The Missouri Reader Vol. 36, Issue 1 | Page 68

struggling readers succeed because they believe
they can.

Creating a compassionate classroom
community
Classrooms are social settings that are created
by both students and teachers. The types of
environments established strongly influences the
learning that takes place within them (Angelillo,
2008). Tompkins (2010) explains the difference
between compassionate classroom communities
and traditional classrooms with the analogy of
owning versus renting a home. Tompkins
reasons, ―In a classroom community, students and
the teacher are joint ‗owners‘ of the classroom.
Students assume responsibility for their own
behavior and learning, work collaboratively with
classmates, complete assignments, and care for
the classroom. In traditional classrooms, in
contrast, the classroom belongs to the teacher,
and students are ‗renters‘ for the school year‖
(2010). Although the ultimate responsibility of
the classroom remains with the teacher, students
sometimes support the teacher‘s role as guide,
instructor, monitor, coach, and mentor.
Compassionate classrooms are highly conductive
to student learning and are easily created through
the following procedures:
Set the tone for the coming year by carefully
preparing into the first day. The initial
impression on the students is that the
teacher puts extra effort to careful
preparation because school is important.
Students understand that this teacher will
always expect their best efforts.
Ensure that each student knows that he/she
is welcome, valued, and special.
Provide a variety of multifaceted enjoyable
literacy experiences into all subjects you
teach. Keep daily literacy activities
interesting so that students remain engaged
and motivated and understand that reading
and writing are keys to learning and to
success.

Establish and follow a set of daily routines.
The message sent to students is that school is
organized and predictable.
Establish, implement and maintain
classroom rules that create a positive
discipline system that is based on mutual
respect, responsibility, and dignity.
Students understand that they will be safe
and responsible for their actions.
Design a class motto, flag, or mascot.
Create a classroom friendship puzzle with
each student‘s name or decorate the
classroom with a silhouette of each student‘s
image on black construction paper.
Students gain a sense of comfort and
belonging.
Share responsibility for decision making
with students by encouraging them to
express their opinions about topics to study,
choosing seats, writing classroom rules, ect.
Compassionate classroom communities are
environments that are predictable, comfortable
and safe. Students and the teachers show respect
for each other, and students learn how to work
cooperatively with peers. Compassionate
classroom communities are settings where
students enjoy social interaction and feel
connected to their classmates and teacher.
Students are more likely to assume responsibility
for their learning and behavior in classrooms that
nurture them as individuals.
The literacy environment is only as healthy as the
classroom environment in which it exists. As
educators, the soundness or our literacy practices
comes from the time we take to learn about the
lives of all the children in our classroom. Many
students are in families that face situations such as
divorce, mental or physical illness, substance
abuse, and/or inadequate financial resources.
Compassionate classroom communities provide a
connection between students and teachers that
can override many obstacles to learning, thereby
increasing the likelihood of successful literacy
interventions.

© The Missouri Reader, 36 (1) p.68