As a trained Restorative Practice teacher in our district, I strive to build a safe and caring community in my classroom.

One community building activity that students look forward to every week, is our Thursday morning Community Circle, where we sit in a circle and have an opportunity to connect and share about ourselves. This is done through, interactive relationship building games and by sharing with one another our thoughts, views, or experiences from our own perspective.

The main purpose is for students to feel comfortable, safe, and acknowledged, among their class peers. Community classroom circles also help build more meaningful relationships, as they grow in hearing one another more respectfully. They are a wonderful opportunity for enriching our classroom community with positive interactions that go beyond our classroom.