Abstract:

As a teacher, you have the power to run a classroom without threats, coercion, force, or demonstrations of authority. When you create a classroom without coercion, you teach the students to develop a community which loves, supports, and nurtures each other, focusing on the immaterial needs we all share. The truth is, students crave this kind of contact, and your classroom can channel their desire into an environment where everyone is respected, loved, and secure. This paper explores my experiences building a loving, united community in my classroom, keeping community intact throughout the year, and expanding that community with service learning projects. I illustrate my lessons, strategies, and tools to help students build positive relationships and serve the community, Finally, I explain the six values that serve as my foundation for behavior and discipline and how, when students practice and demonstrate these values every day, they are learning to value each other, their learning, and the power of what they can do together, as a community.

Keywords:

Education, Classroom Community, Relationships.