TRUSD New Teacher and Mentor Support

Building Community

We are all social beings. The power of connection is essential to our ability to face tough situations and remain resilient. We have more than just “feelings” to support this, we have research. You cannot thrive unless you’re in healthy relationships (Sarason, Sarason, Hacker, and Basham, 1995). This applies to all levels-relationships with our peers, relationships with and between our students, and relationships with our students' families. The research is clear: Teachers don’t leave strong communities and children thrive in strong communities. Building community is a key element of building resiliency. And this work can’t just be a part of our back-to-school work, it MUST be a part of our EVERYDAY work.

Explore the resources on this page as you continue to build community this month.

Explore Chapter 4 of Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators for more detailed support for this month's habit of building community. Consider including some of these as the topic of conversation during your weekly mentor/mentee meeting.

Read pages 95-120 for more detailed information on topics such as the power community-building has on your resilience and the resilience of your students, the roles that communication, conflict, and cultural competence play in building healthy communities, and how to handle fear if it appears as a roadblock to community-building.

What's the Big Deal About Community Anyway?

The fact that you're taking time to build community is an important first step. How you're building community is even more important. Explore these resources to help you make intentional decisions as you work to create healthy relationships within the classroom.

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.

Building Community to Take You That Extra Mile - OnwardI first experienced the power of community in cultivating my resilience 20 years ago when I was training for my first marathon. I was...

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

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.

Don't Forget Your Teacher Community!

Nobody understands the experiences of a teacher like another teacher. It is vital that while you work to build a strong classroom community, you find ways to build a strong teacher community as well. Hint: Start with your marigolds!

50 Amazing Things Teacher Friends Do for One Another - WeAreTeachersMany of us can say that we wouldn't survive our jobs without supportive coworkers by our sides. Here are some of the things that teacher friends do for you.

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.

Who Do You Choose to Surround Yourself With? - OnwardWho are the leaves, branches and roots in your life and to who are you a leaf, branch, or root?

The Marigold Force | Minneapolis | Education and GrowthThe Marigold Force brings Changemakers together who strive to revolutionize education yet no longer want to do it alone.

Everything We Do Can Create or Destroy Community

From understanding the power of body language to considerations around building our cultural competency, so many factors can help or hinder our ability to build strong communities if we don't take notice.

Building-A-Healthy-Community.pdf

The Role of Body Language in Building Community - OnwardDid you know that according to experts, 65% of communication is delivered and received nonverbally – in our posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye...

The Power of Our Body Language - OnwardOne of the strategies of building a healthy community is to learn from body language. Body language affects how others see us, but it...

Smile. - OnwardResearch from the facial feedback theory of emotion argues that your brain is always monitoring what us happening in your body and adjusting your...

Anand Giridharadas + Whitney Kimball Coe — The Call to Community in a Changed World | The On Being ProjectNo challenge before us is more important — and life-giving — than to begin to see and know our neighbors who have become strangers.