NIST Elementary School

Positive Learning Environment Philosophy Statement

The NIST Elementary Schools Positive Learning Environment Philosophy aims to ensure a safe and caring learning environment. Its intention is to: 1. Help students develop responsibility and build international mindedness through the learner profile. 2. Maintain optimal learning opportunities for students. School facilities and classrooms must be free of behaviors that interfere with teaching and learning. 3. Help students develop skills and behaviors necessary for healthy social interaction. 4. Help students learn how their decisions affect the quality of their own and others lives. 5. Assist all members of the NIST community to demonstrate respect for themselves, others and the environment. Guiding Principles for our Philosophy Students learn best when parents and the school work collaboratively to support them. Each student is a unique individual with his/her own personal, spiritual, physical, social, and educational needs. As a result, every issue that arises is also unique. Consequences for misbehavior provide the best learning value when aligned to the student and the individual situation. Children learn best from their mistakes when they see a reasonable connection between their behavior and a resulting consequence.

The NIST Elementary School staff dedicates itself to following a set of core beliefs that provide a guide for dealing with student conduct. These core beliefs direct our approach to help students see reasonable connections between their behavior and the resulting consequence. Core Beliefs as developed by the NIST Elementary School staff
1. We believe that in most cases, students should be guided and expected to solve the problems they create without making problems for anyone else. 2. We believe that in such circumstances, every attempt should be made to maintain the dignity of both the adult and the student.

3. When solving a problem, we believe that it is best if a student does most of the thinking. 4. When appropriate, we believe that misbehaviour should be handled with natural consequences. 5. We believe that there should be a logical connection between misbehaviour and resulting consequences. 6. We believe that misbehaviour should be viewed as an opportunity for individual learning, problem solving and preparation for the real world. 7. We believe students should have the opportunity to share their side of the story (a due process hearing).

School-wide Classroom Expectations for Students 1. Treat everyone with respect. 2. Student actions should not cause problems for others. 3. If students cause a problem, they will be respectfully asked to solve it. 4. If students cannot solve the problem, or choose not to, the teacher or a school leader will provide guidance. This guidance will depend upon the situation and the individuals involved. If a student feels that the guidance is unfair, they should communicate this to the teacher or school leader. For example, the student could whisper, Im not sure thats fair, and the teacher or school leader will find time to talk about this with the student. Classroom Essential Agreements It is expected that all teachers will develop Essential Agreements with their students to ensure the classroom is a fair and respectful place in line with the schools Positive Learning Environment Philosophy. These should state what students will do, be few in number, be stated positively and written in a manner easily understood by all members of the class. For example: We will demonstrate respect for others. We will show care for all property.

Appendix
Natural and Logical Consequences What are natural consequences? Natural consequences are outcomes that happen as a result of behaviour that are not planned or controlled (Pryor & Tollerud, 1999). For example, if a student cuts in front of another student in line, the natural consequence may be that the other child wont play with the cutter at recess. A teacher did not plan or control this consequence, but he or she may discuss and help students

predict natural consequences to encourage them to see the connection between their choices and what happens to them. What are logical consequences? Logical consequences do not naturally occur as a result of behaviour, but are intentionally planned by teachers and administrators. Logical consequences are similar to what would happen to an adult in a similar situation, therefore teaching students skills that they will need to be successful later on in life. Logical consequences need to be related, respectful, and reasonable (Nelson, 1985). Definitions from: http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/?q=behavior_plans/classroom_and_group_support/teacher _tools/natural_and_logical_consequences