Ok, we are a small pre-k through 5th school of about 300 students.
Fist of all, this problem will not go away over night! Our school has worked on these problems for about the last eight years. The old principal had been there for years and problems were handled with a paddle. No positive reenforceemnt.
Another prinicipal came in eight years ago, well, she had been a teacher here, but anyway, she really changed the school. She implemented programs to reward positive behavior. First of all was Bully Free, which each quarter the student council would award four $50 shopping trips to Wal-Mart with the principal. The students were chosen out of a random drawing of all students who were just that, BULLY FREE!! The kids really wanted that trip! Then when the four each quarter came back, they had their picture taken with their individual purchases, and then posted in the cafeteria. All bully free students received a certificate for that quarter at the awards assembly. The student council then changed it to $25 and two per quarter, but the kids still get a kick out of the possibility that their name will be chosen. Do the kids really love it? you bet! My son won about four or five years ago and he was sooooo excited! Keep in mind the principal took them shopping, so, there is a positive reflection of the principal.
We also have Super Citizen. The students can not get into trouble, talking, running in the hall, whatever, more than three times a month. If they make super citizen, the go to lunch before the first shift, eat lunch with the principal, get and extra dessert, receive a small prize (all donated by PTO, are businesses, school families) and extra long recess. At the end of the year, all students who are super citizen eight out of the nine months of the school year are recognied at the end of the year awards assembly and also receive a certificate. The lunch is set up for k-2 and 3-5 on another day.
This year we have started the ABC Character Education. Every month each classroom teacher chooses three students who display excellence in Academics, Behavior or Character. My daughter won the Character award in her classroom in November and received a certificate. She was soooo thrilled!!
We have also implemented Team Time before school. School starts about 15 minutes early twice a week. All students are assigned a Team Time Teacher, and these classes consist of all grades in each classroom. My second grader goes to a fourth grade room and is with k-5 students. My kindergarten student goes to a first grade class and is also with k-5 students. The classes focus on character education. The kids absolutely LOVE it and actually come to school EARLY on these days. The class last about 25 minutes.
The kindergarten class has 5th grade buddies who come to their class and help them do projects once a week and eat lunch with them. They act as role models for these young students. My daughter's buddy is the student council president, how lucky did she get? Every day after school her buddy comes up and gives her a hug and tells her that she will see her tomorrow. My daughter loves this! On Thurdays she reminds my daughter that she is coming to her class the next day and they will do a project together.
The difference in our school is AMAZING to say the least! We truley do love our school and do see a HUGE difference from the other elementary schools in our town that do not have these programs.
Like I said, this turn around didn't happen over night, but, there light at the end of the tunnel WAS visible immediately, and success has been achieved!
I would also like to say that we do have the B.D. and L.D. kids in our building too. These programs work with them also!! Although I would honestly say that they need to see the rewards much sooner than the end of a quarter or month. This I can say as a parent of an L.D. student, although he is now 18. Your L.D. and B.D. teachers can establish the frequency.
Please do not hesitate to do SOMETHING, the problem will not just go away. Our school has worked very hard to get to where we are today, and we are a GREAT school!
