August 28, 2025

Dear Educator,

We know that building a strong learning community is essential for success throughout the year. At the same time, the beginning of the year is packed with competing demands. Time always feels short. 

More and more, I hear teachers voice frustration that icebreakers are “cheesy” or a waste of time—and honestly, I tend to agree. Too often, icebreakers are disconnected from learning, have uneven impact, or even make people feel uncomfortable.

True community isn’t built through one-off activities. It comes from doing meaningful work together—work that fosters connection, belonging, and shared purpose. Relationships and communities grow when we're learning and creating side-by-side. In this week's Bright Spot, I'd like to share an inspiring story from Colorado Springs about how one teacher is fostering a sense of community in her classroom.

With Gratitude,

Building Community From Day One in Colorado Springs

One of my favorite examples of a meaningful community builder comes from Sara Ballard, a 7th-grade science teacher in Colorado Springs. At the start of the year, she has her students "DYC" (Design Your Classroom). Each student begins by introducing themselves to her—an important life skill that also puts the responsibility on them. Then, working with a partner, students brainstorm how to design the classroom.

This project immediately gets students talking, imagining, and collaborating on work that matters. It connects directly to their learning environment and sends a clear message: Their ideas will be heard and they are co-designers of their learning journey from day one.

In each class, students generate multiple classroom layouts and vote on the winning design. Not only does this build community and spark engagement, but it shifts the work of classroom setup from teacher to students—making the space truly theirs.

Interested in learning more about how to create a sense of community in your classroom? Our Learner-Centered Launchpad is the perfect place to learn, generate ideas, and bring your ideal vision to life with the learners you serve. Learn more here.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

📖 The Learning Experience Design Cycle: A Compass for Designing Deeper Learning. "The design cycle is not just a planning tool; it’s a compass for navigating the complex, creative work of teaching. It helps us design experiences that are personalized, authentic, competency-based, and grounded in a learner-centered community." See the design cycle in action.

📖 Reading, Writing, and Rising: Centering Literacy in Learner-Centered Education. "When we ground opinion and argument writing in student identity, inquiry, and interdisciplinary collaboration, we do more than meet standards. We nurture critical thinkers, empathetic citizens, and confident communicators." Learn more about literacy's role in learner-centered education.

🤖 Durable Skills Learning Experience Designer. "If you are an educator looking to embed Durable Skills into your learning experiences, lessons, units, and projects, this AI-assisted tool will help you do just that!" Design your first learning experience here.