The Classroom Meeting

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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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.)

7. 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.

8. Important to Classroom Meeting • Must be introduced 1st 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

9. 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

10. References Burke, K. (2008).  What to do with the kid who...: Developing cooperation, self-discipline, and responsibility in theclassroom.  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 (10th 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), 158-167.  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