One thing that really stood out to me this semester is just how important it is to build a strong classroom community… (yes even as a university student close to finishing my degree).

During my internship, I had a group of students who seemed really divided. I remember giving them a little speech about how much time we spend at school and how we might as well treat our classroom like a second home and our classmates like family. That message really stuck with them…and with me. I realized that when you speak honestly and from the heart, students (of all ages) tend to respond better.

Funny enough, that same lesson came full circle in this course. At the beginning, I honestly felt like it was a bit “silly” or maybe even a “waste of time” to engage with peers online…(especially since there was a good chance I might never meet them in person).  But once I started commenting on posts, helping out, and receiving support in return, I really began to feel a sense of community. And that feeling motivated me in ways I didn’t expect. *Nudge Nudge* Teaching (as I am sure you are aware of) is a very collaborative profession, we have to build communities everywhere we go!!

I’ll be sharing a link to a document where you can see some of the comments and contributions I made throughout the course. I always tried to make them meaningful, engaging, and personal (because those were the kinds of comments that meant the most to me during this journey).

So, I guess what I’m really trying to say is this, building community is essential, no matter your age, space, or stage in life. And learning how to do that now, as a student, will absolutely shape the kind of classroom culture I hope to create for my future students.

Contributions