Focus on the formation of relationships between students. For strong relationships to form in the classroom, students must be encouraged to interact among one another, share ideas and contribute in group discussions. Generally, asking your students to sit in groups rather than at their own desks while assigning group tasks will help. If students can learn how to work together, communicate and depend on one another, then the class will become more cohesive.
Make sure there is a clear and effective social structure. For a class to work cohesively there needs to be a strict relationship between teacher and students. The social structure consists of the teacher as leader and students as followers. Teaching methods will vary depending on the teacher and the students but in a classroom where the teacher fails to assert his leadership and in a classroom where the students take the role of "leader," the cohesion will disappear.
Create common goals within the classroom. Encourage students to work towards the same goal as well as for the same purpose and they will work and learn more effectively. Classwork should veer away from individual achievements and focus on what the students can achieve as a group. This way students feel more able to play an active part in each lesson by working together with their peers, helping each other and supporting one another.
Ensure your students' efforts are supported in the classroom. To create and maintain a cohesive classroom, it is crucial that you encourage students to support their peers by appreciating their strengths and accepting their weaknesses. Feeling undermined in the classroom can be damaging to both individuals and to class cohesiveness. By allowing students to work on group projects, they are pushed into relying on each other and learning how to support each other.