Establishing Connections in a New Classroom Community @edutopia

Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

This low-stakes get-to-know-you game builds community, confidence, and curiosity—key ingredients for a positive classroom culture.

At the beginning of the school year, building a sense of classroom community and belonging is one of the most important things a teacher can do to set the stage for positive learning experiences. At The Co-op School in Brooklyn, New York, a game called Circle of Sameness is an easygoing, low-stakes way to help students discover what they have in common with their peers and begin to form connections.

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