Positive Community

Articles

Positive community is one of the four domains of the Responsive Classroom approach. A positive community is a safe, predictable, joyful, and inclusive classroom where all students have a sense of belonging and significance.  Teachers create a positive community when they:

  1. –Create the conditions for students to belong and be significant
  2. –Interact with students in respectful manner
  3. –Approach discipline in a primarily proactive way
  4. –Respond to misbehavior in ways that preserve the dignity of individual  students and the class
  5. –Provide opportunities to succeed that are equitable, fair, and just

 

See our latest articles about creating a positive community below.

Explore our approach, fostering safe, joyful, and engaging classrooms. We prioritize social, emotional, and academic growth, guided by principles.

First Weeks of School Hopes and Dreams Interactive Modeling
Our Hopes and Dreams for School

Inviting students to name learning goals (hopes and dreams) right away shows them that school is a safe place, that they’re important members of the classroom, and that they can look forward to an engaging, challenging, and fun year of learning.

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Classroom Management & Discipline Classroom Organization
Success with Signals

Simple signals for attention—whether visual (a raised hand) or auditory (a chime, rain stick, or other pleasant-sounding instrument)—are an essential classroom management tool.

When I was student teaching, one of my professors said he could tell if a teacher had good management skills by watching whether she could get her students’ attention whenever she needed it. This lesson stuck with me, and once I had my own classroom, the first thing I always modeled was how students should respond to my signals for attention.

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Families Positive Community
Building Bridges

Taking time to get to know parents sends an important message: We’re a team with a shared goal of helping students have a successful school year. Plus, parents have invaluable insight that can help us better meet students’ learning needs. Forging strong connections with parents is an ongoing process—and it begins with the first days and weeks of school.

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Positive Community

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