How do you foster communication within your classroom?

I do Responsive Classroom in my class. It is the same idea as morning meeting. We greet each other, share is they want, do a group activity, then a morning message. There is a Responsive Classroom book that gives ideas for all of these. As far as the activities go they are all community building activities like getting to know each other and depending on others to accomplish a task. The kids love do these and I have noticed how relationships have fostered in my class and the kids lean on each other to accomplish other things in our classroom.

Hi Julie,
I am interested in your morning meetings. How do you organize that? Does one person share at a time or do the students talk with partners? I think I would like to implement something like that in my classroom. I teach first grade and I think it is very important to create that sense of community that you mentioned. Here is one thing that I do that helps create a positive climate: I post signs above the calendar wall that say things like this: "We trust one another", "We help one another", "We forgive one another", "We respect one another,"We show compassion to one another", "We accept help from one another", etc. On the first day of school we repeat the words on every card and we continue to do that every day. When I see someone acting out those words with another person I will bring attention to it and talk about how valuable that attitide is. Eventually, the childen start noticing those behaviors in others and they start mentioning it, too. Like you I also want my students talking with each other and sharing ideas. The Think-Pair-Share activity works well, too. I usually have my students sitting on the carpet for many of our learning activites. I'll pose a question, give them time to think, and then say "share with a partner". That gets them putting their heads together and sharing ideas and thoughts with different people. I try to do quite a bit of partner work in my classroom. Instead of me choosing who will be who's partner I use "partner sticks". I hot glue pairs of stickers on popsicle sticks and they draw sticks and find the person who has the sticker that matches their sticker - that's who they work with. Before each partner activity I remind them that partners are to Guide, Check, and Praise each other all during the activity and I look and listen for those behaviors.
Thanks for starting this "blog". I'm interested in what others do to create that climate, as well.

Hi Joy, Casie and Julie,
I also use Think-Pair-Share in my classroom. I find that it is a great way to get everyone talking and exchanging ideas. Most times, many of the students want to share their ideas but there is not enough time to share all ideas. Think-Pair-Share is a great way to give students the chance to express themselves and opportunity be heard. In my class we do a speaking stone in the morning where everyone gets the chance to discuss certain topics as well as a classroom meeting every other Friday morning where students get the chance to state their concerns about the classroom and their likes and dislikes about how things are done. We take votes on how to change things to better suite the class, as well as discuss what they would like to see more and less of. For art labs, I have partners working together on one project where they must talk to each other to make a finished product. I love hearing their ideas on how the piece could look better.

Hi Joy and Julie,
I also use Think-Pair-Share in my classroom. I find that it is a great way to get everyone talking and exchanging ideas. Most times, many of the students want to share their ideas but there is not enough time to share all ideas. Think-Pair-Share is a great way to give students the chance to express themselves and opportunity be heard. In my class we do a speaking stone in the morning where everyone gets the chance to discuss certain topics. I find this especially helpful as I get an idea of what went on in their lives over the night and it gives explanations as to why they may be tired, sad, concerned or happy. I teach kindergarten, so during the speaking stone they hold nothing back. Classroom meetings are held every other Friday morning where students get the chance to state their concerns about the classroom and their likes and dislikes about how things are done. We take votes on how to change things to better suite the class, as well as discuss what they would like to see more and less of. For art labs, I have partners working together on one project where they must talk to each other to make a finished product. I love hearing their ideas on how the piece could look better.

Hi everyone

What I do in my classroom is 30 minutes before school end. I allow my students to voice their opinions about things that went on throughout the day. I also allow them to talk about problems and conflicts that have been going on. Then I allow peers to give advice as well as I give advice. This way they are interacting with their peers and me on a positive level. Julie you gave me a great idea when you said you do it in the morning time. That would be a great time to do it also because many students come in with a lot on their mind and talking to peers can help them clear their mind. Also a simple hello, good morning or a smile can make people day go by a lot smoother. Thanks for starting this blog. I am open to any other suggestions you all may have. Do you ever invite parents to come and join in from time to time?

I use many think-Pair-Share activities as well in my classroom. I find that providing opportunities for accountable talk allows students to take ownership of their learning. It also allows them to work with many different personalities within the classroom. For myself, I greet each student with a handshake every morning upon entering my classroom. I find that it takes two seconds for someone to tell me they lost their tooth which allows make a personal connection with them. My former school participated in a school wide activity where the hallways were given street names and each classroom had an address. The teacher's last name was part of the address. During the week, students were able to write letters to peers and teachers. Letters could include words of encouragement, an invitation, praise, etc. On Fridays, the fourth graders collected the mail and delivered it to the classrooms. The boys and girls couldn't wait for Fridays to check the mailboxes! I thought that this was a fabulous way to promote a sense of community throughout the whole school!

I love the idea of the morning meeting. Out K-teachers incorporate this activity into their schedule. Unfortunately, our administration expects first graders to be engaged in written morning work within 5 minutes of entering the classroom. I'm sure your students feel special because you allow them the opportunity to share their own personal experiences. How can we get to know our students if we don't allow them the opportunity to tell us about themselves?

Thanks for sharing your ideas and your resources. I thought of purchasing some of the texts mentioned and present to my principal for feedback.

I spend 30 minutes every morning on morning meeting. I allow any child to share (one at a time). After they share I have them call on three friends for either ask a question or comment on their sharing. I do not limit their sharing either and the students can pass on sharing if they do not have anything to say or show. The first year I did this, I was able to have the whole class share each day, but last year my kids would share for hours if I allowed it, so I had to assign days for the kids to share. I start moring meeting on the very first day of school. I teach kindergarten and this can be difficult at first, but once we all know each other and are familiar with the routine, the kids love it. I also got my ideas from the book "The First Six Weeks of School" there is also another book "Morning Meeting" that helped me out.