Building Relationships and Community Through ‘Crew’/Advisory

Presenter: Matt Bernstein, Humanities and Social Studies Teacher Casco Bay High School, 2023 Maine Teacher of the Year

In this session, we will reflect on the importance of relationship building and community building in providing supportive classroom spaces for all students. In particular, we will consider how structures like “Crew” or advisory can become opportunities to create homeplaces for students at school. We will spend time reflecting on our own educational experiences, thinking about our current students and practices, considering the link between relationship building and student success, and brainstorming future action steps. Through collaborative learning, our hope is that this session will equip us to further our work in creating spaces where students feel seen, valued, and loved for who they are.