Nourishing Community

Second grade teacher Molly Heekin and her students created a classroom where everyone felt they belonged. Here's how they did it. 

It takes time and patience and attention. It takes a coalition of the willing, purveyors of hope, and believers.

Educators learn about the neuroscience of storytelling and experience for themselves a storytelling activity they can use with students. The activity is the first session in our new guide, Teaching as an Act of Solidarity: A Beginner’s Guide to Equity in Schools.

Being listened to helps human beings in profound ways. If listening exchanges are happening regularly, and with fidelity, there will be enough space for students to begin to really share their emotions.

This video and set of guidelines will give you and your students a chance to practice active listening and discuss the importance of taking equal turns and keeping the content of listening exchanges confidential.  

Being listened to helps human beings in profound ways. This video and set of guidelines will give you and your students a chance to practice active listening through an "equal listening exchange."

This is a series of video mini lessons that focus on building, developing and nourishing our communities. Each lesson starts with a game and then proceeds to a step-by-step process for listening to one another.

Using games regularly and giving students a chance to laugh together and play is a way to build trust, confidence, and community. Here are some games you can try in your classroom - in person or virtually!