Ways We Want Our Class to Be: Class Meetings That Build Commitment to Kindness and Learning

This book explores how teachers use class meetings for a variety of purposes, from planning for a substitute teacher to planning a science unit. It also looks at how students can use class meetings to set class goals and monitor their progress in achieving them, to reflect on accumulated learning, and to solve common problems such as teasing, cliques, and social conflicts. This teaching guide is designed to help students: (1) establish and enjoy their own developing competence by encouraging them to set goals; (2) enhance their sense of belonging and responsibility to the classroom; (3) gain an understanding of the meaning and importance of norms of fairness, kindness, and responsibility; (4) gain greater understanding of themselves and others by providing a supportive environment; and (5) build a commitment to their role as learners by providing them time to reflect on their learning and ways to contribute to decisions about it. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1, entitled Why, When, and How to Use Class Meetings, describes general purposes for class meetings, ways to establish an inviting environment for class meetings, and strategies for facilitating class meetings discussions. Part 2, Examples of Class Meetings, is a collection of guidelines for 14 types of meetings that cover typical subjects for class consideration. These guidelines can be used as templates, departure points, or both, depending on the students and the teacher's style for building community in the classroom.