A strong learning community sets the ambience for life-giving and uplifting experiences that support inquiry, SEL and learner agency. Characteristics of effective learning communities are (1) sense of belonging, (2) interdependence or reliance among the members, (3) trust among members, and (4) faith or trust in the shared purpose of the community (Lenning and Ebbers 1999). Here are a variety of resources to help you create an an inspiring community of learners.

First a call to action: Let's change the language from "classroom management" to "classroom community". We are not "managing" but  together with students we are creating a community. Here are several ideas and resources to assist you in creating an engaging and inquiring classroom community. Many of resources on this topic are found in these sections: Creating Classroom Community Articles Pt1 and Creating Classroom Community Articles Pt2

As educators, whether in the role of a teacher or administrator, we all have a responsibility as leaders to prepare students for a successful and productive life beyond graduation. To be an effective leader, I believe it is essential to have a clear vision of the “purpose of school” in the 21st century. This vision will serve as your moral compass as you develop and redevelop the crucial leadership skills required to prepare students for a successful and productive life beyond graduation. To help you achieve this vision, here are some valuable leadership resources that are insightful, strategic, and inspirational.

➡  NEW: Check out these curated leadership videos that offer valuable insights, strategies, and inspiration to assist you in implementing your leadership skills effectively. One video that I highly recommend is titled “Permission to Inquire: Taking Ownership of Your Curriculum” featuring Kathy Murdoch and expertly hosted by Cindy Blackburn from Toddle. Also, you may be interested in reading Kath’s latest blog: Experiencing The Cycle of Inquiry where she reflects on the concept of an Inquiry cycle.

➡  To help you better define your vision of the “purpose of school” listen to/watch the Reimagining Education podcasts and videos

➡  Explore the Inspiring Inquiry Leadership page which contains a variety of useful leadership ideas, articles and resources.

For a successful beginning to the school year, Toddle provides you a straightforward three-step blueprint designed to assist you in reflecting and resetting with purpose. This one-hour guided reflection session will enable you to ponder on the previous year, delve into your key takeaways, and establish actionable goals for the new school year. 

This article from Edutopia points out that elementary students may stay more engaged in school if they feel that their voice matters in their learning experiences. The article explains how learner agency includes identity, belonging, mastery, and efficacy.

In this provocative presentation by Keven Bartlett, founder of the Common Ground Collaborative (CGC) and one of the forefathers of the IB PYP, he discusses the purpose of school as developed by the CGC. There is lots of food for thought about the WHY, the WHAT and the HOW of teaching and learning. The CGC would be a good alternative to the PYP and worth exploring. 

If you are looking for ways to integrate SEL into your curriculum, then this Spotlight from Education Week is for you. The article will help you understand what kinds of teaching and curriculum can be classified as social-emotional learning; consider the challenges of weaving SEL into academics and strategies for overcoming them; examine expert advice on how much class time should be dedicated to SEL; learn how SEL can provide necessary support to English- learners; and more.

The physical space where students learn can greatly influence their sense of safety and, by extension, their confidence and engagement. In this video, Sarah Ortega, a 4th grade teacher at Harborside Elementary School in Chula Vista, California, leads a tour of her classroom. You’ll see how what’s up on the walls influences differentiation and learner agency.

Now that AI is increasingly being used in schools, it raises concerns about data privacy and ethical use. Rather than blocking AI, schools should guide students and staff in using it responsibly and ethically. Creating a responsible use policy for AI is a good first step. Find out how by reading this article by TechNotes.

Check out this visual guide by Bill Barnum that explores how AI can assist in student assignments. He says, using AI in student assignments isn't a simple yes or no. It's multiple spectrums with varying degrees of involvement based on the learning activity.

Creating a solid rubric that’s clear, aligns with the curriculum, and is well-structured can be daunting and, let’s be real, time consuming. Can this be avoided? Yes. Thank goodness! Now you can create a rubric with ChatGPT in less than a minute and free up precious time for other priorities. This blog from TCEA tells you how.