Student Language

According to last week's poll 70% of responders report hearing kids say rude things to others and 83% have students make reports or complaints about disrespectful language. Yet only 54% say they always apply appropriate consequences and 37% admit that they don't know what to do.  Good news is that only two people, or 8% felt that we could not change these actions.

The Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support committee has brainstormed some possible ways to make a positive impact on changing how kids talk to each other.  We need your help.  We need everyone to respond, and not ignore rude language.  We need to make repeat offenders "not cool" and kindness the norm.  We will begin to focus our attention today.

Friday's character assembly will include a new challenge. As before, please bring your class to the gym as soon as possible. We will do the pledge, Wise Words, certificates, acknowledgements, skits for Honesty theme and then present the challenge to "Clean up our dirty mouths." This is a play on the Orbit gum commercials. We are going to illustrate the idea through a skit by staff. Then announce a first time ever "gum day". Here is the plan:

• All staff should focus behavior cards on honesty and kind/appropriate language for the month of February.
• Watch for displays of restraint in language and positive examples of kind words toward others.
• Set a consequence for every incident of inappropriate language; whether that be a "bad word" or "mean words" Some consequences could be writing 10 good things about the other, using a Thesaurus to find more appropriate words, writing a letter explaining incident with parents, etc.
• Keep track of students reported for using inappropriate or unkind language. These students will miss their chance to participate in "Gum Day"