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5. Work together. Give everyone a job. Create a job chart and rotate the jobs so that everyone gets a chance to do everything. Complete projects together as a class and display them for everyone to see. Provide a large piece of butcher paper and let all the children illustrate it together. Create class books in which each child completes a page. Decide on a class song you sing everyday or create a class flag to show your spirit. Include another classes on your projects to expand your community.

6. Tell them how great they are. Have class meetings during which you tell the class why they are so great. Be specific. “Good job” tells them you think they are great, but it doesn’t tell them why. “Our class is kind to one another. I noticed Joe and Billy sharing the truck today and Lily and Frank worked together to create a beautiful picture.” You can also discuss problems and work together to find a solution. “Today I found blocks behind the shelves. I’m worried we will lose some of them. What can we do to be sure that we don’t lose any of our blocks?” Remember to tell them what great problem solvers they are when you find a solution.

7. Listen. Sit down with children as they play and talk with them. Ask open-ended questions, such as “Tell me about your baby.” Encourage them to add more by responding with “Wow. Tell me more!” or “What does your baby like to eat?” Remember to wait for an answer. Young children need time to take in your question and form an answer. Count to 10 slowly in your mind before rephrasing your question (it will seem like forever, but if you wait it out you’ll be rewarded). If another child answers, don’t forget to go back to the original one. “Johnny says his baby likes to eat carrots. What does your baby like to eat, Maria?”

8. Teach Respect. Teach them what is acceptable in your classroom. Remember to give specific strategies. (In our classroom we use kind words. Joe, tell Anne “please stop.” Anne, listen to Joe’s words.) Remember that the first step in teaching is modeling. If you want children to respect one another and the classroom, you must show them what it sounds like and looks like.

9. Explore together. Don’t worry, no one expects you to recite the science behind why the sky is blue. But when your children ask, why not try to find out. Check out books at your local library and research with children to learn about their interests together. Go on class “missions” to get answers (What color are leaves in the fall? Let’s go out to the playground and see what we find.)

10. Make mistakes. We all do it, and so do your children. I’m reminded of a speaker whose motto was “Forget the mistake. Remember the lesson.” Teach your children that it is okay to make mistakes as long as we learn from them. Teach them to say sorry and to be forgiving of other’s mistakes. Once again, the first step of teaching is modeling; so don’t try to sweep your mistakes under the rug. If you forgot their special surprise for the third day in a row, tell them you’re sorry and ask them to draw a picture you can take home to remind you.

Community matters. It makes us stay in a place, even when times are tough. It helps to build our self-concept and self-esteem. Make yours a positive one for your kids and you’ll find yourself smiling on your Monday morning commute.

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What do you think of when you think about a community? Do you think of neighborhoods? Family? Or do you think of friends on whom you can depend? Most of us think about people when we think of communities.

The Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines a community in many ways, including a “unified body of individuals” and “an interacting population of various kinds of individuals… in a common location.” So what does this have to do with the classroom? Everything.

Having a community means that you have a group of people who care about you and are working with you toward a common interest. For children who are cared for in the home, this is the family. For those in your childcare setting, this community includes the teacher, staff, and other children and families in the classroom. A sense of community is important to all people, right from infancy. It is the third tier in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, right after our basic physiological needs of food, water, shelter and safety. Having a classroom community means the children in your care feel a sense of belonging there. A positive classroom community lets each child know that he has something valuable to contribute and that you and his classmates are glad to have him around. It makes all children happier to be there and may even clear up some problem behaviors (something we are all willing to work for)!

Try these 10 easy strategies for establishing a positive classroom community for your children.

1. SMILE! It seems simple, but a smile can change the entire way you perceive someone; and it can change the whole climate of your classroom. Even when you don’t feel happy, try to smile. You’ll be surprised at how children and parents respond more positively, and it will improve your mood too!

2. Celebrate. Each child has a talent, an interest, a passion. Find out what it is for each child and make sure everyone knows about it. Create a bulletin board titled “I’m an expert at…” Let each child share an area(s) of expertise. And, because children’s interests are constantly changing, leave plenty of room to add to it.

3. Encourage diversity. Our world has so many cultures to explore and learn about. Find out about the cultures represented in your classroom and celebrate each one. Ask parents to come in to share about their culture. Celebrate all the holidays represented by your children.

4. Know their names. A name is a powerful thing. Be sure that you and the children know everyone’s names. Label the children’s cubbies with their names, have a seat for everyone labeled with their name. Have lots of pictures of the children and their families throughout the building.