The Classroom Meeting Why is it so important? Is it the key to classroom success?

What is a classroom meeting?  Safe place to discuss classroom concerns, challenges, events, and triumphs  Students and teachers engage in conversation about topics of interest and concern to all members of the classroom community

Benefits of Classroom Meeting  Increases peer interaction  Develops social skills  Improves behavior (lesson and hopefully climates bullying)  Students learn the skill of speaking to an audience or sneaking in a large group which is an essential skill to academic, social, and future career success  Students facing difficulties/challenges (academic and/or social) can verbalize their thoughts, feeling and/or actions in a caring environment of their peers.

Benefits of Classroom Meeting Cont.  Students will develop closer bonds with their friends and/or develop new friendships.  By having this community interaction, they can begin to view their peers in a new light, seeing a new perspective on an issue/topic

How do I fit in classroom meetings with curriculum and testing demands  Hold Meetings Regularly  Can be daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly  Taking 5-10 minutes during morning business to check in with students  If there is a situation/concern that needs more time to address, the class can schedule a meeting date and time  If it is a situation that needs immediate attention, the situation should be addressed (i.e. child endangerment)

How to prepare or the classroom meeting  Teacher journal  Student journal  Parent surveys with student information  Materials (i.e. book to read, video clip, objects, etc.)

How to begin the Classroom Meeting ?  Teacher begins meeting by reviewing rules.  Arranging seats in a circle  With practice will form quickly  Reminding students that they speaking in group meeting is optional.

Important to Classroom Meeting  Must be introduced 1 st week of school  Do before recess, lunch, or going home  Don’t cancel for other activities  For younger students  For older students  Not having students raise hand to speak helps quiet students not feel pressure and more willing to participate  Students should sit in a circle

Classroom Meeting Sample  Situation: Female Kindergartner feels sad each time peers tease her because her last name (Berger) sounds like Burger  Teacher prepares for meeting by bringing in a real burger to demonstrate the difference in spelling and how although the two sound alike, they have different meanings  Begin by reading Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

References Burke, K. (2008). What to do with the kid who...: Developing cooperation, self- discipline, and responsibility in the classroom. Thousand Oaks, CA: Crowin Press. Charles, C.M. (2011). Building Classroom Discipline (Tenth Edition). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. Edwards, D., & Mullins, F. (2003). Classroom meetings: Encouraging a climate of cooperation. Professional School Counseling, Kohn, A. (2006). Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community (10 th Anniversary Edition). Alexandria, VA: ASCD Meadan, H., & Monda-Amaya, L. (2008). Collaboration to promote social competence for students with mild disabilities in the general classroom: A structure for providing social support. Intervention in School and Clinic, 43(3), Miller, T.L. (1999). Creating a sense of community in the classroom using children’s literature and class meetings. US Department of Education, 48, 2-48