Chapter Two- Introduction- Building a Classroom Community

Picture #1

Picture #2

Picture #3

Picture #4

For those of you attempting national board certification, this is an important chapter to read as you build your own "classroom community". Really, I think we all strive to make our classrooms inviting and comfortable for students. But why is building community in the classroom important?

The authors give us a definition of a "community" from Bredekamp and Rosegrant:

A community is a place where individuals share common values, goals , and activities. It is a place where each member takes on roles to provide sufficient services so that the community's goals are reached. In communities, everyone does not do the same thing at the same time, but groups work together to achieve common goals. A community is a place where social bonds are established and individuals can flourish.

Getting to know your students (from Chapter One) is now the stepping stone for creating your classroom community. Your students interests and experiences will define the "culture" of your classroom and will change from year to year.

Now, take a minute to look at the pictures above. Choose a picture and tell us something you see that might promote a sense of community in the classroom. Click on the comment button to share your thoughts. I would appreciate at least one response for each picture :) (This is part of my grade for my class!)

Whitney