Inspiring example

Organizing Class meeting is an excellent means of creating a democratic classroom environment. Arranging a face-to-face circle for the meeting emphasizes interactive discussion and problem solving. Class meetings should be scheduled weekly, but allow a meeting to be called at any time by a community member.

Goals

In class meetings, students discuss issues within the group that impact the social cohesion. Class meetings are incredibly powerful tools for both social and academic learning.

It creates an open space where students can find solutions to problems within the group and experiment with problem solving skills.

The story relates and example of a  student who said, “I would like to change that some people are throwing rocks at breaks.”

In a role play, the group explores possible ways to address this problem and discuss which solution would be the best.

Reflective questions after reading the story

• How would these kinds of class meetings help with inclusion?
• What could youand your colleagues do together to include everybody in your learning activities?
• What are the possible challenges you face and how could you tackle them?

Links and materials

Source: Jennifer Katz, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia

Katz, J. & Brownlie, F. (2012). Teaching to Diversity: The Three-
Block Model of Universal Design for Learning.
https://www.threeblockmodel.com/