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Responsive Classroom
Responsive Classroom
Read more about Social Emotional Learning in Newton Public Schools
Every classroom in our school begins the day with a 15 minute Morning Meeting. Students greet each other, share something about themselves, and play a short game or activity before reading a message written by the teacher. This is an important start to the day that makes each student feel like part of a caring community.
Students and teachers set goals for the year in the form of hopes and dreams. Examples of this may be, "I hope to make new friends," "I want to get better at writing stories," or "I will work hard to learn new skills in math." Students will think about how they can accomplish their goals and how their teachers and classmates can help one another.
Underwood School expectations are take care of yourself, take care of others, and take care of our environment. We use these expectations as rules in every part of the school day. For example, students practice what it looks like to take care of yourself during independent reading, they practice how to take care of others by letting them focus on their work, and they practice taking care of the environment by keeping their cubbies clean.
(Email me with a translation of our expectations in another language!)
Core Values
Underwood's Core Values make up the word "CARES." Students learn the meanings of each Cooperation, Accountability, Respect, Empathy, and Self-control and practice all of them throughout each day. Before playing a math game, teachers may remind students what they know about cooperation. If a student gets hurt, teachers will remind students to think about how they may apply empathy to the situation. At our All School Meetings, classes will present on our Core Values to keep them in the forefront of our learning and being together. If all members of our community work and play with our Core Values in mind, we will become better individuals and better together.
(Email me with a translation of our Core Values in another language!)
CARES Crew - new this year!
Every afternoon, classes will have 10-15 minutes of Quiet Time. This is a time to relax the mind and body in order to prepare for more learning in second half of the day. During Quiet Time, students can do independent activities like draw, read, or write.
Every classroom in our school has a break space. This area is used when a student needs a break to calm down, re-focus, or self-regulate. Teachers can send students to the break space if they notice that a break might be helpful. We also teach students to think about their own needs and go to the break space if they feel they need a break. It is meant to be a neutral place for anyone to go when they need a pause from what the class is doing.
Movement breaks are quick, active games or songs that get students moving as a break from academics. Standing up and moving around the classroom periodically can help students focus better on academic work.
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