Amy Martin

An experienced classroom teacher offers two 10-minute activities she has found useful in building community in her classroom, particularly at the start of the school year.

These two classroom practices give your students time and space to reflect on and discuss their thoughts and feelings.

Regularly instituting these two approaches in your classroom will build your students' problem-solving skills and create a more congenial classroom atmosphere.

By spending a little informal time each week with a student not from their class, a teacher mentor can play an important role in a young person's life.

Teach your students a strategy for being assertive when problems come up with friends and family. Then have students practice the skill regularly.

Two great activities to add to your classroom routine: an Opinion Continuum opener, and a Win-Win Role-Play & Discussion.