theefficacyofcommunitybuildinginthe.docVIP

THE EFFICACY OF COMMUNITY BUILDING IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM Amanda Marie Luther B.A., California State University, Sacramento, 2006 PROJECT Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of MASTERS OF ARTS in EDUCATION (Curriculum and Instruction) at CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO SPRING 2010  THE EFFICACY OF COMMUNITY BUILDING IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM A Project by Amanda Marie Luther Approved by: , Committee Chair Chia-Jung Chung, Ph.D. Date  Student: Amanda Marie Luther I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University format manual, and that this project is suitable for sheliving in the Library and credit is to be awarded for the Project. , Graduate Coordinator Rita Johnson, Ed.D. Date Department of Teacher Education  Abstract of THE EFFICACY OF COMMUNITY BUILDING IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM by Amanda Luther Statement of Problem This project was created in order to simplify and condense current community-building activities in hopes that teachers will use those lessons in their classroom. Currently, there are several community building books and activity packets that are accessible to teachers, but the lessons are too long and have too many components. In 2008, I graduated from the teaching credential program through Sacramento State. In those college classes, students were taught the benefits of building a classroom community. Upon entering the real world, new teachers found the focus was on test scores with very little time for extra subjects like music or art. Community building activities are not a priority given the other mandated teaching guidelines. It is appropriate to condense the community-building curriculum into smaller pieces, to allow teachers to use those activities anytime. Teachers are required to teach su