PRIME Principles
SAGE PRIME Principles
P Promote Positive Experiences
R Room Management
I Improvement Directed Reinforcement
M Modeling Wellness Behaviors
E Establish Garden Maintenance
Promote Positive Experiences
Not everyone has the same opportunities to be healthy, but everyone should be able to make the choices that allow them to live a long, healthy life, regardless of their income, education or ethnic background. We believe that health starts in our families, in our schools and workplaces, in our playgrounds and parks, in the air we breathe, and the water we drink. There are multiple dimensions of health. Taking care of physical, emotional, and spiritual needs is important for wellbeing. It is our job as teachers to promote positive experiences to help children think about and try well-being choices that meet children where they are. By giving children the opportunity to choose to engage in the experiences that we provide, we are giving everyone a chance to live a healthy life.
Room Management
When we are in the classroom it takes involvement from everyone to make SAGE run smoothly. When the SAGE team is teaching, teachers are helping to manage the classroom, and when teachers are teaching, the SAGE team is helping to manage the classroom. Not every member of the SAGE team may have classroom management experience, so it is important that teachers and teaching aids are there to teach us. “Teamwork makes the dream work.”- John C. Maxwell
Individualized Improvement Directed Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is one of the most important factors that can help children to be successful in choosing healthy behaviors. But it is important that we give individualized improvement directed reinforcement that considers each child’s situation, environment, and experience around wellbeing choices and behaviors. For example, we may give reinforcement to a child who states they have a home garden, but we also want to give equal praise to another child who has never eaten a vegetable, but does for the first time. instead of saying, “Great job Lila!”, we could say something like “Lila, you demonstrated responsibility by spotting that the plant needs to be watered.” Positive reinforcement that meets children where they are helps children to learn and feel good about their health choices.
Modeling Appropriate Behaviors
Children learn by watching, and they are always watching. Everyone who is in the classroom during SAGE sessions has the opportunity and choice to participate in the songs, games, discussions, and activities. You as a teacher can participate in two ways: 1) Modeling the behaviors yourself, and 2) Helping students to do the healthier behaviors. Modeling shows children that you are engaged, and they will want to be more engaged as a result.
Establish Garden Maintenance
SAGE isn’t SAGE without the garden. It is important to make sure that the garden is maintained properly and regularly, so that it is available for lessons as well as inspiration. This means knowing basic garden maintenance and having a plan to make sure that it is routinely watered, weeded, and cared for. Each day that you pass by the garden, take note of how it looks and things that may need to be done to take care of it.