d 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 realm:

• Kindling rapport with students one-on-one,
• Igniting a community among your students,
• Catching onto relationships with the families of your students,
• Fueling relationships with teammates and coworkers, and
• Establishing an online community to spread ideas, learn, and grow with.

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!