What do you do after a very long weekend? Have a classroom reset of course! It is no surprise that students and teachers are coming off of two very unique and difficult school years. As a result, students are faced with new challenges socially, academically, and behaviorally.
To begin this reset, I asked the students to complete two very important statements.
In this classroom I feel...
In this classroom I do NOT feel...
I knew that I was going to get a variety of answers, but I had no idea what I was about to hear. Students anonymously finished these statements with some of the most honest thinking I've ever heard. Many indicated that they feel overwhelmed being back in a full classroom. Some admitted to having increased anxiety and frustration getting along with others. All of this information dictated what I decided to do next.
The students had an opportunity to individually share their thoughts and ideas on how we can improve the classroom environment, behavior, and overall daily experience. They placed their ideas on different posters. They all agreed that respect is the most important issue: respect of their classmates, teacher, and the classroom. The students offered ideas on how to increase respect and kindness, as well as what to do when that does not occur. Once all of the ideas were generated, the students had another opportunity to review each poster and see their classmates' thoughts as well.
You can see the 5th graders' ideas below. This activity filled the students and me with so much optimism that we are all on the right track to a successful year.
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