Setting Up Your Classroom

The components outlined in this chapter are invaluable components of the SEL Classroom. Some of these will need their own bulletin board or space in the classroom and others may simply need an index card in the POP Chart, so they are accessible to teachers or students at any time during instruction. Create the Agreements after the directions of the activity have been introduced, but prior to when the activity itself begins. This chapter presents sample Agreements to build consensus among the students. The Agreements are implemented to create an emotionally and physically safe place for communication and to guarantee equity of voice. The basic premise of using a Talking Stick as a communication tool is that the person who is holding the stick gets to speak. To guarantee that this activity is an emotionally safe experience for students, the teachers must create Agreements for use.