Embedded Files
Independence and Responsibility – All students are encouraged to become independent in the classroom and responsible for themselves. This includes things such as putting their snack in the snack box each morning, getting to work without prompting or reminders, turning in their completed work with their name/date on each page, etc. Your child is also responsible for his/her Homework and Friday Folder. Please make sure he/she puts the folder in their backpack each night to avoid… “my mom forgot”. ☺ If your child is very dependent on you at home, this would be a perfect time to begin to encourage some independence with you as well.
Magic Five – Each student’s job is to listen in class so they can learn. When they listen, they are able to follow directions and are being respectful to those around them. I talk about “Magic Five Listening” in class. This includes the following:
Sit like a pretzel/ “criss-cross applesauce”
Eyes on the person who is talking; “attent-o-scope”
Ears listening.
Hands in lap (snowball hands).
Mouths quiet when someone is speaking.
Discipline - I employ a very proactive approach to discipline in my classroom. The following are some examples of what I have had success with:
Positive Reinforcement
Compliment Cards – earned individually or as a group – Treasure Basket and/or lunch with me
Classroom Meetings – we fill each other’s buckets (see below) and we brainstorm solutions to various problems.
Behavior scores in the Friday Folder
If a child is being disruptive, not listening or interfering with another child’s learning I will first talk to the child to ask that the behavior stop. If it persists, I will give the child a warning and after that the child will be asked to leave the activity or situation. Whenever possible I will give natural consequences that directly relate to the inappropriate behavior or action. You will receive a phone call or email only for serious situations that I feel should not, or cannot be dealt with in class directly.
Filling Buckets – We talk about doing nice things and making others feel important or “filling a bucket” and when someone does or says something unkind as “emptying” or “dipping” into buckets.
Based on the book: Have you Filled a Bucket Today? By Carol McCloud
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