RECOMMENDATIONS

Educational Psychology & the

 Slowly introduce the concept of meetings
Classroom Meeting into your classroom so that both you and
The concept of classroom meetings draws your students have time to adjust and fully CLASSROOM
on social constructivism. By participating in understand the purpose of the meetings.
classroom meetings, students are being  Have a topic box where students can place
engaged in the classroom community and
MEETINGS FOR
their ideas of relevant meeting topics at
thus learning through the situation. Students
any point during the week.
are given an active role in classroom
 Be prepared for students’ possible
DUMMIES!*
procedures and decision-making while the
teacher’s role is to merely facilitate the reactions towards issues brought up in
meeting and to scaffold the social, meetings. By: Amy, Caroline and Erin
emotional, moral and intellectual learning  Remember to always listen (and
taking place. By using classroom meetings, encourage all students to listen) to
teachers are able to create learning everyone and take all ideas seriously, even
experiences in which students can learn if you are certain the idea would not work
from each other, but also learn individually. out.
 Be aware that you may need to alter the
format of the meeting if it does not Suggestions on how to
initially work out.
****
personalize classroom
Resources to help you in your search for more
information on classroom meetings! meetings to better fit the
 General overview:
http://www.disciplinewithoutstress.com/pdfs/Classroom_Me
needs of your classroom.
etings_Chapter.pdf

 Agendas: http://www.sd83.bc.ca/classmtg/samples.html

 Why? http://www.teachervision.fen.com/classroom-
management/interpersonal-skills/4864.html
 Beyond discipline: From compliance to community, by Alfie
Kohn.
 On classroom meetings as aiding students’ development:
http://www.stenhouse.com/pdfs/8134ch01.pdf
*This is not a how-to guide. There are many methods of
classroom management available and teachers must use
their discretion and do further research to discover
which combinations of classroom management
techniques work best in their classroom.

Based on Case 16-3

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 Does this teacher’s situation
sound familiar to you?
You’ve Come to the Right Place!
A classroom meeting can help address
these problems. Keep reading to learn
Classroom meetings have many benefits.
Miles’ Story
 Miles was hesitant to attend the
Professional Day workshop put on at his
school.
 Miles believes it is important for his
students to like him.
 Upon learning about classroom meetings,
Miles did not do any further research
about the technique before enacting one
in his classroom.
 Miles’ students are enthusiastic about
having a say in they way their class is
run.
 Miles gives up easily if a new classroom
management technique does not appear
to work after one day of trying it.
Miles needs to figure out what to do to follow
through with his newly introduced idea of
classroom meetings.
He wonders how he can personalize the concept
of classroom meetings to work for him and his
students.
FORMAT OF A MEETING
Classroom meetings can take many
more! different forms. The type of classroom
meeting depends on the purpose; they can
 Create a sense of community and democracy be done weekly as a method of keeping
within the classroom everyone in-the-know on what’s going on
 Foster the growth of self-esteem and in the class, and they can also be used
interpersonal skills when needed to address issues that arise.
 Teach problem-solving skills However, no matter what the purpose for
 Lead to a smoother classroom environment (if
using this forum in your classroom, it is
students have determined the rules and
essential to be organized and have an
consequences, they are more likely to follow
them) agenda.
 Allows teacher and student to address issues
without singling anybody out Typical Classroom Meeting Agenda:
1. Call the meeting to order.
2. Encouragement circle
3. Old business
4. New business
5. Close meeting
Agenda for Classroom Meeting
Addressing an Issue:
1. Identify the problem
2. Brainstorm possible
solutions
3. Discuss solutions
4. chair
Have a student Choose a solution
the meeting and
appoint a secretary.
Your job is to facilitate!