From Your Instructional Coach….

Strategy of the Week #2:  Classbuilding

(Adapted from Kagan)

Classbuilding: getting students to know, like and respect other students in their class.

Why is class building  important?

• When students get to know their classmates, they are more likely to respect them as individuals.
• Classbuilding is fun.  Classbuilding creates more enjoyment for class and school.
• Reduces discipline problems.  Classbuilding helps to channel students’ energy in a positive way.
• Classbuilding increases motivation.  Students are more motivated when they feel respected and liked by their peers.
• Promotes appreciation of diversity.  Classbuilding helps students get to know other students who may be different than they are.
• Synergy.  Students experience that two heads are better than one, and that energy can help to accomplish things that are otherwise impossible.
• Classbuilding boosts self esteem.  Classbuilding develops students’ sense of self worth.

When to incorporate Classbuilding activities

• iStem lessons focused on a group, rather than individual project
• Start your day with classbuilding
• Wednesday class meetings
• Friday afternoons for the last 15 minutes of the day
• Recess
• When you are waiting in line

Classbuilding Strategies to try:

• Corners:  Ask a question, and students go to a designated area in the room, according to their answer.  This is a great way to begin a unit on graphing, and creating an interest graph.  
• Formations:  The teacher announces a formation.  Students must stand and use their bodies to create the formation.  This could be done with a geometry unit, and students must “build” a rhombus, triangle, octagon.
• Inside/Outside Circle:  ½ class forms a circle facing outward.  The other half forms an outside circle, facing the first.  The two partners talk and discuss a question, opinion, piece of writing.  One circle then rotates, and everyone has a new partner.  This strategy can be used in any content area.  It could also be used for students to share what they did over the weekend, or to share a special fact about themselves.
• Mix-Freeze-Group:  Students stand and push in their chairs.  Then they “mix” by moving around the room.  The teacher calls “Freeze” and provides a clue about how many members can group.  The clue could be, the number of sides in a triangle.  Students form groups of three.  Or, the number of syllables in August.  Students form groups of two.  Anyone who doesn’t make it into a group, goes to the Lost and Found, and can help create the next question.
• Who Am I?:  Students are given a picture or word that is taped to their back.  They do not know who they are.  Students walk around the room until they find a partner.  They shake hands, look at each other’s backs and give each other a clue to the identity of the person on the partner’s back.  This is great activity for famous Americans, or events in a story.

If you are interested in planning a classbuilding activity, be sure to fill out the Partnership Interest Form below.  I would love to support you!

Partnership Interest Form