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Back in the day when we started this journey with dd1, they had elaborate prize setups for good behavior. You could earn points (or toy dollars) for good behavior. There was always done color coding system as well. But you were able to earn the "berry points" from any staff member. There was a "berry store" where you could trade in your points for prizes. That became a headache to run (volunteers after school) and by the time dd was in 4th grade kids just bought the prizes they wanted with real cash from home. I don't know how that happened.
Prize buckets in class are motivating (they had them for my 1st and 2nd graders) but even with prizes, in a school that uses the color code it's usually tied to your color.
Really it's the luck of the draw if you get a teacher who can work with the color code (it's usually a requirement for schools who do use it) and still meet the needs of your child.
My dd2 had major focus issues in 1st grade. She would have always been on yellow or red with a strict teacher. Her amazing veteran teacher set up a spot for dd to go to when she needed a break and to recharge her battery. Dd would go there, scribble or color furiously for 5 min, then be able to go back to work. I'm so thankful she had a teacher who understood her needs and respected that not all young kids can sit still for 6 hours with little breaks here and there.
Cheri is there anything you could suggest to your teacher for A to have as an outlet when she feels like she must chat? Or do whatever she's being colored down for? Can you think of any relatively non-distracting activity that she could do when she needs to recharge?
Hugs----- this stuff is so frustrating.
Prize buckets in class are motivating (they had them for my 1st and 2nd graders) but even with prizes, in a school that uses the color code it's usually tied to your color.
Really it's the luck of the draw if you get a teacher who can work with the color code (it's usually a requirement for schools who do use it) and still meet the needs of your child.
My dd2 had major focus issues in 1st grade. She would have always been on yellow or red with a strict teacher. Her amazing veteran teacher set up a spot for dd to go to when she needed a break and to recharge her battery. Dd would go there, scribble or color furiously for 5 min, then be able to go back to work. I'm so thankful she had a teacher who understood her needs and respected that not all young kids can sit still for 6 hours with little breaks here and there.
Cheri is there anything you could suggest to your teacher for A to have as an outlet when she feels like she must chat? Or do whatever she's being colored down for? Can you think of any relatively non-distracting activity that she could do when she needs to recharge?
Hugs----- this stuff is so frustrating.
I toured the expensive private school today as one of their fall/application process tours. I'm pretty sure I was the only first grade parent in our group, the others were looking at K for next year but I also got a Pre-K packet for R. The application fee is $40, I think I'm going to go ahead and apply for both of them. The process really picks up in mid-November when there is more paperwork to fill out, a teacher reference, etc. To be honest I'm a little concerned with having A's current teacher fill out a teacher reference on her, I don't think she really likes her, I overheard her say yesterday "I'm all about the academics" and while I know A is doing very well in that area its not the area that concerns me as much as the others. You should see the classrooms at this other school, they're crazy big - we got to see a few classes in session (18-20 kids/2 teachers), play areas, etc. the list is exhaustive as to how these rooms/facilities are better then what they have now.
I would ask about teacher personalities, communications, extras (our school offers in school piano lessons, after school art classes, clubs, etc). Reading and math programs.
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