Lauren Tandy

Twenty-three students with twenty-three diverse life experiences come together as one caring classroom community each morning!

Second graders in Ms. Tandy’s class start each and every day with a community circle meeting. Community circles are a great way for students to build trusting and respectful relationships. As the teacher, our community circle allows me to check in with each student daily.

As students enter the classroom, they follow the same consistent routines. A Google slide is posted on the whiteboard with information that gives the students a brief snapshot of what their day will look like, and the question of the day that will be answered in the circle. Students respond to the question of the day in their journals, in preparation to share.

After students have been given some time to reflect and respond to the question, we join together in our community circle. We begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and our Bobcat Pledge, attendance, and lunch count. Students are provided with an overview of what their day will look like, so they know what to expect. At this time, students are invited to ask any questions they might have regarding the daily schedule or anything else that might be on their minds.

Lastly, we wrap up our community circle with group conversation. Students take turns responding to the questions of the day if they choose to do so. Each student is encouraged to share, ask for “more time”, or pass. Questions range from ‘In your opinion, what is the best type of candy?’ to ‘What is one way that you could make someone smile today?’. While one student is answering his/her peers practice their attentive listening skills by listening and looking at the speaker.

Throughout the school year, I have seen tremendous growth in students' confidence. Students who initially would only talk if they had to are now raising their hands to share their ideas in front of the whole class. Trusting friendships have formed among students who had not previously had those relationships. Community circle has provided twenty-three students with multiple opportunities and connections, and one safe place to have their voices heard daily.