Tips for Strengthening Your Classroom Community at the Start of the Semester

The past two years have been full of various changes, not just to our day-to-day lives, but also to our mental states as we were challenged to deal with isolation, physical distancing, and mental health struggles. As we begin the return to “normal” next semester, we will be faced with addressing the effects that the pandemic has had on our students as they prepare join our classes and clinical experiences both online and in-person. 

In this session, participants will learn a few tips for how they can support students’ socioemotional wellbeing and increase classroom community when the semester begins in January. These tips are small, but impactful ways to manage classrooms and help students settle into the rhythms and routines of a new semester. 

Session Objectives: 

• Provide tips for supporting students and creating community at the start of the semester 
• List ways to involve students in classroom practices through collaboration and transparency 
• Describe the benefits of social presence in the classroom and online to support students