I always took pride in teaching my students the proper way to complete a handshake. After all, shaking hands is a life skill, isn't it? Well, maybe not any more! But we still need to greet each other!Building community in the classroom involves interactions.
Children (and adults) need to greet each other each day. The skill of positive interactions is one I am proud to teach because it is one they will need for the rest of their lives.
I think we can agree, handshakes are questionable with today's health challenges. But there are parts to the handshake that have value: a moment of "connection," eye contact, a greeting, and a respect for the other person.
I've come up with a list of 25 different greetings that students can do as part of a morning greeting, and end of school meeting, or simply saying hello to their teacher in the morning. Plus, they can be done in online meetings as well!
Here they are:
#1: Give the peace sign!
#2: Give each other heart hands!
#3: Give air hugs!
#4: Share a squirt of hand sanitizer!
#6: Smile with your eyes!
#7: Jazz hands!
#8: Give each other a salute!
#9: Do a "One Second" Dance!
#10: Raise your eyebrows!
#11: Throw your hands in the air!
#12: Do two claps!
#13: Do a fist pump!
#14: Give the "Sup" nod!
#15: Give a thumbs up!
#16: Blow air kisses!
#17: Jump for joy!
#18: Give "air" high fives!
#19: Give the "Live Long and Prosper" signal from Star Trek!
#20: Place your hand on your heart!
#22: Bow to each other!
#23: Wink at each other!
#24: Give each other the home alone face!
and #25: Have your class make up your own greeting!
Well there, now you have 25 ways to start or end your day that can be used in a socially distant classroom or during remote learning!
Here are some other ways to build community and team work in the classroom: