Proposition+One

__**Proposition 1: Teachers are Committed to Students and Their Learning**__


 * NBCT's are dedicated to making knowledge accessible to all students. They believe all students can learn.
 * They treat students equitably. They recognize the individual differences that distinguish their students from one another and they take account for these differences in their practice.
 * NBCT's understand how students develop and learn.
 * They respect the clutrual and family differences students bring to the classroom.
 * They are concerned with their students' self-concept, their motivation and the effects of learning on peer relationships.
 * NBCT's are also concerned with the development of character and civic responsibility.

=** Artifact: "Kind Hearts" Behavior System **= = =

Description: Each child traced their hand on red construction paper, cut it out and wrote their name on their hand. I then put them them in the shape of a heart on the wall. Whenever a child is "caught being kind" they can earn a ticket with their kind act written on the ticket. It is then placed in the heart. The goal is to fill the heart with "kindness" and then have a celebration.

Analysis: This has really increased the students' awareness of their own behavior in the classroom as well as the behavior of others. They are working as a team to get along and to do nice things for each other. It has increased positive behavior in the classroom.

= Artifact: Storybook Character Day = = =

Description: For spirt day the student council decided to have a dress as your favorite "storybook character" day. As a kindergarten team, we decided to incorporate the spirit day with Dr. Seuss' birthday and with the book, "The Cat in the Hat".

Analysis: This really got the students excited about the Dr. Seuss unit and eager to read the book to compare us to the characters in the book. We were able to do a variety of activities that were related to the book including: additon problems using characters from the book, word families and rhymes found in the book, Dr. Seuss' biography and facts about him. This really got the kids engaged and excited about the unit.

= Artifact: Good Choices Positive Behavior Straw System = = =

Parent Note Introducing the System
Hello Grownups,

It is time to change our behavior system in kindergarten. In order to focus on positive behavior, we will begin using a behavior system that consists of cups and straws. The students were introduced to this system today (1-25-2011).

Each student has a cup in the room with his or her name on it. I will be checking in with the students 5 times a day. Throughout the day students will be working to earn straws. Each student can earn up to 5 straws each day. Your student will earn a straw if he or she makes great choices according to our 4 classroom agreements for that part of the day. The classroom agreements are: be safe, be respectful, be responsible, be a learner. If your student follows all of our classroom agreements, he or she will earn a straw. If your student does not follow our classroom agreements, he or she will not earn a straw for that part of the day. I had a shooting star day! || I had a super star day! || I made great choices! || I need to make better choices. || I need to make better choices. ||
 *  # of Straws ||  Kind of Ticket  ||
 *  5 || Gold –
 *  4 || Pink –
 *  3 || Green –
 *  2 || Blue –
 *  1 || Yellow –

The tickets for this system will be similar to those from the last system. Your student will come home with a ticket each night. Please see the chart to learn about our new tickets. A gold ticket coincides with a 5 straw day – this is the best ticket a student can earn.

Please discuss this system at home with your student. It is also helpful to talk daily with your student about the ticket he or she receives. If your student is earning green, pink, or gold tickets on a consistent basis he or she is doing a wonderful job. If your student comes home with a yellow or blue ticket, it is important to discuss this with your student, but please do not dwell on it. Talk about what went on, but then focus on tomorrow. Tomorrow is always a chance for a fresh start to make great choices.

Thank you for your support! - Mrs. Awve

Description: see above

Analysis: I had been using a clothespin system for years where each student had their name on a clothespin and it started on the smiley face and then got moved if their behavior warranted it to be moved. It was not positive. I wanted to put a more positive spin on the discipline in my room, therefore I changed the system to the one above. It's made a world of difference. The children are excited to earn their straws and to count them at the end of the day. I also see other students reminding other kids in the classroom that they want them to have a "five straw day" so they should stop any behavior that would cause them to "lose a straw". It's been a good community builder.