Accepting Differences Within a Caring Classroom Community

Managing Classroom Dynamics by Building a Connected Classroom Community of Learners

By: Suzanne Uselman

Objectives

Students will:

Define the word community Gain understanding of individual differences

through books Recognize diversity within their school and act

out ways to include individuals in school activities

Design a T-shirt collage expressing their individual interests

Discuss the importance of classroom rules and create a list of rules

Recognize that voting is a responsibility of a citizen within a community

What is a Community?

Teacher writes down students’ ideas of “What is a community?” They view the pictures of communities that the teacher has downloaded from the following websites: http://www.acclaimimages.com/search_terms/communities.html

http://www.community.webshots.com

Then they decide on a class definition for the word community.

Begin to Establish The Classroom Community

Review the class definition of community and tell the students that the classroom is also a community.

Students listen to the picture book Skin Again and watch the video Wormhead to build understanding of accepting someone new.

After reading the book and watching the video, students work in small groups to discuss some ideas one should consider when meeting someone new. The spokesperson for each group shares their ideas.

Understanding Individual DifferencesStudents in groups of two or three read books

to gain understanding of individual differences.

Classroom SkitsStudents recognize the diversity within their

school and perform skits to demonstrate ways to include others in their school activities.

T-Shirt CollageStudents create a T-shirt collage to represent their

individual interests. The teacher shares her example.

Creating the Classroom Rules

Discuss the importance of creating rules to keep people and their property safe. Students view examples of classroom rules located at:

http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/misc/back/rules/elem

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/more/management/files/classroomrule

Students create a list of rules for the classroom

Teacher uses this list to make a ballot saving it as a word document in the classroom folder.

Voting DayStudents go to the computer lab and locate the computer file that has the class list of rules. They vote for what they feel are the

five most important rules for the classroom. After they finish voting,

they save the ballot to their folder. Later in the day the teacher tallies the votes and publishes a class list of rules.

ResourcesBooks:

Choi, Y. ((2001). Name jar. New York: Dell.

 Cohen, M. (1983). See you tomorrow, Charles. New York: Dell.

 Cole, H. & Vogl, N. (2005). Am I a color too? Bellevue, WA: Illumination Arts.

 Hooks, B. (2004). Skin again. New York: Hyperion.

 Lucado, M. (2002). If only I had a green nose. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

 Mayer, G. & M. (1992). A very special critter. New York: Golden Book.

 Millman, I. (2000). Moses goes to school. New York: Frances Foster Books.

 Ripley, M. ((2003). Private and confidential: A story about Braille. New York: Dial Books.

 Rosenthal, A. K. & Lichtenheld, T. (2007). The ok book. New York: HarperCollins.

 Uhlberg, M. ((2005). Dad, Jackie and me. Atlanta: Peachtree.

 

Websites:

 http://www.acclaimimages.com/search_terms/communities.html

 http://www.community.webshots.com

 http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/misc/back/rules/elem

 http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/more/management/files/classroomrule

 Video:

 KoolKidz Television & Publishing LLC (Producers). (2007). Wormhead. [Video]

Reflection

In third grade students learn about communities. At the beginning of the year, it is important to learn about one another and together create a safe and caring learning environment. Providing students with literature and role playing examples will help foster acceptance of one another. My hope is that each student will see himself or herself as a valued citizen in our classroom community.