The nurturing of each student’s social and emotional development is woven into every aspect of our curriculum. At the very core of our classroom community is a sense of belonging, self worth and respect. As we move throughout the day acquiring knowledge we are continually interacting with each other; learning from each other and with each other takes practice.

Throughout the year we will present many purposeful and structured activities aimed at building and strengthening the classroom community. As is the nature of classrooms, there will be many organic and spontaneous opportunities to further explore who we are as a group and how we work best together. Children will expand their understanding of what it means to be an individual in a group working toward common goals. We will present concrete strategies for conflict resolution and learn what it means to respect ourselves, respect each other and respect the environment. It is our goal to create an atmosphere where each child knows they are valued as an individual yet an integral part of the whole group.

In a classroom setting where the social and emotional aspects of a student are being cared for the children have a sense of belonging and a reality of a safe learning environment. When a group knows it is safe with one another they are more willing and able to take the risks necessary for learning. They know that they will be supported during triumphs and challenges. With this risk taking also comes a tremendous amount of positive self-esteem and awareness of others needs. A successful classroom includes confident individual learners working together as a cohesive group.

Early in the year we spend time working on our individual hopes and goals for the school year. We will also create the class rules necessary for accomplishing these goals. Throughout the year we will broaden our social theme to include our families and local communities.

Class Meetings
Each day the class will come together during Morning Meeting and Closing Meeting. Beginning and ending the day together is one way to build and maintain our classroom community and also helps us organize ourselves for the day. It is a way to help us all start the day on the same page.

The main purpose of Morning Meeting is to spread the sense of belonging and community. We remind ourselves that we are a group with individual needs yet working together toward common goals. It is also the place where we discuss any challenges that may be facing the students. Meeting is begun with a greeting. Often a quick hello or a more involved game meant as a playful way to check-in and acknowledge each other.

Each day the children will be greeted with a Morning Message. The message will often feature a question or activity that pertains to the activities of the day. One reason we start Morning Meeting one half hour after the day begins is give each student the opportunity to respond to the message and be ready to contribute to the group discussion during meeting.

Morning Meeting also includes a review of the calendar, reading the daily schedule, counting the days of school and making any school announcements. The students will take turns guiding the class through the meeting routine as the Meeting Leader.

We also end each day with a quick gathering. After the class helps with clean up we meet to check-in before the day ends. At the close of a long day it is nice to take a moment to exhale and end our time together, with a common focus. We may take a few minutes to read aloud, or play a quick game, or discuss a particular issue that came up during the day.

Choice Time
During the later part of some afternoons we have choice time. Children are offered a variety of activities that enable them to be self-directed in their learning, explore materials, build social skills, and to provide additional small group opportunities for thematic study. Throughout the year children will get the opportunity to work on building life sized models of various birds.

Choice time activities include, but aren’t limited to the following:

• Blocks
• Painting at the easel
• Take Apart (deconstructing old electronic equipment)
• Construction with recycled materials
• Dramatic Play
• Drawing and Writing
• Games and Puzzles
• Manipulatives
• Clay
• Beading
• Origami
• Melty Beads