If you had been looking for me on the first day of school, you would have found me in our bilingual second-grade classroom wearing only one shoe.
The classroom teacher had invited me in to play Shoe Scramble, and although it is supposed to be a silent game, we couldn’t contain our giggles. Down the hall, the sixth graders were using yarn and rubber bands—but not their hands—to stack plastic cups. And just outside on the playground, the fifth graders were interviewing one another under the trees.
There is a widely held belief in our school district that relationships matter. It is our mantra. Relationships matter so much, in fact, that teachers are actually discouraged from beginning any academic teaching for the first three days of school. The district prefers teachers to spend the first three days, or 72 hours, forming relationships with and between students. We call these first three days “Significant 72.” No assessments, no assignments, no curriculum. Significant 72 is all about getting to know one another. If you walk down our hallways during Significant 72, you will see plenty of reading aloud, cooperative structures, and games. You will hear plenty of laughing. It is a pretty great 72 hours.
Our district knows that strong, caring relationships are the foundation for academic success. Good relationships increase students’ motivation to learn and decrease behavior problems. We carry this mission beyond the first three days, of course, and continue using team-building activities all year long. Relationships matter, which is important to remember when the going gets tough during the school year.
In the past when classroom disruptions have been on the rise, I have seen teachers typically revert to reviewing rules and expectations or considering consequences and punishment. After all, keeping 20 or more students engaged in learning is no small feat. My district’s Significant 72 policy is a reminder that there is an alternative to rules and consequences: Focus on restoring and rebuilding relationships within the classroom. This is especially important after a long break.
Here are four types of team-building activities you can use to strengthen the relationships in your classroom as needed throughout the school year:
-
Getting-to-Know-You Activities
One way to boost morale and build a team culture in your classroom is to make sure students know one another. Bring students’ hobbies, interests, and preferences to the forefront of your classroom rather than academics. Peer interviews and survey games such as Four Corners are quick ways for students to learn something new about one another.
-
Silly Games
Teachers have an arsenal of classroom games in their toolboxes. Haven’t we all played some version of Silent Ball or Heads Up, Seven Up? Don’t be afraid to take a silly-game break. Laughter is good for the soul and can bond a group of people together in an instant. Shoe Scramble is one of our favorites. Everyone takes off a shoe and puts it in a pile in the middle of the room. Everyone stands in a circle around the shoe pile, holding hands. The aim of the game is to pick up a shoe with your foot, locate the owner, and pass it to them! The book Silly Sports & Goofy Games by Kagan Publishing is chock-full of ideas for the classroom.
-
Challenges
Team challenges are another great way to build relationships among students. Put your students in teams and challenge them: Who can build the highest card tower? Who can play the most games of Tic Tac Toe in two minutes? Who can come up with the best team cheer in three minutes?
-
Stories (Read Alouds)
Of course, sharing a story together is always a tried-and-true bonding moment. Ditch the content and curriculum for 10 minutes, pull out a favorite book, and fill the room with a read aloud. Even older kids love a good picture book. Some of my recent favorites that encourage laughter and smiles are After the Fall by Dan Santat, Claymates by Dev Petty, and Penguin Problems by Jory John.
Relationships matter. Forget reviewing the rules and expectations right away. Instead, focus on what really matters: each other.
