| Author |
Message |
    
Truthseeker
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 11:41 am: |     |
The following letter was sent to all parents of Tuscan 5th graders before the holliday recess:
December 2000
Dear Parents,
With the school year well underway, we felt it necessary to write to you concerning a few important aspects of expectations for 5th grade
students. Many of the behaviors we are seeing indicate that our students are not fully aware of the responsibility associated with being a 5th
grade student at Tuscan school. We are witnessing many behaviors that we know you DO NOT allow in your home. A growing majority of students, whose own personal behavior is not questionable, honor the negative attitudes and actions of their peers. As a result, we are urrently in the process of adopting a reward and consequence behavior system. Our goal is to maintain the high level of achievement and sense of community that has already been established in the school. Outlined below are the
areas of major concern,
I TARDINESS
II RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOMEWORK and LEARNING MATERIALS
III BEHAVIOR
Some students have a more difficult time then others due to distractible or impulsive endencies. Though this may be a reason for difficulty, it will not be accepted as the excuse for rude or self-indulgent disruptive actions. Both students and teachers (including physical education, art music, classroom and substitute teachers) are disturbed by the following kinds of disrespectful words and body language :
á Rolling of eyes in response to teacher direction
á Willful opposition and argumentative responses to teachers and peers
á Continual unsolicited comments and calling out during class
á Turning or walking away from teacher speaking directly to them
á Mumbling negative remarks
á Aggressive or threatening manner
á Ignoring adult instructions
á Taunting other students
We know these kinds of behavior are not acceptable to you. We must work
as a partnership in setting the appropriate tone for our children's learning environment. For this we need your support. Children need to
receive the message at home, as well as at school, that everyone must be accountable for personal behavior and not give in to the peer pressure to honor the negative behaviors of others. All students will benefit socially and emotional, as well as academically, if school is a peaceful place.
Mrs. Browne and Ms. Hewitt are currently working with the staff to develop a behavior plan to begin in January. You will receive a copy via U.S. mail. Carefully review this letter and the upcoming Behavior Plan Contract with your child. Please reinforce the need for all
students to adhere to rules and standards set to insure everyone's right to a productive learning environment,
Thank-you for your support,
The fifth grade teaching staff
Carol Baker
Helen Dalbey
Sarah Mazak
Sara Rosen
Have the problems gone away? |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 12:13 pm: | |
Truthseeker: have you asked anyone at the school what is happening with the behavior plan? Sounds like something is certainly needed but I wonder why you're asking the larger community rather than the school personnnel?
On a personal note, we have instituted a behavior plan at home which some of you are familiar with called "1, 2, 3 Magic!" I've read on other bulletin boards (from teachers, parent educators, etc) that it has been used very successfully as a classroom management technique also and that schools have chosen to make videos and presentations available to all the parents as well so that everyone can work from the "same page." Another, possibly similar program is "Love and Logic."
The nice thing about these programs is they are simple and straightforward with clear and predictable consequences. All those little disrespectul behaviors that add up to a poor attitude, home atmosphere and learning environment are easily addressed. And quickly. Now, I'm no expert on this. As I say, we just started, mostly as a way of dealing with an increasingly sassy mouth and obstinacy from our 4 year old. After 2 days, she is starting to exercise more self-control on the count of 2 or even 1 so we are hopeful that if we remain consistent we (and she) will be successful. Anyway it seems promising and I've read lots of first hand accounts that do sound quite good after years of use.
Does anyone have an inkling of what kind of behavior plan has been proposed at Tuscan? Hopefully they'll be targeting the whole school rather than just the 5th graders since these attitudes and behaviors just get more entrenched over time.
Bacata |
Marie
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 1:55 pm: | |
The behavior plan has already been instituted and has seen almost immediate success. Perpetrate any of the above mentioned behaviors and you don't get to go out for recess, but instead stay in for recess detention. According to my son's teacher the results were positive and immediate.
The part of the plan that hasn't been implemented is the actual contract/letter that was to be sent to parents certified mail, to be signed and returned to the school. When I asked the vice-principal why I hadn't received it yet, she told me that the teachers had been extremely busy and hadn't had time to get to it yet.
Again, I applaud the teachers and Mrs. Brown for finally taking this issue seriously enough and dealing with it. I hope that other schools will take the lead and most importantly that the superintendent will implement a district wise policy.
I understand that discipline will be on tonight's BOE agenda. |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 3:45 pm: | |
Thanks for the info, Marie.
Bacata |
Cjmullins
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 6:38 pm: | |
Bacata, I thought I was the only one dealing with a sassy-mouthed and obstinate 4-year old! Where can I get info on "1 2 3 Magic!"? Thanx! |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 9:43 pm: | |
I think, from recent reading about the developmental phase known as 4, that much of the world has to deal with the sassiness of the age! A friend said she had borrowed 1,2,3 Magic from the Maplewood library. I found it last week at Barnes and Noble up at Essex Green. So far, so good. I have a nice book called The Portable Pediatrician that goes into some of the underlying issues around the development of the conscience, etc but also strongly recommends getting a handle on this stuff now rather than later. She also argues for utilizing an authoritative (not authoritarian) approach instead of the usual seesaw that many of us get into of indulging vs harsh punishment to helping our kids develop their own controls while they get a sense of their impact on others. I like knowing what I'm dealing with but I also appreciate having specific tools to rely on rather than the yell, hit or interminable lecture model that I grew up with.
I've explained the new program to my daughter as a way for me to not yell so much and for her to stop getting in so much trouble. She liked the idea, anyway. Good luck. I suspect it's very well worth the effort! (My kid was starting to sound suspiciously like an adolescent and I couldn't imagine spending the next 14 years in that phase!)
Bacata |
Pnp
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 11:00 pm: | |
1,2,3 Magic is really a great program. There is a book out - but the video is much easier to take in. |
Fringe
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 7:53 am: | |
Does this mark the end of the district's $500,000 plus use of RCCP - another of the Dodge Foundation's experiments here?
JTL |
Kmccaffrey
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 9:15 pm: | |
This "behavior plan" sounds like old fashioned punishment to me. Is there something innovative going on here? Is there something particularly wrong with this crop of Tuscan 5th graders? |
Marie
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 10:10 am: | |
As far as my understanding of the program goes, students stay inside for recess and either have the opportunity to do their homework, or to write about how they can change their behavior; what they should have done differently, what they will do differently the next time. It is a system that is acknowledges unacceptable behavior and demonstrates what the consequences for that behavior will be. Whatever you would like to call it, it's working.
There were enough fifth graders in each class to have been causing significant disruptions in the learning environment. Many of these students are a product of the Pincus years, where there were no tangible consequences for negative behaviors. Most importantly, this program is forcing parents to address their children's behavior problems.
The best person to speak to about this plan is Tuscan's Vice principal, Cheryl Hewitt, or any one of the 5th grade teachers. |
Njjoseph
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 10:14 am: | |
Is there something wrong with old-fashioned punishment? Not having children myself, I'm wondering if rules have changed, i.e. taking away privileges when the child misbehaves is now not the accepted practice? |
Karenatha
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 1:52 pm: | |
What a relief to read that my strong-willed, back-talking son who recently turned 5 may be going through a phase rather than laying the groundwork for some impossible teenage years! (I was beginning to panic at the thought that in ten years I will no longer have the height and knowledge advantage to stay ahead of him!) He is a wonderful boy -- definitely not a monster-in-training -- but he sometimes sasses back to me or is rude. I am eager to learn about this 1-2-3 Magic approach and to figure out ways to channel his energy and strong-mindedness into more positive forms of expression. |
Sac
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 2:41 pm: | |
When my older child (now age 9) turned 4, I really didn't know what to make of her behavior. We all had heard about the "terrible twos", but the "fearsome fours" were a surprise to me and many other parents I know. Not to their nursery school teacher, however, who reassured us all that "this too shall pass!" And so it did ... she became a very pleasant five-year-old and has not hit any more difficult behavior stages - yet. (We are beginning to steel ourselves for the teenage years, however.) |
Msuewillis
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 8:08 pm: | |
Just wanted to say publicly how much I'm enjoying my 15 year old's teenage years. Yes, he has withdrawn moments and challenging moments, but 98% of the time he's a delight. Loves school though he wouldn't admit it (he's a sophomore at Columbia), is interested in everything and has interesting opinions on everything-- don't dread, just enjoy. |
Greenetree
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 1:19 pm: | |
First- the disclosure: I don't have children. Now- the observation: One of my dearest friends has children at Tuscan & one in the 5th grade. Over a year ago, this child told me that there were a group of kids in her grade trying to start their own gang. I asked what kind of gang & feel reassured that it's not about drugs or weapons, but more in the general direction of obnoxious behavior.
However, it bothers me that at this age, kids are even thinking about forming groups to behave badly. This can't lead to anything positive as they get older.
Another disturbing thing is that my friend's child seems to know several kids in the same grade who are left alone until well after dinner time or have no curfews/boundaries when they are out playing in the neighborhood.
We live in a world (and a town) where kids have a very diverse range of families. Does our school system provide counselors, social workers or other specialists who look out for kids who may need intervention ?
I am one of the childless homeowners who does not mind paying taxes to support our school system- I believe in investing in my community. I would like to know, however, that my investment and faith in this school system are earned. |
Spw784
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 2:01 pm: | |
There are social worker interns available in each elementary school. These are usually graduate students in an MSW program, doing their interships for year. They have set up "groups" to work with new students, students experiencing family problems, students with aggression or socialization problems, etc. They also have set up in the past something called "Friendship Circle", but I'm not sure what it was all about. |
Kmccaffrey
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 2:25 pm: | |
Njjoseph:is there something wrong with old-fashioned punishment? No and yes. The idea that students should be responsible for their behavior and that there should be consequences for their actions is easy to accept. Why the situation had to spiral out of control to such a degree that letters had to be sent home and some sort of a "compact" formed with the parents is the question. Do the teachers need parental permission to control their own classrooms? That having been said, it bothers me that revoking recess seems to be the main strategy for handling behavior problems. It could be that this is the only leverage that teachers hold, but I doubt it. Our kids are getting fat and sedentary and those 20 minutes of recess are vital to their health and sanity. To me, docking recess seems uncreative. It also suggests that the teacher is not effectively connecting with handling the children. From my own teaching experience, I've seen that the most effective teachers seldom need to resort to punishment to control their classrooms. |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2001 - 2:32 pm: | |
One of the planned budget cuts is a full-time social worker (not intern.)
Bacata |
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