New teachers often hear “build relationships,” but translating that into daily practice can feel fuzzy—especially with large classes, tight time, and high variability in student needs. This hands on session operationalizes community building through the ABCs: A—Activities, B—Behaviors, and C—(Post Activity) Conversation. Participants will experience and then deconstruct fast, low prep routines that establish safety and belonging; learn how to notice and name pivotal student behaviors during activities (what was said, done, whispered, implied); and guide reflective dialogue that moves groups through forming → storming → norming → performing. Everyone leaves with a smartphone app that contains over 200 activities participants can use in their classrooms. Participants will experience the process of becoming a community and learn the skills to do the same in their worlds—helping early career teachers build classrooms where students know they belong and can therefore learn.
In this session, you will:
Experience the process of community development through participation in a few 5–10-minute activities that scale to large classes while signaling safety, dignity, and inclusion.
Learn to observe and code key Behaviors during activities (language, tone, nonverbals, informal leadership, help seeking/offer patterns) and link them to group development stages.
Facilitate a concise Post Activity Conversation (“What? So what? Now what?”) that reinforces norms and builds agency.
