Paws

The students love the "paws" we give out for good behavior. Research has shown that most interactions between adults and children are neutral. That is why when we have a need to correct behavior it really stands out. Pointing out good behavior is not just about making a child feel good. In fact being positive is not always synonymous with being nice. It actually teaches students what is expected of them.

Friendship

As well as academic acheivement the developmental task for the ages of children we have at Prairieview is social development. Kids don't need casts of thousands but it is really a good thing to have at least one friend at school. Most parents understand this and regard it as common sense. If your child mentions not having someone to sit with at lunch or play with at recess you could help. Inviting a child for a play date can really make a big difference.

Anxiety

The most common mental health issue for children today is anxiety. Some concern is certainly normal. It can save us from mistakes, and help keep us safe. Of course we want children to know the safety rules appropriate for different environments. However, sometimes with the best of intentions we may give the impression we expect bad things to happen. This can happen with bullying. Sometimes children can get nervous about it and miss opportunities to make friends. Occasionally, kids are creating conflicts thinking they are defending themselves. One good way to handle this if we are worried is to ask open ended questions. “What did you do at recess?” or “Tell me about class today.” are good examples. If you would like to discuss this more give me a call at 630-783-5158.

Behavior Errors

When children don't follow rules sometime adults take it personally. People feel disrespected. Most often it has nothing more to do with disrespect than misspelling a word does.
Children have a natural predisposition to do what is right, that is what pleases the adults in their lives. The most productive response to a behavior error is to approach it at the same emotional level as a misspelled word. We point out the correct behavior and move on.
When there is reoccurring misbehavior the unwanted behaviors are somehow being reinforced.