BecKy AMmonS APPlinG county COBuiLdING mMuNIty

greet them by their first name,” said Ammons. “That rapport with my students is a big deal and goes a long way in building community – especially in AP, which is a new subject for our school. I have to have their buy-in when I ask them to do tough things.” quiet ones who like to hide,” she said. “Building relationships helps me pull more out of them.”

The morning practice of greeting her students by name is something Ammons adopted a few years ago and it has since grown organically.

Ammons’ students are not allowed to have cell phones in class. The absence of devices also helps build community – requiring students to make connections and interact with one another.

In her 22 years of teaching – most of it in Appling County –Becky Ammons has learned how important it is to build community in the classroom.

Ammons, an ELA teacher who teaches American Literature as well as AP English Language and Composition at Appling County High School, says building relationships with students is her number one goal each day.

“Every day when my students come in, I stand by my door and

“Even if I miss someone, I will search them out in the room and greet them individually. It is very intentional and they now expect me to do it,” she said. “By the second semester, they will try to beat me to it. They’ll say, ‘good morning’ and say my name back. It’s all about making those connections.”

Having that connection also helps some students feel more confident to speak-up in class, Ammons said.

“I think it helps them feel safer with me because they know they have my support. It helps bring out those

“A lot of them are getting back to talking to one another – learning how to have conversations and disagreements without the safety net of their phones,” said Ammons. “We lost a lot during COVID. In the classroom, we are not just here to pass tests. We are creating the next generation of kids who will go out into the world. They will need these skills and this may be the only place some students will learn them.”