Meet KIDee

This morning, we had guests. Mrs. Prose and Mrs. Arens joined our classroom learning community, along with their students. They were explaining fourth grade Responsibility Cards when a "new" student showed up and joined the class ...


She had a backpack falling off her shoulders, wore a hat, obnoxiously and rudely chewed bubble gum, was singing (off-key), and well, her behavior was even more concerning (ask your fourth grader to tell you about "this one")!!!

"K.I.Dee"

We aren't sure who was more unprepared for her shenanigans, the students or Mrs. Prose and Mrs. Arens ...

It didn't take long for students and teachers to help KIDee make some better choices, before one eye roll and huff too many, she was sent to visit the Planning Room. Luckily for us, Ms. Leom passed her in the hallway and returned to our discussion!

What we learned, Responsibility Cards are a strategy used throughout fourth grade to reward students or give reminders for their choices. Students can earn initials from staff throughout the building for making responsible choices. Students can also punch their responsibility cards when they make a choice they need to rethink. At the end of a reward period, students can earn a reward. Swimming, hiking, visiting a local park, extra Recess, (electronic) game day, and more are previous rewards.

We continue to use the school wide behavior program of Stop and Think 10s and Behavior Referrals. Most of the time, Stop and Think 10s are for repeated poor choices already recorded on the Responsibility Cards. Behavioral Referrals are for serious concerns.

Students need to have three things to be eligible to attend a reward. First, they need their Responsibility Cards with the necessary credit (circles) and initials (combined).  Second, they need to have all of their learning completed and turned into their teacher(s). Third, if they had a Stop and Think 10, it was signed and returned the next school day and there wasn't any referrals. Students who are not able to attend a reward work in a classroom with a fourth grade teacher. If they are working on missing work, support is available to help them complete the work. If students have completed their work, they often read.

At the end of a reward period, students have their missing work turned to zeroes, everyone receives new responsibility cards, and a new opportunity to succeed.

We emphasize that ALL of our students are GOOD kids. We know that. We know that students will receive punches. A punch does not mean "BAD", it means, a reminder to change. The punch can be subtly indicated to that student only, without bringing the whole class's attention to the concern. There are days when students have activities and families have plans that prevent completing all homework. It happens to everyone. There are times, when you might forget your name on your paper, or you may have something interesting to share with a friend, while a teacher is talking. We are working with students, and we expect they will make a decision or two that results with a punch as they find their way.

Today, September 5th, Ms. Leom gave verbal cues as to what might earn initials or punches. Tomorrow, Friday September 6th, students will receive their cards. More verbal cues will be shared with many reminders. On Monday September 9th, we will begin using the Responsibility Cards regularly. Reminders will be given in circumstances that are new to students. For example, after practicing for several days and receiving a list of materials needed for Mr. Greninger's classroom, kept in the back of a student planner, he might say to a student, "You didn't know that you should have all your materials when you come to Math, today go back to your room and get your Math notebook, next time, it will be a punch." Or the first two times a student forgets their planner in a locker, they may go get it, with a warning, "From now on, it will cost you a punch."

We are a classroom learning community in process ... Letters were also sent home at Open House explaining the program.