AUGUST 2012: Choices, Rules, and Routines

The experiences planned during this month should focus on learning school rules and routines.  The environment at PreK is structured so that children can make choices of planned activities and materials.  This ability to choose and play gives the child power and prevents many conflicts during the school day.  Children are encouraged to develop language skills that help them to communicate their needs and feelings.  Language is modeled for them by adults and other children so that they may learn to use language as a problem solving tool.

Rules and procedures are a positive way to guide children and help them learn acceptable behavior.  Teachers incorporate both Positive Behavior Support and Conscious Discipline techniques in the school-wide discipline plan.  Florida's Positive Behavior Support (PBS) gives people a new way to think about behavior. PBS is based on understanding why problem behaviors occur - the behavior's function. Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive self-regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning and discipline.