Big Tree Elementary School

As a parent myself, I realize that it is a very difficult task to raise respectful and responsible children in today's world.  I also know that you want your child to be the best individual that he/she can be.  The person that your child will be for the rest of his/her life is developing now in these early formative years. 

Over the next ten months I will be spending a considerable amount of time with your child.  In essence, you and I will be partners as we guide your child down the right paths.  This is not a responsibility we at Big Tree take lightly.  Character education is taught, modeled and praised on a daily basis by all the members of the Big Tree family.

Research shows that children thrive when expectations are clear and boundaries are well defined.  With this in mind, I would like to share my classroom expectations with you so we can be " on the same page."  We have 4 simple rules that will serve your child well in first grade and life in general:
          1. Be Kind
          2. Be Safe
          3. Work Hard
          4. Listen
For most children these are not difficult guidelines to follow but experience has shown that some children need reminders to make good choices.  I understand that the first few days of establishing routines may prove overwhelming for some and I will provide frequent reminders about the classroom rules.  Once routines are set, I use a pocket chart as a visual reminder to the children about how their day is progressing behaviorally.  Each child has a labeled pocket on the chart.  In the pocket are 4 different colored cards- green, yellow, red, gold.  Green  means the day is going fine, yellow means slow down and think about your choices and red means stop.  The gold card is used to reward children who are exhibiting super behavior and character.

Any child not making good behavior choices will be given a verbal reminder before he/she is asked to "flip a card."  If the verbal reminder is not effective then the child will flip to yellow which results in that child losing half playtime.  If the poor choices continue the child will flip to red and miss all of playtime.

PLEASE NOTE!  Once a card has been flipped, I encourage that child to make choices that I can praise allowing him/her to flip back, earning back playtime.  I never want any child to miss playtime but from time to time it is necessary.

Each day is a new day and everyone starts out on green again.  In the past I have observed that it only takes once or twice for a child to realize that missing playtime is not desirable and the choices improve.  Eventually I am able to phase the chart out.

These 4 simple rules help keep everyone happy, creating a safe and loving envionment in which to work and play.