Classroom Culture
Building a positive classroom culture involves fostering an inclusive environment where students feel valued, respected, and empowered to express themselves and collaborate with their peers.
Philosophical Chairs Protocol
The Philosophical Chairs Protocol is a classroom debate structure that builds empathy, critical thinking, and respectful discourse. Students take positions on a debatable statement, present arguments, and may shift sides if persuaded by new reasoning. The protocol helps learners practice perspective-taking, evidence-based argumentation, and openness to change.
The Socratic Seminar
The Socratic Seminar is a discussion protocol where students engage in evidence-based dialogue with one another rather than the teacher. The deck explains how to prepare students, structure the seminar with inner and outer circles, and use it as either a formative or summative assessment. It connects the practice to Jewish learning traditions, framing it as covenant and conversation across generations.
The Socratic Seminar: Part II
The Socratic Seminar: Part II builds on Part I by moving from understanding the protocol to planning its use in specific disciplines. The deck guides teachers to decide how, when, and for what purposes to run seminars, and to align them with content, skills, and assessments. It also offers variations and examples, helping educators adapt the seminar for formative or summative use.
Teaching Students How to Apologize
This excellent article shares pragmatic ways to teach elementary school children to apologize, take responsibility and identify a way to make things right. These steps reflect Jewish concepts of T'shuva. This would be a great SEL activity prior to Rosh HaShana or during the Aseret Y'mai T'shuva
Discover moreThreshold Activity: TUMS
TUMS is an acronym encompassing a quick way to connect with each student as they cross the classroom threshold. Making the opportunity to individually greet each student and personally welcome them into the classroom, allows the teacher to build relationships and convey that each student is know, cared for and valued in the classroom community.
Strategies for Building Relationships
Intentional strategies for building strong, positive relationships in the classroom. (Click on the headings to be directed to the Responsive Classroom article.)
Interactive Modeling
Interactive Modeling is a step-by-step teaching approach that shows students how to perform social skills, routines, or academic procedures through observation and practice. It clarifies expectations, helps students understand what success looks like, and reduces confusion.
Logical Consequences
Logical consequences are respectful, nonpunitive responses to misbehavior that are directly related to students’ actions. They help students understand the impact of their choices and learn how to repair mistakes while preserving dignity.
Morning Meeting/Advisory
Morning Meeting is a daily gathering that builds classroom community through greetings, sharing, and group activities. It sets a positive tone for the day while supporting social-emotional and academic learning.
Academic Choice
Academic Choice is a structured approach that offers students meaningful options in what they learn or how they show their understanding, while maintaining clear academic goals. It increases motivation, engagement, and student ownership of learning.
Teacher Language
This resource highlights how intentional teacher language supports positive behavior and learning by reinforcing expectations and redirecting students respectfully. Clear, consistent language helps create a calm classroom climate and promotes social-emotional growth.