One of the key elements to developing a learning community is establishing teacher-student trust and student-student trust.  While is can be helpful to the learning process to establish trust in a conventional teaching situation, it is critical in establishing a learning community.

Establishing trust starts on day one and continues to build throughout the program. By the time students are actually in the Advanced Journalism program, the trust is well established but it continues to develop even further throughout the year.

What are some of the ways trust can be developed in the initial stages?

Before you start talking about trust and trusting students, you must have their respect.  That means that you must be in control of the classroom and know your subject matter.  Once that is established, you can then start talking about trust.

The teacher being the one in control and having the power has to take the initiative.

 *He/she needs to put himself in a situation requiring the students to be trustworthy.

 *Do group work requiring each student to be responsible for a portion of the lesson

 *Allow students to teach the class from time to time

 *When you have a sub, allow students to be the "teacher" with the sub just watching

 *Give students your home phone number and tell them to call when they need help, but only at appropriate times.

 * Talk about trust and about how it is important in relationships and learning

 * Laugh at your mistakes with the students; don't be defensive.

Empower students to think for themselves by putting them in situations requiring thinking.

 *Have them interview people in power and write it up

 *Have them help a younger student to learn something

 *Read and discuss a daily newspaper asking students to find errors in logic

 *Watch a TV news show and ask them to review it with you.

Develop a class atmosphere of trust.

 * Allow students to enter the class late without demanding a pass; explain that you trust they had a valid reason to be late

 *Make them responsible for decorating the classroom

 *Share some of the problems you are having with the class or program (appropriate problems, not student issues) and ask for their input

 *Talk about yourself and your interests: become a person to them, not just a teacher

 *Make sure they understand why they are doing all assignments

Give students real responsibilities and trust them to do what you ask.

 *In the Advanced Journalism program, give the students real jobs and expect them to do them at high level.  If they fail at what they are doing, ask them to problem solve with their peers as you sit in and advise.  By not leaping in and doing it for them, you show them that you believe in them and that you trust them to do the work.

 *In Beginning Journalism start off by giving students opportunities to be in charge or do things that require trust.  Then build slowly on it.

 *Organize a field trip and allow students to do most of the planning

 * Have snack on a regular basis and let students organize it

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