The last week and a day before the holiday and both students and us educators are getting anxious about the holidays and we are all a bit tired for good reasons. The last thing we need is a conflict that creates negative emotions, additional meetings with students or similarly tired parents, etc. This time of the year is often inviting few emotional breakdowns. Below you can find few gentle reminders of the areas we want to be focusing on.
One way to prevent the above is to be extra vigilant in the playground. Please, move around in the playground and observe, guide and spread positive spirit amongst the students. Our presence and words help students to make positive choices and decisions. Follow-up carefully every situation students are reporting to the supervisors to make sure that things don't get escalated. Please, come and pick up your students from the lunch break to follow-up any potential conflict.
Transitions are another area of attention. Many of you do this already, but if you suspect that the students may be running, having heated discussions or arguments or just being noisy as they move, please accompany them to keep the peace.
Additionally, in the classroom, it is good to spend some time discussing and reminding students about behavior expectations and holding everybody accountable for what has been agreed before.
Thank you all for chipping in on this.
Heikki
