(Note: The transcripts in this webcase are excerpted from longer classroom discussions. They are not intended for use independent of the videos which they accompany.)
Teacher: The opening question for our values lesson today is: "How do we make people feel included in our community?" OK, discuss in your little group here.
(Off screen, students discuss question in small groups.)
Hannah: If me, Jake and Sophie were in a group and me and Sophie were talking for a while, and then I asked Jake about his opinion about the idea then he might feel more included. Because then I’m asking for his idea or if he agrees or disagrees. Then he might feel more comfortable.
Jake: And I thought of, like, all 12 of us ... well, they have been here for three years and the other 10 of us have been here for four years. So if there's another kid that comes in next year in fourth grade and he or she — it will be her or his first day — so it'll be like he or she doesn't have any friends. Or, like, doesn't know anybody. So we can welcome them in. Like to make them feel comfortable.
Teacher: Does anyone want to add to those ideas or build off it?
Sophia: I want to add to Jacob's idea. If someone comes in the morning, it's kind of different, actually, but kind of similar though. If you greet them, when you're greeting someone in the morning don’t, like, be, like, sad, like this and say hi (covers her face with her hand and looks down) and not, like, happy. You should be nice to them when they come in. And if someone new comes in like Jacob's [idea], you shouldn't crowd around them, even thought you want to be nice to them, because they won't feel that good.
Halle: You can't walk up to someone and be, like, "Hi, I’m Halle." (Halle moves in very close to the student next to her.)
Sophia: Like, so many people crowding around. They don’t like that. You think they would, but they don’t like it.
Halle: You can just walk up and say, (calmly), "Hi."
Teacher: So giving them a little bit of personal space?
Sophia: Yeah.
Teacher: Anybody else?
Sam: Our group was talking about inviting people over if they were new in the school or something like that. Like anybody, not to exclude people, and to share.
Jacob: And also let's say there's someone new. Kind of like what Halle and Sophia were just saying, except that if they are new you don't really want to give them a bad day on their first day.