At this point in the school year, your students may be more comfortable with your routines and expectations, as well as with one another. This month is a great time to freshen them up and reinvigorate them with the equity practice of community agreements.

<div class="text">
   <p>
   The month of October is recognized as Bullying Prevention Month and World Mental Health 
   Day is observed on October 10th. At this point in the school year, your students may be 
   more comfortable with your routines and expectations, as well as with one another. 
   This month is a great time to 
   freshen them up and reinvigorate them with the equity practice of community agreements. 
  </p>
</br>
  <p>Countless research studies show that students are able to learn best in environments 
    where they feel safe, are free from bullying, and there is a foundation of trust and 
    respect between all individuals. These types of classroom environments allow students 
    to develop their full social and academic potential. A great way to create a sense 
    of community and belonging in the classroom and small groups is by creating community 
    agreements! A community agreement is a collaborative, social 
    contract that includes concrete ways to create and support the culture of a group.
  </p>
  </br>
<p> Below are some suggestions and resources you can use to create community agreements:</p>

  <ul>
    <li><h5 style="margin: 25px 0 5px;"><a href="https://www.nationalequityproject.org/tools/developing-community-agreements" target="_blank">Developing Community Agreements</a></h5>
      Developing community agreements is 
      a powerful strategy for coalescing a group into a team. The process of constructing 
      agreements is often more important than the product. Agreements come from a 
      consensus-driven process to identify what every person in the group needs 
      from each other and commits to each other to feel safe, supported, open and trusting. 
      This resource makes an 
      important note of the difference between rules, norms, and agreements!<sup>1</sup> 
  </li>
  <li><h5 style="margin: 25px 0 5px;"><a href="https://www.mindfulschools.org/inspiration/creating-a-safe-container-student-community-agreements/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1ICZBhAzEiwAFfvFhO6L4RxF3TE43d1CNlVxM4iY7yaFrIYQLNhhAPWtLLOK9yKAzn7s9RoCAhwQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Prompts to Help Students Create Community Agreements</a></h5> 
    Community agreements are different than rules because students participate in creating 
    them and are affirmative rather than telling students what not to do. This supports 
    buy-in, lets students know what each of them can do to support the class, 
    and helps students feel seen and heard.<sup>2</sup> 
  </li>
  <li><h5 style="margin: 25px 0 5px;"><a href="https://partnersinhealing.counselinginschools.org/activities/community-agreement/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1ICZBhAzEiwAFfvFhPI3v-yAzMuFg5Ax18oltCEqAUTKoOMHcAKIxAqRRlywQZWMh1PzUxoC0qwQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Sample Community Agreements</a></h5> 
  This resource has excellent examples for any classroom or small group, and provides important considerations for establishing your agreements. Some highlights include:
    <ul>
      <li> Throw Sunshine, Not Shade - We don’t “call people out” for mistakes, we “call people in” by asking for clarity and disagreeing civilly.
</li>
      <li>We Are Different Folx - People have different tastes, preferences, experiences & struggles; 
we are free to be ourselves and encourage others to do the same.</li>
      <li> Self Care - We take care of each other by taking care of ourselves.<sup>3</sup></li> 
  </ul>
  </li>

  </ul>
  </br>
  <p> The investment of time spent creating these small group and classroom agreements 
    will pay off exponentially. The relationships that students will be able to build 
    with their teachers and classmates will impact learning and their sense of belonging, 
    ultimately leading to realization of their social and academic potential!
  </p>
  <h4>Resources:</h4>
  <ol>
    <li> “Back to School: Community Agreement.” Counseling In Schools, 
      <a href="https://partnersinhealing.counselinginschools.org/activities/community-agreement/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1ICZBhAzEiwAFfvFhPI3v-yAzMuFg5Ax18oltCEqAUTKoOMHcAKIxAqRRlywQZWMh1PzUxoC0qwQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">
      https://partnersinhealing.counselinginschools.org/activities/community-agreement/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1ICZBhAzEiwAFfvFhPI3v-yAzMuFg5Ax18oltCEqAUTKoOMHcAKIxAqRRlywQZWMh1PzUxoC0qwQAvD_BwE
      </a>. September 13, 2022.
   </li>
    
    <li> “Developing Community Agreements.” National Equity Project, 
      <a href="https://www.nationalequityproject.org/tools/developing-community-agreements" target="_blank">https://www.nationalequityproject.org/tools/developing-community-agreements</a>. September 13, 2022.
   </li>

  <li> “Creating a Safe Container for Students with Community Agreements.” Mindful Schools, 
    <a href="https://www.mindfulschools.org/inspiration/creating-a-safe-container-student-community-agreements/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1ICZBhAzEiwAFfvFhO6L4RxF3TE43d1CNlVxM4iY7yaFrIYQLNhhAPWtLLOK9yKAzn7s9RoCAhwQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">https://www.mindfulschools.org/inspiration/creating-a-safe-container-student-community-agreements/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1ICZBhAzEiwAFfvFhO6L4RxF3TE43d1CNlVxM4iY7yaFrIYQLNhhAPWtLLOK9yKAzn7s9RoCAhwQAvD_BwE</a>. 
    September 13, 2022.
  </li>
  </ol>
  </div>

Academic Equity Practices - Implementing Community Agreements in the Classroom & Small Groups