Ms. Juanita Urrutia
Pre-kindergarten


Discipline Program

 

Children in Pre-K, their families, teachers and everybody at Colegio Maya are members of a school community. We all work together to be safe, helpful, kind, and wise. 

 

The goals of the discipline program are to help children:

 

·        Create a comfortable, safe and enjoyable learning environment.

 

·        Develop autonomy and responsibility.

 

·        Build emotional intelligence.

 

·        Engage in conflict resolution.

 

To develop the children’s sense of order, responsibility and self-regulation Rosemary and I will:

·        Build a sense of community.

 

·        Identify and model the behaviors that allow children to be safe, helpful, kind, and wise.

 

·        Set clear, consistent, and fair limits for children’s behavior.

 

·        Explain and model how to accomplish tasks, move around the room and playground, use materials and equipment, identify and respect personal spaces, work cooperatively, as well as engage in play and activities.

 

·        Monitor, guide, assist, encourage and support children.

 

·        Listen to and acknowledge children’s feelings and frustrations and respond with respect.

 

·        Redirect children to more acceptable behavior or activity.

 

·        Offer alternatives and give a limited choice in cases of inappropriate behavior.

 

·        Teach children strategies to change their emotional state from upset to calm.

 

·        Teach the steps in conflict resolution.

 

Children are asked to sign the following classroom agreement:

 

We, the children of pre-kindergarten agree to:

Be Safe.

Be Helpful.

Be Kind.

Be Wise.

 

Pre-K children are given opportunities to see, hear, feel, discuss, learn, and practice what it means to be safe, helpful, kind and wise as they learn to create a comfortable, safe and enjoyable learning environment for themselves and for others. During the day, children are asked to stop and to identify how they are fulfilling the classroom agreement. This allows children to notice their behavior and to either celebrate their success and feel proud of their contribution to the safety and enjoyment in the room, or realize that they need to make different choices in order to fulfill the classroom agreement and actively contribute to the safety and enjoyment of the class.

 

Safe Center

 

The Safe Center is a place where children can go to take time to reflect and think. Children are encouraged to go to the Safe Center when they feel upset, worried, or tired, so that they may calm down and relax, or regain their energy and concentration.

 

The Safe Center has supplies that help students change their emotional state from upset to calm. These include blankets, stuffed animals, scented containers, a rocking chair, music, kaleidoscopes, a mirror, a friends and family picture book, and breathing strategy posters.

 

Because it is important for young children to learn to recognize and verbalize their own emotions and needs, as well as take ownership and control over how they feel and how they respond, children are welcome to go to the center whenever they feel they need to do so. They are also allowed to stay there until they feel ready to join the rest of the class.

 

Conflict Resolution Station

 

When children encounter conflict they can visit the Conflict Resolution Station where they are guided in the process of conflict resolution. Learning to resolve conflicts will enable young children to learn appropriate ways to respond to anger, conflicts, and disagreements. 

 

Passes

 

Teachers may give students a Safe Center Pass or a Conflict Resolution Pass to go and visit these stations so that they may gain control of their emotions and resolve their conflicts in an appropriate manner. A Composure Pass is also available should a student need to leave the room to visit Ms. Zea, our school counselor, or Ms. Sherman, our elementary principal.

 

Celebrations

 

At the end of the day we will talk and evaluate how well we are fulfilling our pre-k contract and how we are contributing to the safe and enjoyable learning environment in the class. We will celebrate our success by singing songs, enjoying movement activities, and playing games together. Sometimes we will hold special celebrations such as picnics and dances.

 

Parent Communication

 

Parents will be kept informed of the social-emotional growth of their children through e-mail messages, phone calls, and meetings. Parents are welcome to schedule an appointment to speak to me about any concerns they may have. Please call 2365-0037 or 2365-4868 to schedule an appointment with Patty, our elementary secretary, or send me an email at jurrutia@cm.edu.gt

 

Please read my web folder to learn more about the Social-Emotional Development Program in pre-kindergarten.

 

The discipline program in pre-k is based on the principles and ideas of Concious Disicpline, a program developed by Dr. Becky Bailey.  For more information about Dr. Bailey’s program see:

www.conciousdisicpline.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j3gF1dh_t4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jfTlduYkRk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqoFHnJWFiQ&feature=related