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September

Stand By Me | Community & Connection

“If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall or the mountains should crumble to the sea, I won't cry. I won't cry. No, I won't shed a tear just as long as you stand, stand by me.”

- Ben E. King

Stand By Me | Community & Connection

How might you intentionally strengthen your connections with colleagues, students and their families?

We hope that from the very first moment of the Mentor 360: Prep for Success Week, you felt a strong and sincere Stafford County Public Schools commitment to providing opportunities for you to connect with your colleagues. Humans are naturally social beings. The power of connection is essential to our ability to face tough situations and remain resilient. You cannot thrive unless you’re in healthy relationships. This applies to all levels of our work as humans and educators-relationships with our peers, relationships with and between our students, and relationships with our students' families. Building community is a key element of building resiliency. It is often easier to focus on community and connections at the start of the year. An intentional effort and special focus is required to continue cultivating community and connections throughout the year.

We encourage you to explore, view, use, save and/or share the resources below to intentionally work to build community in the month of September and beyond!

Strategies for Community & Connection

The Importance of Building Community in the ClassroomSchools and classrooms are where children spend a significant amount of time each week, and teachers have an opportunity to help their students make the most of that time together by developing a classroom community each day.

Every kid needs a championRita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don't like.'" A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.

Am I Building a Relationship With Every Student?One small thing that has always helped me build bridges as a teacher is identifying a student each year who has been hard for me to reach.

Relationships Matter More Than RulesCommunity building in the classroom starts on day one. Try these strategies to begin forging strong relationships.

43 Amazing Things Teacher Friends Do for One AnotherThey're how you survive TBH.

Building Classroom Community Through Daily DedicationsWhen students share stories about those who have inspired and impacted them, the whole classroom feels more connected.

Find Your Marigold: The One Essential Rule for New TeachersAdvice is available everywhere you look, and some of it is very good. But a lot of those tips won’t work if you fail to follow this one essential rule.

Strategies to Cultivate Empathy

4 Proven Strategies for Teaching EmpathyHelp your students understand the perspectives of other people with these tried-and-tested methods.

The Link Between Meditation And Empathy

Empatico | Connect Your Classroom to the WorldEmpatico is a free tool connecting classrooms around the world through video exchanges and activities that spark empathy. Sign up for free today!

The Power of EmpathyEmpathy for others doesn’t necessarily lead them to change their behavior, but it does help you better navigate difficult situations.

4 ways to cultivate empathy in the classroomIn our fast-paced, digital world, it can often feel like our students are more disconnected from one another than ever before. Four TED-Ed Innovative Educators share tips for how we can combat that…

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