Be the Flame: Sparking Positive Classroom Communities

by Shane Saeed

Educators know that relationships and rapport are the most important foundational pieces to a successful classroom. The hard part is knowing how to build those impactful relationships. How do you build rapport? What activities can encourage teamwork? How do you continue to build community throughout the school year? In Be the Flame , teacher leader Shane Saeed details ideas and activities that spark positive classroom communities and create learning environments where students can thrive.

Be the Flame focuses on building communities in different areas of an educator's professional In this book, you'll learn how to become a "teacher flame" through relationship building practices that can be implemented the very next day. From step-by-step directions for community building activities to easy-to-implement routines to encourage community and strengthen relationships, this book is an elementary teacher's guide to starting their classroom community from the first day of school. Teachers will learn not only how to build relationships with their students, but also with families and coworkers in order to cultivate a cohesive community of support. It takes a village to support students and create a safe space for them to learn and grow. It is our job, as educators, to build strong foundational relationships with students to encourage them to achieve academically and be the best people they can be. Be the Flame in your classroom and spread your light to impact your students in a positive way!

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Nonfiction, Teaching

166 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2021

Reviews

[MacKenzie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be great as a gift to a student teacher or a first/second year teacher. Saeed talks in depth about how to grow and spark community with your students and their families, coworkers, and beyond. For me, some of her points were in my tool belt so I skimmed certain sections. However, she had amazing ideas in her ‘Ignite’ chapter that I will utilize this year.

[Cati Varichak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in a Book Club with other teachers in my school. It has good advice, and some fun activities, but as a middle school teacher, it wasn't particularly helpful to me. The activities assume you have a full day with only 30 or so kids - not 45 minutes with 120. It's most assuredly for elementary teachers, which is completely fine, just not for ten middle school teachers to try and pick apart and glean any tips from. It's not marketed as being for El-Ed either, so it's easy to understand why my administration thought it'd be good to order a whole stack of them before anyone had actually read it.
It's an easy read, with simple chapters that keep things organized for you. It also gives you link and resources to do further digging of your own. Just be warned now that this is for ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - teachers at any other level of education would waste their time with this one.

[Spike Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

The folks at ConnectEDD Publishing have quickly built a stable of quality books and resources for the education world. Their most recent addition to their quality publications is Shane Saeed’s Be The Flame: Sparking Positive Classroom Communities. This is going to be a great book for educators as they seek ways to inspire learning in the 21st Century Classroom.

If you are looking for answers to the following questions, this is the book for you, your department, your school and your district.

How do you establish and maintain rapport?
What activities can encourage teamwork?
How do you continue to build community throughout the school year?
In the introduction, Shane describes where she got the term “be the flame.” It was through her father and mother who would always encourage Shane to be a positive leader in the community. Fast forward to her adult years as an educator, and Shane wanted to honor the flame that her parent instilled in her for everyone else! Hence the title, and the analogies made throughout the book. Be careful… this book is HOT!!

There are 8 chapters to the book. Each chapter has a resource at the conclusion to encourage the reader to take action either personally or professionally. She also integrates voices from her students, colleagues and inspirational professional development.

Teachers must stoke the momentum of the community they’ve started in the classroom and use it to create a community of collaboration ~ Shane Saeed

Here are some highlights from the book that any educator could use to integrate into their classroom immediately:

Building positive relationships with students and parents
Creating a classroom community
Developing a collaborative approach to learning
Lesson plans with specific outcomes to support a positive classroom community
Throughout the book, Shane shares vignettes that are helpful to the reader to truly understand the “why” behind positive classroom communities. I felt these reflective stories were powerful because it revealed Shane’s ability to convey a message to the reader that, although teaching is rewarding, there is a lot of work that goes into it. There are bumps and bruises along the way, and Shane does a great job of incorporating these into the book.

Teachers must keep the flame ablaze within themselves to continue lightning flames within the people they impact ~ Shane Saeed

Shane is committed to keeping the conversations going with the reader. She encourages you to stay connected with her on Instagram (@fantasticallyfourth) , Twitter (@saeed_shane) or email.

Review by Spike Cook, Millville

[McKenna Bernosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t consider myself a new teacher but reading this book made me feel the excitement and enthusiasm that I had before I entered teaching. I highlighted so many ideas for the upcoming school year. There are ideas to implement in every chapter! I can see myself reading this book every year to get me ready to establish and maintain a positive community within my classroom, school and beyond.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down! It easily made my top 5 list. A must read for educators. As a newer teacher, there are so many stories, strategies, and encouragements throughout this book! Thank you Shane for sharing your experiences so authentically, and for reminding educators what’s really important!

[Robin Terschak · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO. MANY. GOOD. THINGS.

The lessons I learned in this book will definitely enrich my teaching this year!! A very quick read but with very poignant lessons. Especially as a specialist educator — a lot of general teaching books don’t provide as many sustainable ideas (imho) BUT this book proved me wrong. Highly, HIGHLY recommend. 😍

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight forward and easy read.

I enjoyed that it was a mix of overview of an idea or topic and then followed it up with specific suggestions and ideas for implementing them in your classroom.

The reflection questions at the end of each chapter were powerful.

[Amanda Beyea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a quick read but every chapter brought new nuggets of information and ways to practically apply it in the classroom. I also love that no matter how many years you have been teaching, there is something in this book for every teacher!

[Katy Kritzeck Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good ideas; many common sense. A little too elementary to translate to the different atmosphere that is high school classrooms. In general though, building communities is the most important, and any suggestions to help teachers succeed in that area are worth reading about.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was out to a great start but as an alternative high school teacher, some of this is just not possible or applicable. Much of this were things I already do on a regular basis, so I was disappointed that I could not walk away with more than 1 idea.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written book full of strategies and reminders for creating a community in your classroom.

[Suzanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for all teachers! So many great ideas that I am excited to implement into my classroom this upcoming year.

[Amanda Hinkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing and renewing

Great ideas and insightful reminders of the power we hold as educators and the influence we have in the lives of our students and community

[Joya]

Not rating

[Abigail Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I appreciate about this book is that instead of just being an essay on why relationships are important, she gives concrete, usable examples.