Volunteering is what jumps to most people’s minds when they hear Community Contributor. Certainly, volunteering and community service are important examples of being a Community Contributor; however, how we treat each other in our various communities (families, classrooms, social media platforms, neighborhoods, etc.) is an equally important component. Our Community Contributor description and success criteria include both aspects.
Thus, as you think about the authentic ways Community Contributor can play out in your classroom, be sure to consider both aspects. Though service learning (the label given to community service that is built into curricula) may be appropriate and possible in only some classrooms, every classroom can work on norms and behaviors that result in positive, accepting, safe, and vibrant learning environments.
Check It Out
Read the description and review the grade-level checklist for this skill at the Future Ready Skill website.
Learn a Little More
Browse through the collection of resources for this week (below), then select one or two to read thoroughly.
7 Easy Ways Kids Can Give Back (Not only has ideas for building community but also discusses the values that are being instilled in students from giving to our community)
Search Results for “Service Learning” and Edutopia
Blog post about building classroom community at the middle and high school level
Building Community & Friendship in the Elementary Classroom
Scholastic article: Building Classroom Community
14 Examples of High Quality Civic Learning Opportunities
Talking Circles: For Restorative Justice and Beyond (A Teaching Tolerance awardee discusses how Talking Circles empower her middle school students.)Activity/Prompt
Part A: Share one or two ideas or insights from your reading that you think others should consider when incorporating Community Contributor into their work with students. Make sure to clearly reference the resource(s) you are pulling from.
Part B: Which of the success criteria (from your grade level’s student reflection checklist) for Community Contributor can you authentically connect to/reference/integrate in your classroom? In what way(s)?
Logging you in...
Shawna Wagner · 334 weeks ago
I love the success criteria from the student checklist 'I am honest and do what's right even when no one is looking'. Being honest and having integrity are such important life skills to teach young children!
Beverly Meeks · 334 weeks ago
The first 3 indicators for Community Contributors are ones my second graders can discuss what they look and sound like. The 2 indicators the students are working on understanding are...I am honest and do what's right even when nobody's looking and I stand up for the rights, safety, and well-being of others.
Kim Fitzpatrick (RC) · 310 weeks ago
From our grade 3 success criteria, I chose "I am honest and do what's right, even when nobody's looking". This is one of our agreements when we make our classroom promise each September. I remember reading it in a book that my mentor teacher, Patty Kiffer, shared with me in 2006, and we created an anchor chart for it that said something very similar, "We do the right thing, even when nobody's watching". This resonated with me back then, and it's still one of the most important qualities of a community of learners who care deeply about one another and their classroom.
Mark Lange (RC) · 307 weeks ago
I liked the Classroom Bill of Rights from the article Build a Community in Your Elementary Classroom. The thought behind this is if you give kids a chance to make fair norms for the classroom as a community, they will be more prone to follow. Having “buy in” I have witnessed before. I constantly do this with success criteria for math lessons. If students create the language and understanding of expectation, not only do they know where they are going but how it looks to get there. At RC we have the “RC 3s” which are show respect, make good decisions and solve problems. The whole school has these rules. However next year, I am going to go above and beyond when setting up my norms and routines with my students. I will take the time for them to tell me and each other what the RC 3’s mean to them and what they will look like in our classroom community.
Part B: Which of the success criteria (from your grade level’s student reflection checklist) for Community Contributor can you authentically connect to/reference/integrate in your classroom? In what way(s)?
I stand up for the rights, safety, and well-being of others. 5th grade in the spring is when the “cool kids” come out. Typically this involves exclusion, gossip and bullying. Teaching and reinforcing to students the idea that everyone deserves to feel safe and secure at school is something I take pride in. In fact, it is my favorite life lesson to instill in kids. Sometimes the hard way. :)
Kelsie Gooch (GPES) · 306 weeks ago
The article, "Building a Community in your Elementary Classroom" was an awesome reminder of the power of community. Since I have a unique group of 55 kids grades k-5, I loved the idea of friendship circles to celebrate the similarities and differences we have in our group. Asking questions and having students see what the difference ages are and how to best work together is awesome. The older kids can see that younger students have valuable opinions and the younger kids can seek out older students who are positive role models. The classroom Bill of Rights is really powerful to get students involved in their learning and behavior. The reminder that no one likes to be controlled was very convicting and I need to let go to allow students to thrive.
Part B: Which of the success criteria (from your grade level’s student reflection checklist) for Community Contributor can you authentically connect to/reference/integrate in your classroom? In what way(s)?
"I can treat other's with respect." Community building in EEP will lead to students having a better awareness of other's wants and needs. Respect is a big concept and I plan to break it down into specific examples and how respect is a part of each of the GP 3's. We respect ourselves, we respect others and we respect of environment. Everyone deserves respect and as students come across difficult situations now or later, the concept of respect will lead them through with integrity.
maureenbRCES 21p · 288 weeks ago
One of the readings I enjoyed was “Building Community in the Elementary Classroom.” One of the strategies from the article that I would suggest is the Friendship Circle. Building community is a hugely important part of having a successful classroom for the whole year. One of the things I have done in the last few years is implemented a class meeting every single day, which mirrors the idea of the friendship circle. I have noticed the culture in the classroom and how kids respect each other is much better. For our class meeting, every student shares with good news, kind words, or thankful thoughts. They love getting the chance to share a bit about their lives outside of school with myself and the class.
One of the success criteria from the student reflection checklist that I focus heavily on, is “I treat others with respect.” At Rock Creek, our RC3 is show respect, make good decisions, and solve problems. I discuss this multiple times every day, when it comes to solving friendship issues, treating friends kindly, and more. It I very interwoven with all of the norms and routines I have established in my classroom. I always tell my students that if you treat others with respect, they often will do the same to you.
Lauren Saunders · 287 weeks ago
The Bright Hub Education article “Build a Community in Your Elementary Classroom: Ideas to Start the Year Out Right” focuses on how to be community contributor. I thought the section about doing get to know you activities is vital to creating a positive classroom community. The suggested doing student interviews so students can start learning about their classmates on a deeper level. We do similar activity in my classroom called “All About Me Bags” during the first few weeks of school. Each child brings a bag with 4-5 items that represent who he/she is and what he/she likes. This is an important activity because students learn about one another and they start to recognize how we have similar interests. Activities like these are great to do, especially at the beginning of the school year!
The success criteria that we focus the most on in my classroom is “I treat others with respect.” At Rock Creek, we have three school rules known as the RC3s: Show respect. Make good decisions. Solve problems. We have class conversations almost daily on what treating others with respect looks like and sounds likes. This is an integral part of my classroom as treating others with respect helps with friendship issues, norms for listening, and treating others how you want to be treated. We talk about how this can be extended outside the classroom to recess, at home, and w
hoodkyle 9p · 277 weeks ago
Judy Kim (TES) · 285 weeks ago
So in the Building community and Friendship in the Elementary Classroom articles. I really enjoyed the friendship circle. 'The friendship circle, if done consistently, is something all the children look forward to each week. They especially love sharing jokes, but it is also nice when the kids offer their peers compliments and are able to bring problems to the circle that we can resolve together in an open forum.' I love this ideas to create a community in the classroom but also a space where kids can come together to resolve problems that arise. I feel like if done correctly, this could be student led and kids can feel a sense of accomplishment and being in charge.
Part B: Which of the success criteria (from your grade level’s student reflection checklist) for Community Contributor can you authentically connect to/reference/integrate in your classroom? In what way(s)?
Building community and Friendship in the Elementary Classroom. I can connect to the 'volunteer to help other' on the checklist. At the beginning of school. I strategically teach my students how to help others in class in all academic areas and how to help others (not to give them the answer). We talk about coaching students and whether it is giving them time or different strategies to use. In my class, there is a lot of student talk and so my class can sometimes get a little loud. However, I want students to teach and volunteer to help/ teach each other because I feel like that is the best way to learn. I want my students to be involved with each other and to know that they are teachers and learners themselves just like me. I feel like this builds friendship and community in our class because everyone can volunteer to help everyone.
The friendship circle, if done consistently, is something all the children look forward to each week. They especially love sharing jokes, but it is also nice when the kids offer their peers compliments and are able to bring problems to the circle that we can resolve together in an open forum.
Doug Lapp · 271 weeks ago
hoodkyle 9p · 277 weeks ago
There were many ideas on here that could be used in the classroom to fill that "random" 7-10 minute chunk that sometimes finds its way in at the end of class, before specialist, on a assembly day, etc. The suggestions could help to bring the class together as a positive cohesive group, providing that opportunity to see, and be seen, by others are more than a student in a classroom. I especially like the "Throwback" jar as an option and the class paparazzi person.
From this site: https://www.brighthubeducation.com/lesson-plans-g...
I really like the circles practice. I have seen this in use both at the elementary level and the high school level with great participation and effects by and on the students. Similar to the items above, it helps everyone to see past each individual as merely a student and more as a person.
For part II... I am a Dean of Students. So, my success criteria is helping my students and staff to be successful. I will forward the first site I mentioned to them as a thought/strategy that they could use in their classroom.
Doug Lapp · 271 weeks ago
Stacey P (RC) · 277 weeks ago
In an effort to foster Community Contributors, I enjoyed the article, 7 Easy Ways Kids Can Give Back, by Stephanie Anderson Witmer (https://dailyparent.com/articles/7-meaningful-ways-kids-can-give-back/). I agree with the statement that volunteering offers people important values including having empathy for others, and improving one’s own self-esteem. I particularly relished in the research findings confirming that those that volunteer have lower rates of depression and may even live longer.
I also really like the suggested discussion questions for pre- and post-volunteering. This gives students opportunities to reflect on why they are spending their time volunteering rather than just going through the motions without realizing the positive impact they are having on others. Additionally, I appreciate the encouragement to be patient if students don’t initially demonstrate interest in volunteering their time.
I read the article, Build a Community in Your Elementary Classroom: Ideas to Start the Year out Right (https://www.brighthubeducation.com/lesson-plans-grades-3-5/4366-building-community-in-the-elementary-classroom/). Within, there was reference made to author Ruth Sidney Charney and her book, Teaching Children to Care. I could not agree more with her assertion that real teaching and learning can only truly happen in a classroom where community has been established. I really appreciate the practical suggestions for building the classroom community, including coming up with a classroom name together, and especially the idea to have students create a classroom ‘bill of rights’. Being in a specialist role, this presents a challenge to implementing these suggestions, but I feel inspired to modify and implement some version of these community building ideas in all of my classes.
Part B:
Success Criterion: I treat others with respect.
In the classroom, I regularly integrate and make reference to the importance of treating others with respect. This is a theme throughout a good number of the lessons we are teaching in Future Ready Skills class.
Success Criterion: I make the classroom, school, and/or community a better place.
During class time, as well as book checkout time, I regularly refer to the Future Ready Skill, Community Contributor with regard to taking care of the space my students are in. I try really hard to help my students make the connection that leaving the space they are in “as good or better than you found it” is an important life skill and habit that spans all aspects of one’s daily living.
Success Criterion: I am honest and do what’s right even when nobody’s looking
Currently, my Future Ready Skills co-teacher and I are just finishing up a unit with our kindergarteners and first graders, and the final lessons focus on making “good” choices even when nobody is watching. Reinforcing this success criterion is done through class discussions, partner turn and talk, utilizing audio/video resources, and even singing songs and playing games.
Kimberly F (TSD) · 272 weeks ago
The SC I chose from our grade level checklist is "Treat others with respect". This is an ongoing learning opportunity for third graders, as we navigate a room full of different wants/needs and personalities. It's important to learn how to use empathy and compassion to guide our thoughts and actions. We also practice asking for and giving forgiveness. By being intentional about honoring where kids are at as they learn to manage their emotions, we build trusting relationships and this in turn strengthens our classroom community.
Doug Lapp · 271 weeks ago
Having simple school wide expectations like--Show Respect---Solve Problems--Make Good Decisions helps with the way we can guide student interactions and yet honor their differences.
Paige S (RCES) · 262 weeks ago
Susan Heater · 270 weeks ago
The sense of community can be built in a variety of ways, and the article "Building Community and Friendship in the Elementary Classroom" has some wonderful suggestions. They give an example of letting the kids choose their class name. They feel ownership of the name and feel as though it was their choice and they had some power. They also discuss having the kids create the rules. This is, quite obviously, facilitated by the teacher, but the kids feel as though they have set the rules. They mention that if a child breaks the rules the class has created, they are breaking their own rules, not the rules set by the teacher. This gives them ownership of the expectations in the classroom. In order to be a community contributor, you must feel a part of a community.
I feel the items from the grade level checklists that are easy to observe and reinforce are: "I treat others with respect" and "I stand up for the rights, safety, and well-being of others." The kids learn a lot about being a responsible bystander in their bullying prevention lessons. It is an important lesson to learn that you have a degree of power in a situation that doesn't necessarily involve you. Showing respect is applicable in all areas of school and, later on, will be vital in their careers.
Lyssa · 270 weeks ago
Liz White · 270 weeks ago
Friendship Circles (referenced in the article “Building Friendship and Community in the Elementary Classroom”) are a great way to build a feeling of being a part of something bigger" in a classroom. Friendship circles work to support problem solving, to plan a giving or volunteer event, or to get to know one another better as we build community at the start of the year. Students develop empathy through sharing and listening to others’ stories. Students’ self-esteem and sense of belonging provides the foundation for feeling ready to reach out to support others. Students who are intrinsically community oriented and giving provide a bit of a roadmap for others and help inspire others. As a specialist, there are components of Friendship Circles that I can incorporate in smaller ways in the way I group and pair students for coding and robotics and in the way students share startup and ongoing work during our sessions that can help students feel that everyone makes a contribution in a community.
Part B: Which of the success criteria (from your grade level’s student reflection checklist) for Community Contributor can you authentically connect to/reference/integrate in your classroom? In what way(s)?
All of the success criteria for grades k-5 apply to a specialist STEAM classroom. We respect our efforts and grow from our coding "bugs" or we turn an art mistake into a "beautiful oops!" We are safe and do the right thing as digital citizens with our digital devices. We report what needs fixing. We support our pair programmers with encouraging language that focuses on our work and help solve problems and bugs in our work. Students feel a sense of belonging in their support of teammates and in moving forward with their tasks because that effort and focus to learn IS the contribution we are making to our classroom community.
Paige S (RCES) · 262 weeks ago
Part B: I decided to look at the K-2 success criteria for this exercise. I STEAM, we already have respect and volunteering to help others within lessons. STEAM is highly collaborative, so there are must dos in my classroom. I think that the other aspects of community contributors could be added into lessons very easily because of the collaborative nature and heavy material use in STEAM. For example “I am honest and do what’s right even when nobody’s looking” could be related to how you use iPads in the classroom when others can’t see your screen.
Zoryana L. (LWES) · 253 weeks ago
In my music classroom, I feel that all of the success criteria for Community Contributor can be authentically connected to my classroom for all grades (K-5). For example, music is known to be a positive force that connects all people and brings joy to those all around us. Students can "make the classroom, school, and/or community a better place" by sharing songs with one another and with their families and communities that made them happy or sparked joy in their day. Through this, our classrooms, school, and communities will be better, happier places. Another example from the success criteria for Community Contributor that can be applied to the music classroom is treating others with respect. This is especially important in music because often students are coming out of their comfort zones to try new things. Students must display respect for one another when we are performing, playing instruments, singing songs, dancing, presenting, etc. so that everyone feels safe and comfortable in the classroom.
Alyssa Hayes · 251 weeks ago
I really liked the article “Building Community in the Elementary Classroom”. I am a firm believer that you have to have a relationship with a kiddo before you will get their best (behavior and work). The article also focused on the relationship between students with is so crucial for kiddos to feel comfortable with making mistakes and taking chances in the classroom. I think that the All about me bags could be a fun activity at the beginning of the year with a few kiddos sharing their items each day. What a wonderful way for the kiddos to get to know each other.
Part B: Which of the success criteria (from your grade level’s student reflection checklist) for Community Contributor can you authentically connect to/reference/integrate in your classroom? In what way(s)?
The kindergarten reflection checklist has really great pieces to it. I would say that “I treat others with respect” is the one that I connect to the most. I feel that it can include all of the other items with it. It is also one of our school wide PBIS expectations so we reference it constantly.