Kindness Counts (and following the rules does too!)

In our class we reinforce the rules by picking "behavior scouts." It's the job of these kids to be watching and listening for other students who are:

Showing Respect
Solving Problems
Making Good Decisions

Periodically, I will call the behavior scouts up and ask them to tell us who was doing those three things. It helps the kids look for and understand good behavior and provides them with the natural reinforcement of being recognized by their peers. When your kiddo comes home with them in their folder, be sure to praise them for their excellent efforts at school and thank them for contributing to the learning environment. With 26 students, we are working very hard on showing respect for learning time and making good decisions. Thanks for your support and encouragement parents!

Behavior Management: Kindness Counts

Here's a picture of our "Kindness count" this week!

In our classroom, it's our job to work together so that we can learn. When we work together by following directions, making good decisions, and helping one another we earn "kindness count" points. At the end of the week we count up all of the tally marks and record our progress on the "heart tree." Jasper came up with a great idea to add up all the points on the heart tree at the end of the month, which would be fun too!

Everyone has been settling in nicely and working hard to help stay on-task. They really are little sparklers! It's only been two days and they've already earned many points (we give them out in groups of five, so that kids can learn how to make tally marks as well.) I'm very impressed with how willing this new bunch of kids is to show respect, solve problems, and make good decisions. They should be proud of all their hard work!

Safe Place

In our class we strive to build community, help one another solve problems, and in general avoid melt downs. We have a "safe place" in our class, where a student can go if he/she feels sad, overwhelmed, frustrated etc. It has a big cushy chair, oversized stuffed animals and directions for ways to help calm down in a stressful situation. This helps me as a teacher know when a child is "at the end of their rope" and needs some extra care and attention. It also helps ensure that our classroom can stay a safe place for others to learn.

Our Classroom Behavior Management Model

Hello Families!
I wanted to introduce you to the behavior management model that we use in Room 4 First Grade. I believe that each student in our class is special, valuable, and unique and it is my job to help them as they navigate school life and learn important social skills. Here are the values that you will see supported in our classroom:

• You are in charge. You can become the person you want to be. You can make good decisions.
  
• You are responsible for your feelings and actions. Your choices impact others. You can show respect to others.
  
• You can solve problems. Conflict is part of life. It presents us with opportunities to learn a missing skill or let go of a limiting belief.