December Cheer

Can you believe that half of the school year is almost over? Christmas has come upon us and we are faced with the prospects of a new year. As each of you go about your Christmas activities with family and friends, remember how exciting this time of year truly is. Think back to when you were a child; Christmas equated magic. There was magic in the snow falling, magic in the smell of the towering Christmas tree, and magic in the selfless giving that so abundantly takes place this time of year. All too often we grow older and forget about this magic of the Christmas season. However, working in the schools, we are surrounded by children everyday and can easily be reminded of the innocent, youthful feeling of Christmas cheer that children embody so well. Let us each make an extra effort to embrace this time of year and spread a little December cheer to those about us.

A Unique Approach to Recognizing Kids Who Receive Praise Notes

Park View Elementary School has developed their own way of recognizing kids who receive praise notes.

Every month, a different grade level is chosen to teach the social skill for the month at a school-wide assembly. The students have used creative methods such as writing their own songs and skits to help other students understand how to show better character through their actions. At each assembly, a student from each classroom is honored as the team leader of good character by receiving a certificate.

Students who receive praise notes for exhibiting appropriate social skills get to go to the office and pick a penny from the jar. The penny has a number written on it that corresponds to a numbered box on the “Principal's 200 board.” The student's name is written in the box. When a whole row on the board is full of students' names, each child in the row is called to the office and given a treat for showing Peaceable character. Below are pictures of the Principal’s 200 board and students seated at a school-wide social skill assembly.

Sara Matis, the principal of Park View Elementary said of Peaceable Schools, “Peaceable Schools has been the missing link between the existing discipline and character education programs in our school. The program has also helped all staff members increase the positive recognition students receive for doing what they should.” Way to go Park View!!

Ideas For Using School-to-Home Notes

There are many fun ways to design school-to-home notes. Below is an example of a school-to-home note designed for Spanish Oaks Elementary.

Spanish Oaks Elementary

Explorer Pride Begins With YOU!

Hi kids! This month, we will be working on a very important social skill: HOW TO LISTEN.

To learn the steps to this skill, please use the clues below to fill in the crossword puzzle. Please do this activity with your parents and return this note to your teacher. Have fun and good luck!

Down:

1. Look at the ___________ who is talking.

2. Wait your ___________ to talk.

Across:

1. Say what you want to say without changing the

___________.

2. ____________ about what is being said.

________________________________________________________________________

Parent’s Signature

Other schools are also introducing school-to-home notes in their monthly PTA newsletters. This is a great way to get the word out to parents.

Social Skill of the Month

Each month, we will feature a social skill from one of the participating schools and a new idea, story, or experience to inspire you. Santaquin Elementary has found an interesting way to implement their social skill for this month: “How to Show Appreciation.”

How to Show Appreciation

1. Notice the things others do for you.

2. Look the person in the eyes.

3. Say “thank you” for what the person did for you and why you appreciate it.

The librarian at Santaquin Elementary, Joyce Smith, wanted to develop a fun way for students to implement the social skill of the month into their everyday actions. She did this by creating a giant appreciation paper chain. Students were instructed to think of when and how they could show appreciation to another person during the following week. They then wrote their goal down on a slip of paper and linked them all together. To help students achieve their goal, this paper chain was strung across the top of the book shelves and ceiling of the room to serve as a visual reminder of the goals that were made. Below are pictures of this awesome appreciation paper chain and of Mrs. Smith reading to some students with the paper chain in the background. Thanks for the great idea Santaquin Elementary!

Upcoming Newsletter

Our upcoming “Peaceable Possibilities” in January will feature the following things:

• How to implement fables into teaching social skills at home and in the classroom
• Ideas for the new year
• Other great stuff!