or call 314-732-3898
Feedback, Please!CSC overarching Goal: Competence
Please email a reply to: [email protected]
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