During the first two weeks of school, our students and their teachers worked together to create classroom guidelines or rules. This process began by asking the students to share ideas on what we can do to keep ourselves and our friends safe and happy at school. These guidelines are created together, using positive language, in order for the students to have a sense of ownership over their classroom environment. When students establish the rules themselves, including things that are important to them, they are more intrinsically motivated and willing to follow the guidelines. Student participation in this process provides them with ownership and allows the teachers to reference their ideas when working out social conflicts or redirecting their behavior.

These classroom guidelines will hang in each classroom for the duration of the school year, and are an integral part of our social curriculum. To see the 2018-19 classroom guidelines from across campus, click here.