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=Community Building Mini-Unit= A safe learning environment, clear expectations, an inviting climate, teachers connecting with students, positive relationships, and a sense of community. These are critical prerequisites for learning. This mini unit helps set that tone in the school, right from the beginning of the year.

Purpose of Unit
The purpose of this short Community Unit is the following:
 * have teachers and students get to know each other, and build the foundations for positive student/teacher relationships & teachers' connecting with students.
 * teach existing rules & procedures, as well as build norms for working and learning together
 * give time to distribute laptops before getting into projects
 * find out more about how students think they learn well

Part 1 - Day 1: Getting To Know Each Other

 * Time Frame: 1 Project Block
 * Activity Information

Part 2 - Good Learning Experiences

 * Time Frame: 1 Project Block
 * Activity Information

Part 3a - Various Learning Environment Activities

 * Time Frame: 4-6 Project Blocks
 * Activity Information

Part 3b - Laptop Roll Out & Boot Camp

 * Time Frame: 1 Project Block
 * Activity Information

Part 4 - The Story of Me in 5 Pictures

 * Time Frame: 7-8 Project Blocks
 * Activity Information

Teacher Resources

 * [|Concrete ideas] on connecting with students (from the [|book] by Allen N. Mendler)
 * Student-Centered Behaviors for Teachers ([|PDF])
 * Project-based Learning [|Teaching Strategies & Technical Help]
 * Inviting Relationships and School Climate workshop resources
 * [|Connecting Character to Conduct: Helping Students Do the Right Things] (2000) by Rita Stein, Roberta Richin, Richard Banyon, Francine Banyon and Marc Stein (full text online book by ASCD)

This unit is inspired by educational programs, such as Soundings, that reach high levels of functioning through attending to relationships and school climate, via activities, such as [|these].