The Westwood Way!
-The Westwood Rules:
1) Be Safe
2) Be Kind
3) Be Your Best
4) Be A Positive Learner
What happens when rules are broken in room 117?
My first thought is not "your child is naughty". My first thought is "your child made a mistake, just like all kids/people do". My job is to help him/her learn and grow socially and emotionally. So I do one of the following:
1) Take a Break
Take-a-Break is a small paper on the floor where kids can go, when told or as a personal choice, to take a few deep breathes. This is not considered a punishment. It is considered a brief thinking /cooling off time. I am not upset with your child, and I don’t expect you to be either. This is minor, regular kid stuff. Your child can still see and hear any learning that is taking place.
Take-a-break is typically used for VERY MINOR things such as blurting, talking to a neighbor, wiggly body, or playing with shoelaces. Sometimes it is used as a place to go until an adult can participate in numbers 4 or 5.
2) Yoga Break
This is similar to take a break, except it is in the hallway. Your child does a few movement activities, getting his/her energy out.The only reason it is in the hallway is so that other kids are not watching. Your child is not in trouble, he/she is just resetting their body so it can focus on learning. The large motor activities are followed by a few deep, calming breathes. Then he/she returns to the classroom.
3) Hallway Break or Buddy Break
This is used when Take-A-Break or Yoga break does not work. It is used to send the message that the demonstrated behavior will not be accepted in the classroom. It is typically followed by number 4.
4) Social Conference
This is used when the teacher wants to follow up with a behavior that has not been corrected with number 1, 2, or 3. Sometimes I jump right to number 4, when it might help the child grow socially & emotionally. It will include a form (see attached document) and a logical consequence or loss of privilege. I will always try to call, text, or email you. If I have not called, and you find the form in your child's folder, call me! Again, think of it as a chance to talk with your child and help him/her grow. Typically, your child would have had a consequence at school, making a home consequence unnecessary.
5) Logical Consequence – Apology of Action or Loss of Privilege
A reasonable and related consequence for a behavior. Some examples might be:
Apology of Action
Saying, "I'm sorry" not with words, but with an action. I typically offer the hurt child three options, the hurt child picks the form of apology that will make him/her feel better. Some examples include:
When you are unable to use a school tool or participate in a school activity. Some examples include:
Any MAJOR concern! Hitting, biting, kicking, stealing, etc. Although if the incident does not involve another student, I may try a social conference first.
Sometimes I may also place your child in the office as a quiet work place. This may happen if your child is making up a test or self suggests / requests a quieter place to focus. They are not in trouble, they just recognize a need to be in a less distracting environment.
1) Be Safe
2) Be Kind
3) Be Your Best
4) Be A Positive Learner
What happens when rules are broken in room 117?
My first thought is not "your child is naughty". My first thought is "your child made a mistake, just like all kids/people do". My job is to help him/her learn and grow socially and emotionally. So I do one of the following:
1) Take a Break
Take-a-Break is a small paper on the floor where kids can go, when told or as a personal choice, to take a few deep breathes. This is not considered a punishment. It is considered a brief thinking /cooling off time. I am not upset with your child, and I don’t expect you to be either. This is minor, regular kid stuff. Your child can still see and hear any learning that is taking place.
Take-a-break is typically used for VERY MINOR things such as blurting, talking to a neighbor, wiggly body, or playing with shoelaces. Sometimes it is used as a place to go until an adult can participate in numbers 4 or 5.
2) Yoga Break
This is similar to take a break, except it is in the hallway. Your child does a few movement activities, getting his/her energy out.The only reason it is in the hallway is so that other kids are not watching. Your child is not in trouble, he/she is just resetting their body so it can focus on learning. The large motor activities are followed by a few deep, calming breathes. Then he/she returns to the classroom.
3) Hallway Break or Buddy Break
This is used when Take-A-Break or Yoga break does not work. It is used to send the message that the demonstrated behavior will not be accepted in the classroom. It is typically followed by number 4.
4) Social Conference
This is used when the teacher wants to follow up with a behavior that has not been corrected with number 1, 2, or 3. Sometimes I jump right to number 4, when it might help the child grow socially & emotionally. It will include a form (see attached document) and a logical consequence or loss of privilege. I will always try to call, text, or email you. If I have not called, and you find the form in your child's folder, call me! Again, think of it as a chance to talk with your child and help him/her grow. Typically, your child would have had a consequence at school, making a home consequence unnecessary.
5) Logical Consequence – Apology of Action or Loss of Privilege
A reasonable and related consequence for a behavior. Some examples might be:
- First work...Then play. No work.....No play.
- Write on the table, you wash the table (not all the tables)
Apology of Action
Saying, "I'm sorry" not with words, but with an action. I typically offer the hurt child three options, the hurt child picks the form of apology that will make him/her feel better. Some examples include:
- You tease someone about their work, you draw them a picture to cheer them up
- You push someone, you sit with them at lunch
- You throw food in the lunch room, you help to clean up the lunchroom floor
When you are unable to use a school tool or participate in a school activity. Some examples include:
- You turn the glue stick up SO far the entire glue falls out, you lose the glue stick.
- You flush a pencil down the bathroom toilet, you use the nurses bathroom where you can be monitored more closely
- You refuse to line up after recess, you stay in from recess the next day
Any MAJOR concern! Hitting, biting, kicking, stealing, etc. Although if the incident does not involve another student, I may try a social conference first.
Sometimes I may also place your child in the office as a quiet work place. This may happen if your child is making up a test or self suggests / requests a quieter place to focus. They are not in trouble, they just recognize a need to be in a less distracting environment.
paws-ative_letter__2017_.pdf | |
File Size: | 200 kb |
File Type: |
social_conference__2015_.pdf | |
File Size: | 139 kb |
File Type: |