Monday was a big day!
First thing in the morning, we start our days with a morning meeting. Here, we discuss things like growth mindset, managing emotions, maintaining focus, and interactions with others. This week, the focus has been on “situational appropriateness” – I also call it “applying your appropriate filter.” Behavioral expectations change depending on our environment – a restaurant, at home, class time, recess, on the bus, etc.. This week, the students have been working together in groups to order behaviors from most important to least important in different circumstances. For example, the students put the following behaviors in the following order when on a field trip:
- following directions
- using your filter
- being productive
- being kind to others
- having fun
- compromising with others
- interacting with friends
- being comfortable
- making people laugh
- getting rest
This activity ended up being a great forum to discuss what each of these behaviors means in different circumstances. Students pointed out that “following directions” made it easier to do other behaviors like “compromising with others” and “being productive.” We also compared this hierarchy to one made for recess (“being productive” fell to the bottom while “using your filter” and “following directions” remained near the top).
Later in the day, we attended a fire safety demonstration put on by some Springfield firefighters. They discussed the importance of fire safety while cooking.
In the afternoon, the 4th and 5th grades attended the Children’s Symphony. The theme was “To the Races” – and the discussion of music revolved around “pump-up” music. It was a terrific way to experience the symphony!