Diner Lifelines and Character Education

Learning to work productively together and independently are both challenges, so The Pinto Diner Kids will focus on five specific Lifelines to support us daily.  Those are:

1. Integrity:  To act according to a sense of what is right and wrong.

2. Organization:  To plan and arrange to keep things orderly and ready to use.

3. Friendship:  To make and keep a friend through mutual trust and caring.

4. Cooperation:  To work together toward a common goal and purpose.

5. Manners:  To use social skills in different situations.

This will be done in a variety of ways. Community building is a BIG part of this. One fun way to learn about different aspects of learning in a high-ability classroom is with cute, whimsical friends and little videos.  For example, we have rubber ducks to remind us of a story I tell the kids about a moment at the zoo with a duck.  Please ask your child about this when you get a chance.  In a nutshell, we all know what a duck is.  We don't freak out when we see one because we know what it is.  Much of life is a "duck" in the Diner once we learn how to do it.  Again, just a fun way to remind them not to fall apart when something is routine.  

Classroom Behavior

C.L.A.S.S.

The backbone of how we live in the Diner is directed by precise classroom procedures and a heavy layer of CLASS (Connected Learning Assures Successful Students). 

We have procedures for EVERYTHING.

• Lining up

• Walking down the hallway

• Using the restroom

• Gathering at the Diner counter

• Book Clubs

• Writing Clubs

• Conferring one-on-one with Mrs. Pinto

• Working in groups with peers

• Drinking water from our water bottles

• Caring for our Chromebooks

• Care for the classroom

•  How we communicate throughout the day

The goal is to create a seamless, predictable, and calm environment.

Building Productive Citizens

We work towards citizenship and do our part in a community daily.  Please know this is a process, and I try to meet each child where they are.  As the year progresses, we will utilize a mini-economy in class.  It is a fun way to teach earning, saving, and spending.  Once we start, the Padlet for this will be located in your child's Google Classroom.