Creating a Sense of Community in the Classroom Using Children's Literature and Class Meetings

Presentation and discussion of children's picture books as well as classroom meetings were implemented on a twice-weekly basis in a fourth grade classroom in an attempt to improve each student's sense of community within the classroom. A survey ("Measuring Classroom Community") which was administered to the teacher and to each student as well as interviews with the teacher and a group discussion/debriefing session with the students were used to determine the effectiveness of the six week series of interventions. Based on observations, student feedback, and teacher input, both of these interventions, used in conjunction with one another, seemed to be somewhat effective in helping to increase the overall sense of community within the classroom. (Contains 13 references. Appendixes contain teacher and student survey instruments; student debriefing-questions; a description of book themes, discussions, and challenges; sample classroom meeting topics; and pre- and post-survey data on 5 questions.) (Author/RS) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document