Classroom MeetingsSpringfield Elementary School

Presentation by: Kristen Salamone

What Are Classroom Meetings?

An exchange of ideas between teacher and students to enhance social, emotional, and intellectual development for all class members.

Whoa! Stop and Look! 160,000 children miss school everyday due to fear

of attack or intimidation by other students. (NEA) Every seven minutes a student is bullied at school.

(Dan Olweus) One of of twenty students has seen a student with

a gun at school. (NYVPRC) Suicide was the third leading cause of death for

young people 10 to 19 years old in 2000. (NYVPRC)

Solutions?

Build Emotional Intelligence Increase student Empathy Open environment vs. Closed doors Lasting relationships built upon trust

Purposes of Class Meetings

Sense of Belonging. Solve Conflict. Make suggestions, take ownership, plan

activities. Improve academics. Classroom management tool. Unify the class.

Skills to Live by!

Intrapersonal Skills Interpersonal Skills Strategic Skills Judgment Skills

Key Components of Class Meetings

Consistent-conducted every week at the same time.

15-30 minutes per meeting. Teacher=Facilitator Create a “talk ticket” or item that

participant must be holding to talk. Suggestion box visible. Secretary and visual aides used.

5 Kinds of Class Meetings

Good News- “Who has some good news to share” Goal-setting Problem Solving

Individual Group Complaints and recommendations

Planning Concept

Steps in a Class Meeting1. Circle Up2. Set the Code3. Compliments and Thank You’s4. Set the Agenda5. Pose the Problem/Question6. Personal Thinking Time7. Partner Talk8. Signal for Quiet9. Whole-Group Discussion10. Close the Meeting

Circling Up

State rules for circling up Decide floor or chairs Everyone MUST be at same level 1 minute or less: time students, becomes a

great activity

Code for Class Meetings

Give students ownership 3-5 rules Model code

Compliments and Thank You’s

1. I would like to compliment ___ for ___.2. Compliments are given for:

Helpfulness Accomplishments Sharing

3. Just say “Thank You!”

The Agenda

1. Call the meeting to order.2. Compliments and Thank You’s.3. Old Business-Brief summary on last

week’s meeting.4. New Business- “Today our class meeting

is _____.”5. Close the meeting.

Pose the Problem/Concept

Example: “Several people have reported (via the class meeting box) that there has been much pushing in line. How can we solve this?”

Personal Thinking Time

Give the students a minute of silence to think individually about the problem and possible solutions.

Partner Talk

Pair Share Have partners discuss thoughts with each

other for 1-2 minutes. Have partners come up with possible

solutions for 1-2 minutes.

Signal for Quiet

Establish signal (during first meeting) that can be used to call class back together.

Whole Group Discussion

1. Review steps in solving problems2. Related Solutions3. Develop Consensus4. Make a plan (if needed)

Problem Solving Steps Identify the Problem- “It sounds like

the problem is…”

Brainstorm Possible Solutions

Discuss/Choose A Solution

Make A Plan

4 R’s of Solutions!

Related Respectful Reasonable Revealed

Methods to Close a Meeting

Learning Partners Silence Remembering Complete the Sentence Evaluation