We hope you all had a restful long weekend.  This week's memo focuses on student behavior.  Just as we often need a few days off to refresh our perspective and attitude, so do many of our students.  As we go into this new week with our Cubs, know that many of them are feeling the stress and pressure of this year just like we are.  Sometimes, all they need is a reset day.  Allow this week to be the moment that you reset with some of your kiddos that have behavioral challenges.  Imagine that this is your day one with them and see what happens!

Student Behavior

At the start of this school year we did a small session on student behavior.  During this session we reviewed the causes for some student misbehavior.  Our students do not wake up in the morning deciding that they are going to misbehave to make our days difficult.  But, there is always an underlying cause for their behavior.  Sometimes, this is can be environmental due to something taking place outside of school. Other times, it can be to avoid tasks/other people or to gain a task or the attention of other people.  In some circumstances, it can be because of internal factors that may be beyond their control (AHD, etc.).  These are just a few of the reasons, but the reality is that there is always a reason.  As you work with students that display challenging behaviors, keep your focus on their "why."  Look for patterns in their behavior, possible triggers, and examine your responses to those behaviors.  This can be challenging... and exhausting.  But, it is important to keep in mind that they are little ones and part of our role that we play in their lives is to help them maneuver through these struggles and be better tomorrow than they were today.  As you work through this, be sure to stay in communication with the child's parent(s).  We are not alone in the journey of supporting behavior.  Be sure to have a relationship with the parent(s) of your challenging students.  This relationship will grow stronger as you show your desire to help their child and take time to praise and celebrate their mini accomplishments with them.  This relationship will allow you to communicate their struggles and have these struggles received in a more supportive way.  

One way that we tried to improve communication about undesired behaviors was through our infraction forms.  Remember, you can locate these infraction forms through the DCE Staff Shared Drive.  They can be found in the "Behavior" folder.  To determine if a behavior is an infraction or a referral, please refer to the "DCE Behavior Flow Chart" and "Behavior Hierarchy" that can also be found in this folder.  Below is some of our behavior data collected so far this year:

Students with Infractions: 35

Total Referrals: 81

Students with Referrals: 43

Below is a link to a video that comes to my mind when working with students that have behavior struggles.  It is worth the three minutes!  Sometimes, a shift in our view of the behavior and/or the student can change everything.  Let's reset!

VIDEO LINK: CLICK HERE

Don't forget that there are people to help you brainstorm about students that you are concerned about.  Step one is to always check in and chat with your team and your case manager.  This week is child talk.  If you have a kiddo that is a concern, bring them up!  More heads are better than one.  Once you discuss the student at Child Talk your case manager will be able to let you know your next steps.

This Week's Schedule