As you can see to the left, is Ozzy and Sam! Ozzy is a reversible octopus I introduced during my student teaching placement in Palisades. I implemented a routine where I flipped Ozzy to the other side where he is "unhappy", and the students modify their behavior to make him "happy" again. This can be the students are talking, not on task, or I need them to refocus their attention back to the whole group setting. I found this incredibly effective, and that students became in invested in the routine quickly.

Shortly after Ozzy's introduction, the students persuaded me that he needed a "friend". We adopted Sam (named for Alabama's Sand Mountain Sam) and they became mascots for our class! The students often competed for the reward of having Sam and Ozzy stay at their desk for the period, and loved activities where Sam and Ozzy were the main characters. I would post their "adventures" on my teaching Instagram so the students could see what they were doing on the weekend or how they were "helping" me prep for lessons. 

When initally introducing Ozzy to the class, I was unsure of how some of the students would react to his presence. Having a stuffed animal become a regular routine in the classroom in a 7th grade classroom could feel "uncool" or too childish for the students. However, the students took a strong liking to Ozzy and responded incredibly well. This really helped build a strong community between myself and the students. It created a positive atmosphere where the students were excited to see Ozzy and Sam, and also how they would be involved in the lesson that day. This is an excellent example of how I develop a strong learning community and relationships with my students.