One of the benefits of being in a physical classroom is being able to create a sense of community among your students. They can see your face; they can have impromptu conversations with their peers. They know one another and can respond to each other in ways that cannot be done over a computer or phone. How can you and your students form this group identity even in a remote environment?

Discover what Wisconsin Educators, Iris Patterson and Jessica Fleischmann have to share about this topic in a short video and companion essay in the post on the aka Teacher blog.

Hosted by PBS Wisconsin Education, and created with and for Wisconsin educators, the aka Teacher blog offers a space for exploring the many hats educators today wear, and the topics that aren't covered in teacher preparation programs. Blog posts include videos featuring educators around the state, and resources you can share with learners and use to continue your own learning.

This project report describes how a community partner worked to collaborate with a school and the benefits and reasons for doing so.

This activity aims to help your class get the school year off to a good start. Students share their names and a high point of their summer; learn a little about their similarities and differences; and begin considering what kind of community they want to create in their classroom.

Make the Lead4Change Student Leadership Program the best new idea for your school this year!  Leadership + Service = Measurable Change.  FREE lessons and amazing outcomes. Students lead, lives are changed.  Get started today with ready-to-use lessons, resources and more at Lead4Change.orgTry Lesson One now!  To access the rest, register at www.lead4change.org/join.    In the meantime, check out the 1-minute video  What is Lead4Change?