K-2 Wing Newsletter
Aug. 31-Sept. 4, 2015
Positive Classroom Environment
Going into the fifth week of school, I am beginning to see some scholars' honeymoon of appropriate behaviors disappearing. Some of these behaviors are inevitably going to happen. Some of the behaviors I am observing from scholars are because of teachers' actions and words. This week I have observed less teaching of rules and expectations and more yelling/chastising of scholars from frustrated adults. The teaching of appropriate skills should not end. In order to continue to create a positive culture in your classroom and throughout the wing, it is imperative that you continue to teach and reinforce expected behaviors and rules and to praise the positive. Be mindful of how you correct scholar's behavior. Refer back to rules and expectations when talking to a scholar about his/her behavior and have them take ownership of their choices. Ask questions like,
1- What are you doing?
2- What are you supposed to be doing?
3- What is a better choice? How can you change your behavior?
4- What will happen if you do not correct your behavior?
After going through this process with the scholars, be consistent and reinforce your words and expectations. This process is important for scholars to be able to take ownership of their own behavior and it serves as a teaching tool for the expectations you desire. Yelling and chastising will not correct the behavior long term. It takes a piece of the relationship you have built with the scholars away each time. Your goal is to continue to build and strengthen the relationship, not tear it down.
Please go back to the Behave with Care manual you received during pre-planning to ensure you are following the behavior program. Having students change their color or move their clips continually for minor infractions is not behave with care. For example, if a child continues to talk out of turn, after a warning and restating of the social contract or expectations, they move to yellow. If the behavior continues, they do not move to blue. It is expected that you as the teacher provide consequences and strategies to prevent the behavior from continuing. We will be discussing Behave with Care more in the next few weeks.
Big Emotions
The Big Five
Teaching Socially Appropriate Behavior
Classroom Expectations
Data Goal for 2015-16
Bathroom
First and Second grade teachers:
We will be reworking the hallway bathroom schedule. We lose a lot of instructional time at the bathroom by not being efficient. It is vital that you get your scholars in and out of the bathroom in 5 minutes of less. It can be done. To do so, you need to monitor the scholars closely and get them in and out. Turn it into a beat the clock game. Kids love to make it a competition. One class took it for a test drive this week and was able to get the class of 26 scholars in and out of the bathroom in just over four and a half minutes. Great job!
Kindergarten Teachers:
Please place a sign in sheet on a clip board next to the bathroom door. Scholars are expected to sign their names before entering the bathroom.
Important Dates to Remember
Sept. 4: Teacher Workday; No school for scholars
Sept. 7: Labor Day; No School
Sept. 8: Sub Binders due
Sept. 14-23: TKES Formative/NHA Full Observations; sign up for your observation time on the sheet outside of my office.
Atlanta Heights Charter School
Email: 84.dblair@nhaschools.com
Website: www.nhaschools.com
Location: 3712 Martin Luther King Junior Drive Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
Phone: (404) 472-3003