In some classrooms there seems to be a rather strong sense of respect and a feeling of a community. It is known that these do not come on its own. The teachers of these classes are actively facilitating these qualities of their students and their class. They try to establish a personal bond with all students. Some even go as far as greeting each and everyone near the door, and shaking their hands. They do this with all of their students in their class, which creates a feeling of equality.
Throughout the classroom, they frequently have several posters on the walls with themes such as respect-, accept-, help each other, etc. However, key is that they do not just have these hanging around without actually doing anything with it. By clearly demonstrating these qualities each and every day to each student, those words get a true meaning. Also, it is quite common for these groups to exercise accountability, meaning that you not only accept the it, you also live by it. And whenever someone – student or teacher – does not live by these principles, other will tell them so and expect a change in attitude.
To further build on the sense of equality, we see that there often are no desks in the classroom. Students tend to be placed in various circles. Every day class starts with exchanging how students and the teacher are feeling. Then normal class can begin. In order for groups to be more effective as a group, teachers will actively build collaboration skills among the students. Not only will it serve the group as a whole at that moment in class, it has two additional benefits. One is that it helps build a mentality of together you can accomplish more than as an individual. Second, it creates a learning community where people are more effective and information is more easily spread and accumulated. In short it prepares the students to help build a better community in which they will live in for many year to come.
School Design Blog
Here at School Design Studio we fully agree with a community learning environment where everybody benefits, not just a few. We promote this principle and aim to get this applied to many more learning communities. After all, once graduate we expect from these people to be good members of our society and to contribute to it actively and socially. What better place and moment in time is there to start teaching these pupils the foundation and principles than at school, and by example.