Quality Teacher & Education Act Impact & Innovation Awards 2013

INNOVATIVE PRACTICE
Rationale / Priority (250 words) After examining student, staff and family surveys, we decided to adopt community values and infuse them into all aspects of school life in order to impact the relational trust students feel for one another and their teachers, as well as to develop their social emotional habits of heart and mind. We proposed to teach them one a month through class meetings, scenario work, read alouds, technology and field trips in both the school day, after school and in parent meetings. Month(s) Value August/ September Bilingual Community October Integrity November/December Perseverance January Empathy February Creativity March Responsibility April Flexibility May All values Strategies that were Implemented (250 words) These values were chosen after staff engaged in a process to narrow down the values from thirty five to seven. We then worked with families through the PTA, ELAC and SSC to come up with descriptions of what each value looks like in the families home cultures, churches, community centers etc.

Classroom Instruction Teaching students what the values mean and look like in practice are integral parts in instilling them in our students. We proposed that teachers focus at least one class meeting per week on instruction around the value being highlighted each month. Recognizing Students for Practicing Values It was also important that we celebrate and honor students for living these values in their lives at school. We propose to use an Acto de Bondad/ Honorable Act Certificate to recognize students positive actions. We honor those students on Monday mornings during community circle to recognize their whole classes for one of the values and provide an example of how the class was practicing that particular value. Infusing Values Throughout the School After school programs also teach within the same calendar as the school day staff. We are engaging parents and educators in team-builders related to the highlighted value each month at parent and educator meetings. We plan to have the values posted throughout the school on friendly, inviting posters.

Quality Teacher & Education Act Impact & Innovation Awards 2013 Implementation factors: # people: # hours: Cost estimate: Other(s): 600+ 50 $5,000 Enter text Character education or teaching students important habits of heart and mind will help them develop empathy and make decisions that show their understanding of their impact on the world. While we have just begun this work with the students this year, we are already seeing changes in student behavior. Last week, a student came up to me with a dollar he had found on the yard, Ms. Steiner, he said, I found this and its not mine. We learned that integrity means doing the right thing. . .even when no one is watching. These types of behavioral shifts will go a long way in creating citizens that care not just about themselves, but about the world. Additionally, our thought is that students that are historically undeserved will have chances to be honored for their integrity, empathy, perseverance and creativity as they continue to gain academic competence and proficiency. We are more than willing to share this practice across the district and it fits well with the restorative practices that the district has adopted, as we use circles to teach many of the values in class.

Demonstrated Application & Measurable Outcomes (400 words)

Sharing Best Practice (250 words)