I recently read a post from a teacher just starting her journey, about to enter student teaching. She asked for the best piece of advice we received when we began teaching. I shared this quote from Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
This quote has been my guiding light throughout my career because if students know you care and are invested in them, if you humanize with them, they “see” you. They know you’re human, just like them. And that understanding – that you’re in it together – strengthens the bonds, the safety, and the connections in the classroom, which is essential for building a classroom community. I often tell people, on the days I struggled most, my students saved me.
But creating that type of environment goes beyond the first week of school. Sure, we all do icebreakers and individual exercises at the beginning, but how do we sustain it? How do we make sure students feel seen and valued throughout the year? How do we practice Social Emotional Learning (SEL) daily in a way that feels genuine?
It’s Never Too Late to Start 🕰️
Many teachers I’ve mentored feel like it’s “too late” by this time of year. They’re keeping their heads above water, maintaining a manageable routine, but they feel it would be awkward to suddenly shift focus toward community building. They also wonder how they can balance rigorous academic content and learning targets with SEL. Can they “afford” to take a day to connect?
My answer? You can’t afford not to.
I learned that you make time for what matters. Yes, we have learning targets to meet. Yes, we need to cover the content. But if we dedicate even 15 minutes—or better yet, one class period—to fostering connections, we’re not just teaching content. We’re teaching students to think critically, collaborate, and care, which are key components of building a classroom community.
SEL in Every Subject: An Example from Math 📐
Once, a math teacher I mentored asked, “Do I just stop teaching math for a day?” My response was both yes… and no!
Yes, take a day to focus on SEL. But no, you’re not “stopping” teaching. When you implement an SEL activity, you’re still teaching – just in a different way.
Take my Survival Activity, for example. This activity challenges students to work together on a survival scenario, using critical thinking skills and collaboration. The problem-solving and reasoning they use in this activity are the same skills they apply in math. So, in a sense, you’re reinforcing these skills while fostering relationships and trust, which is essential for building a classroom community.
Ready to Build Connection in Your Classroom? 🌻
If you’re looking to build connections with your students, it’s never too late to start.
A strong classroom community supports both emotional well-being and academic success. And whether it’s the Survival Activity or another SEL lesson, there are resources you can use at any time of the year to bring more connection into your classroom. Fostering these relationships is crucial for building a classroom community.
Check out my TPT store Secondary SEL Powerhouse for SEL activities designed to fit seamlessly into any curriculum, with tools to build trust, empathy, and resilience.
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