Fill up your Bucket.

We have had 2 wonderful days of first grade so far. The students are so cute and they are going to have a great time getting to know each other this year. They are doing a great job trying to learn new routines and getting adjusted to such a long day of school. First grade is such a big change for them and so much learning take place this school year. The reading and writing alone are amazing to see how it will develop over the next few months.

I introduced the behavior plan to the students yesterday. Maybe you heard about it from your child last night. The main way I encourage positive behavior in the classroom and here at school is with the "fill your bucket" idea. I read a story to the class How Full is your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer. It is describes how everyone has an invisible bucket and when we make good choices our buckets get filled up and when we make poor choices our buckets drip out. When we make good choices and do good for others we fill up our own bucket even more. So, each day I pass out little papers that say "thanks for putting a drop in my bucket" when I see great choices. This is an individual reward. They put their name on the back of the paper and put it in the bucket. At the end of each day I choose 4 pieces of paper and call those names to pick from the treasure chest. The next day we start all over. You may want to ask your child each night, "did you help fill a bucket today?"

The whole class reward is based on pod points. Pod points are points that each pod can earn throughout the day. I keep these points for a month. The pod with the most points "wins" ice cream. Then they all get new seats, new pod names and I start over for the month. This encourages team work and helps the students realize that their choices not only affect them , but the choices affect others as well.

Three strikes and 5 minutes off recess is how the students have a consequence to their poor choices. This will be altered throughout school year to meet the needs of the students who continue to make poor choices.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I will address this during curriculum night again if need be. Thanks so much for your support and involvement!

* If you would like to send in a folder all that is needed is: one per child, paper folder with 2 pockets, any color and any design. Thanks so much!

Reminders:
8/20 Spirit Day- wear Truman gear
8/26 Curriculum Night 6-6:30pm in the classroom (no kids please)