Best Way to Build Classroom Community...Class Houses

As each year passes, I'm hearing more of these types of complaints from teachers...

"These kids are just getting meaner."

"They just leave each other out."

"They are relentless. The teasing and even bullying is getting more frequent."

"They can't work together."

"They give up at the first sign of struggle."

Maybe you've caught yourself thinking this too. What is there to do about it?

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I have found that one way to create a KINDER classroom is to intentionally build a classroom community. Build a classroom community where students

-Work together

-Cheer each other on

-Communicate kindly even in the face of challenges

-Can work with any student in class

-Want to help each other

-Can persevere and demonstrate grit in a challenge

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So how do you actually build this type of community? You give your students dedicated time to practice these skills that you explicitly teach them.

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Getting Started with Class Houses

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First thing you will want to do is decide how many houses you will want in your classroom. I typically had 6 students per house so depending on your class size you may have 4 to 5 class houses. Once you have that decided you will then choose how to split your students into those houses. I offer multiple ways of doing this. Students could be placed randomly or you could use the Student Questionnaire (pictured below) to find out more about your students and place them by personalities, or you set up the groups.

In my teacher guide, you will find some fun options to randomly place your students. A favorite way of mine is using a jumbo spinner. The students take turns coming and spinning the wheel to determine which house they will be placed in. Once a house is filled then a student will spin until they land on an available house.

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Another fun option is using the Student Questionnaire. This also doubles as a way to get to know your students at a deeper level. The students answer the questions and I have made a key on how to place students by their answers. The questions require students to think deeply about themselves and their values.

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The last option is you predetermine the groups. To make this a little more interactive and engaging you could use a “sorting hat” and place it on each student’s head (or close to it) and then announce loudly which house they are assigned to. After the announcement, then students cheer for each other as they head to their designated seat. The cheering is something that should be discussed prior to this event. A big part of Class Houses is cheering for each other  NO MATTER WHAT.

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Students feel a sense of belonging when they belong to a group. Students are able to achieve more when they feel they belong. This also provides the opportunity for students to work on social emotional skills such as cooperation, teamwork, problem solving, empathy and conflict resolution. Students are not going to work together right off the bat. You may even run into some conflict on the first day as they work on their House Motto (example below), but a desire is that they work on and practice skills that will allow them to work through problems, conflicts, and misunderstandings.

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Teach the Skills Explicitly

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Now you might be wondering this all sounds great but you know your class and you have seen how they work in groups and…yikes! You have to TEACH THE SKILLS EXPLICITLY. Get out the anchor chart paper and markers and start by coming up with guidelines for what it looks like to work in groups. You may choose to talk and teach about this during morning meetings or another daily time where you discuss social emotional learning skills. If you haven’t found a time to integrate that type of teaching then you REALLY should!

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Some things you may want to discuss with your class is how to work through arguments and conflicts, everyone’s opinions matter, ALL should be participating, and ALL should feel welcome. This CAN BE accomplished with teaching skills such as “I” statements, identifying emotions, communicating those emotions, and then practicing empathy. These can be taught and worked on during small pieces of your day or in a 15-30 minute chunk.

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Give Dedicated Time to Practice in Class Houses

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Once you’ve laid the groundwork then you are ready to provide times for your students to put those skills to practice! I always used Fridays as my days for Class House challenges. I would use STEM challenges to provide opportune time for my students to work on teamwork, communication, and collaboration. I used them so frequently I created my own STEM challenges. You can find the bundle here or fall themed challenges here.

When Fridays became our designated challenge day then it was something that my students AND I looked forward to. It was a great way to end the week. The challenges were not something I would have to take home and grade over the weekend. I only had to find or create the challenge and that made planning for my week simple and easy.

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The Ultimate Way to Cultivate Classroom Community - Class Houses

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In conclusion, implementing Class Houses in your classroom is a fantastic way to foster a sense of belonging and community among your students. By dividing them into different houses, whether through random selection, the insightful Student Questionnaire, or the interactive "sorting hat" method, you're setting the stage for a more engaging and cooperative learning environment.

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This approach not only encourages social and emotional skill development but also promotes teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Remember, the key to success is to teach these skills explicitly, providing your students with the necessary tools to thrive within their Class Houses. Dedicate time for practice, such as Friday challenges, which not only enhances their skills but also adds an element of excitement and fun to the classroom. So, don't hesitate to embark on this journey of building Class Houses, as it promises to be a rewarding experience for both you and your students.

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