• Instead of creating a bulletin board, a class journal of “exciting news” could be used, where students can write in whenever they have exciting or new news to share. The students have access to the journal to write in or to read.

Early in their education children form their own perceptions of themselves as individuals, learners, and classmates. They develop a perspective of values and success for themselves and others. It is beneficial to allow students an opportunity to socially share experiences of value to them and their successes, supporting a chance to receive positive feedback on them, thus supporting positive self-perception (Määttä, et al., 2016). This opportunity is also aimed at allowing students to find new common ground with other peers, therefore encouraging the development of peer relationships based on shared interest (Wentzel, 2003).

Määttä, E., Mykkänen, A., & Järvelä, S. (2016). Elementary Schoolchildren’s Self-and Social Perceptions of Success. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 30(2), 170-184.

Wentzel, K. R. (2003). Motivating students to behave in socially competent ways. Theory Into Practice, 42(4), 319-326.

Catholic social teaching calls us to be responsive and fully present, in the presence of others, to feel a sense of belonging, to notice, to support, to listen and to understand.

(1i) A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith Community who integrates faith with life.

Belonging and contributing: to understand relationships and community, and of the ways in which people contribute to the world around them