Behavior Note

Behavior for many Kindergartners continues to be a challenge. (not just in our classroom but in other Kindergarten classrooms) Behavior is not about someone expecting perfection in the behavior of young children. Behavior is about children moving from external control to independent control. What helps is our consistency in our expectations and holding our children to that. Children can press limits, frustrate and try our patience but our responsibility as adults is to set limits and boundaries for our children. We create an atmosphere that is safe and consistent but that has boundaries. Children need to understand consequences for unacceptable behavior or the behaviors will be repeated.
I will share with you that sometimes children are not kind to one another. Sometimes they tease and bully one another. As much as possible I try to correct behaviors when I see them at school however I don't always see things unless they are called to my attention. At school I try to set an atmosphere for learning where everyone in our learning community respects one another, their differences, and special needs. I talk to the children about our school family and how we have to live together during the school year. Here's how you can help:
1. Talk to your child about your expectations for good behavior.
2. Check in with your child daily about their behavior.
3. Set consequences for unacceptable behavior.
4. Let children know how proud you are of them when they have good school behavior. (Do not reward the toys, money, trinkets for expected behavior)
5. Your relationship with your child is key to good behavior. Children like to please, honor their honesty with you about good and bad behavior. (they are a more valuable source of daily behavior than any note)
6. Help your child role play about difficult situations they may have. (example: "What do you say when someone takes a toy you had?" "What can you do when a friend is talking to you when the teacher is giving directions?" "How do you ignore someone?"

Working with young children we don't expect perfection. We do however expect children to show that they are respecting one anther, respecting our expectations as parents and caregivers and showing that they are growing towards independence.
Last week the counselor suggested that I put into place a new visual behavior chart for our class. She came in to do a lesson with our class about being kind to one another. The chart works like a stop light. First a warning.....If the behavior continues children turn over a green card (this indicates that they are starting behaviors that are unacceptable), If they continue other behaviors that are unacceptable they turn over a yellow card, (children have the option of correcting behaviors), with the next misbehavior children turn over a red card. (after a red card children write a behavior note home) The behavior note is a check list of what they were doing and asking for your help in correcting the behavior. Please sign this not the following day. The chart was up for 3 days last week and we met with big success, no notes were sent home. This is a good behavior conversation starter for you and your child each day. "Did you have any cards turned over today? "What did you do?...."How can you make better choices tomorrow?"
Thank you for your continued help and support.