Social Emotional Learning

Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is a process to create a safe, positive, and productive learning environment for all children. 

At Betty Adams, we use the acronym SOAR, which stands for:

• Safe environment
• Outstanding effort
• Accepting responsibility 
• Respect for self and others

Rewards and celebrations occur in classrooms and throughout the building to let students know that we see how amazing they are and how hard they work every day!

A core principle of PBIS that you can use at home is the 5:1 rule. For every corrective statement made, provide five positive statements or praises of your child's behavior.

Betty Adams Elementary will be using Restorative Practices and Proactive Circles throughout the school year. 

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Quick overview of restorative practice

Restorative Practices is a term used to describe a relationship-oriented approach (rather than a punishment-oriented one) to resolving issues that arise in school. The five Rs of Restorative Practice are relationship, respect, responsibility, repair, and reintegration.

• Proactive Circles — happen weekly in the classroom for the purpose of connection and belonging (usually a question with a brief answer where everyone participates). 
  • Example: What can we do to be kinder at recess?
• Responsive Circles — happen as needed in classrooms to address incidents that may cause harm (bullying, playground conflict, or unsafe behavior) or denote a change in the community (new student or a student’s last day)
• Informal Conferences — used to talk to an individual or small group about an issue (student/teacher conflict, habitual tardies, etc.) using 4 questions to reflect on effects of the behavior:
  • What happened?
  • Who did it affect?
  • What might you have done differently?
  • What is a solution so it doesn’t happen again?
• Preconferences — fact-finding review of the 4 questions with each individual in conflict prior to determine whether to put them together in a formal RP conference
• RP Conferences — conference with two people in conflict or a reintegration of a student who has been suspended that results in a signed, mutually agreeable and student-generated solution

• What is restorative practice (RP)? RP prevents issues between students by using conversation and building relationships in the classroom. RP manages conflict and sets expectations for positive student behavior. Students are asked to participate in informal conferences with each other to repair relationships and come to a mutually agreeable solution to prevent further problems or misunderstandings.
• What is the goal of restorative practice? Just as we teach our students to add or subtract, we want to teach them to get along and handle conflict in school. By building relationships we want to prevent issues by encouraging the kids to really get to know each other. We want our students to stay in the classroom by decreasing suspensions in and out of school. We are working to achieve a positive learning environment where our students feel valued because we respect and listen to them.

Restorative Practice: 

• reduces suspensions
• encourages students to learn new social skills
• addresses incidents that may cause harm
• provides support
• teaches children to take responsibility for their actions
• fosters relationships

Second Step is taught weekly in every classroom. The lessons provide instruction in social and emotional learning with units on skills for learning, empathy, emotion management, friendship skills, and problem solving. Second Step uses four key strategies to reinforce skill development: brain builder games, weekly theme activities, reinforcing activities, and home links. These links offer you an overview of the lessons being covered in your child's class as well as tips and practice opportunities for you to use at home. 

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