Building a Culture

How to we build a classroom culture?  And how important is it?

2017 Champions League

Over time, I have come to believe that any teacher can avoid numerous daily classroom issues, as well as create fertile ground for inspiration, if we can successfully create an environment in our classrooms that rewards creativity and curiosity, while empowering students to take on leadership roles.

Culture starts with our ability to establish social norms and values.  Once we have made clear to our students what will be valued and rewarded, and what will not be tolerated - we can begin the long process of "selling the vision" to our students.  If nothing else, we must be great salespeople.  We must never forget that our ability to create buy-in from our students will create the culture to which we aspire.

In my experience, the experts in this field (of building a culture) are summer camps.  Daily, summer camp staffs figure out creative ways to engage kids, and they are adept at creating a culture that rewards community, friendship, and fun.  They use games, music, and entertainment.  They make camp t-shirts, and have meals together.  So, I am a firm believer in this model - and have not only drawn inspiration from it, but worked diligently to translate it into my classroom (though not always successfully).

I have tried to institute this in numerous ways, below are examples:


Be Yourself/Authenticy:
The first step in building a classroom culture is to make sure that I am being true to myself.  As the leader, and the person who sets the core values in the room - it is most crucial that my students know me, and understand that I do not mind making mistakes, being ridiculous, or laughing at myself.  In addition, I incorporate my personal;l interests into my class, modeling my passions for the students.  My hope is that each student will feel free to be him/herself - and will bring his/her individuality and gifts to our community each day.


Praise Academic Prowess/High Standards:
Concerning academic rigor and accomplishment, I use "The Champions League" and public distribution of "high score candy."  Named for the elite European Soccer tournament that only includes the best teams form each European nation, I created it to reward students who score an A on all five of the AP World History Thematic (Unit) Exams.  The Champions League is quite an accomplishment.  To that end, We make a HUGE deal out of it - posting the list of students in public, and hosting a ceremony at the conclusion of the class (which we just did this past Friday) to hand out certificates and prizes.  We play awards show music, and just generally celebrate these kids and their accomplishments.

Use the Senses:
Culture needs to be all encompassing, and it must be a sensory experience.  To that end, I use classroom murals, and a constant barrage of music, whenever possible.  I use my guitar to teach, and we sometimes learn class dances, depending on the lesson. Typically, we start class with a song on the stereo - as it sets the tone.  We also identify one song per year to act as the "quiz song."  (This means that whenever this song is played, we will have a quiz at its conclusion).  This year's Quiz Song?  Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas ( For the record, Quiz songs by year: 2016 - You Make My Dreams Come True, Hall & Oates, 2015 - Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Suede, 2014 - Low Rider, War, 2013 - Austin Powers Theme, etc.)

Class Historians/Value the Past:
To ensure cultural memory, we choose class historians.  These students (selected by their classmates) are in charge of documenting any and all moment throughout our class that are significant.  Other students will often instruct these historians to write down certain things that are particularly funny, or meaningful,  in our time together.

Make a Shirt/Tell Your Story:
At the end of my AP World History class, we make the class t-shirt.  The cumulative work of the class historians is documented on the back of the class t-shirt, acting as a historical document of our time together.  This helps instill a sense of pride in what we have created.  It also helps remind us of our strengths, and our community, for years to come.

Teamwork, Play Games Together:
In my class, we play games...a lot.  The most notable one is the Grahammys (G.G.R.ammys), a days long review game that tests one's academic, trivial, physical, and performance abilities.  The students compete on teams, and choose names.  It scores build over the semester - but more importantly, it builds friendships, rivalries, and community.  We also go outside to play games like World Cup, Capture the Flag, or egg toss, depending on the lesson.

NBHS Students at Ellis Island, NYC

Class Field Trips:
At the conclusion of each year, we take our AP History classes on a massive field trip to a place as far from our own culture as possible.  Essentially, it is a challenge project to help our students see new places, and empower each of them to gain confidence.  We strongly encourage all of our students to go, and it helps build an environment of tolerance, and leadership.  We have traveled to Chicago, Philadelphia, DC, New Orleans, Atlanta, Montgomery, Baltimore, and New York City.

Eat Together:
Food brings people together.  So, whenever is is called for, we eat together.  From the cake of Africa, to the cultural guidebook project - we try to incorporate food into our days.

And this stuff ( above) will not always work.  Sometimes none of it will work.  And so we have to be willing to change, and find new ways to build a culture....which remains the most important tenet in building a culture.