Medea E. Lamberti-Sanchez
Over the past two years, I have taught the same group of students both in fifth grade and sixth grade and the same problems have existed: disrespect, lack of shared participation, and peers fighting against peers. In my experience, our students are not learning strategies to reconcile their disagreements; they are resorting to fighting with words and fists. I think that it students are taught from the beginning of the year, team building skills then there might be less power struggles, fights, and ill relations. Therefore, the unit must be completed in September when the students are learning about one another, and learning how to co-exist in an environment where a variety of challenges are present because this is where the tone of the school and classroom is set. If teachers want an environment where there is mutual respect, and uninterrupted by classroom disruptions then community building must begin during the first week of school
The classroom community is one that should not be disrupted by students who cannot get along, or who argue when different perspectives are shared. Students should feel as if they have a shared stake in their learning, and that it is a collective effort not just from one individual, but from everyone. Teachers and staff need to be encouraged to build their classroom communities based upon the pillars of character( respect, integrity, safety, and excellence) then students will be able to respect various viewpoints and find something in common that ignites success and belonging. Students need to be able to reflect upon their own behavior and judge if their behavior isn't good and find a way to make their behavior better. Students need to understand that they play an integral role in the function of the classroom. They need to be able to have conversations and listen to each other's viewpoints, and if there are differences, then the students need to know how to handle them in a respectful manner.
