assistant's commentsComments On: EverythingArticles Blogs Journals Photos created by: Everyoneassistant School Safety - Blog Entry25 Feb 2007 01:14 PM Our school entrance doors are kept locked all day. Visitors go through the office tbefore entering the hallways. Also, the classroom doors are kept locked. We try to have fire, weather, emergency, & intruder drills monthly. Several years ago, there was a gas leak in our small community (not at our school), so we used our drill by evacuating the school and walked the children away from the campus to a safe area. At that time we had about 400+ students. The students conducted themselves very mannerly. Some were scared, but everything was organized and in control. Drills pay off. School Safety - Blog Entry25 Feb 2007 01:13 PM Our school entrance doors are kept locked all day. Visitors go through the office tbefore entering the hallways. Also, the classroom doors are kept locked. We try to have fire, weather, emergency, & intruder drills monthly. Several years ago, there was a gas leak in our small community (not at our school), so we used our drill by evacuating the school and walked the children away from the campus to a safe area. At that time we had about 400+ students. The students conducted themselves very mannerly. Some were scared, but everything was organized and in control. Drills pay off. Sending Gifts to School - Blog Entry25 Feb 2007 01:06 PM I have seen children in our elementary school actually cry because they didn't get flowers, balloons, etc at Valentine. I think it would be best for the lower grades, if parents would purchase the seasonal pencils, erasers, stickers, etc for every child in the class. Most classes have 15 to 25 children. These items generally come in packs of 12 to 20 or more. It would be inexpensive and give every child a gift. Howard Glasser and Difficult Children - Blog Entry23 Feb 2007 06:30 AM I have attended a Glasser in-service. His approach is new to our school, but we plan to implement it school-wide in the fall. This will be rather simple for the younger teachers, but it will take extra thought & work for us 'older' people. We are set in the ways we were taught many years ago, but hopefully everyone on staff will be willing to try this concept, because that is the only way we can make it work school wide. High School Activities in Middle & Elementary Schools - Blog Entry23 Feb 2007 06:24 AM I work in a rural elementary school. We have Kindergarten graduation pictures (caps & gowns), kindergarten & eighth grade graduations, superlatives in eighth grade, basketball eighth grade night & homecoming. Most of our eighth grade girls wear 'prom type' dresses to their graduation. If there is a graduation, I think Sunday dresses would be much better. I think we are taking many important functions from the high school students. I can remember how important extra events were to me in high school. Self-Respect Verses Self-Esteem - Blog Entry14 Feb 2007 12:32 PM Self esteem is SO very important in a child's life. Several years ago, one of our eighth grade teachers decided that all children must wear their shirts tucked inside their pants. We had a very sweet, larger girl who cried when she was told the new rule. In a faculty meeting one of our older teacher said that she was against new rule, because she did no want to wear her shirt tucked in. So, as a faculty, we threw the rule out the window. The girl was very glad that she did not have to tuck her shirt in. She had a very low self esteem and this would not help at all. Later, in high school, she hanged herself. As I heard the news, I remembered her tears in our school and was so glad that we did not add to her frustration by making her wear her shirt tucked in. Our upper grade students are measured and weighed, but I'm not certain what type note goes home. I do know this is done in private. School Lunch: Freedom of Leaving Items Off - Blog Entry11 Feb 2007 04:05 PM I have been in the local school system for 21 years in the same elementary school. When I started working there children were not asked 'what they wanted on their trays', everything was put on the trays. Of course, some children did not eat everything, but actually some did. I had children to tell me they didn't like a certain food, but once they saw the others eating it, they would try it, and most of the time they did like it. In the last 3 years children have been asked 'what do you want on your tray'. I questioned our cafeteria staff about this, and was told they HAD to ask every child and put what the child wanted on the tray. Of course there are standards to meet. I agree that especially young children should NOT be allowed to choose what is put on their tray. I don't think they are mature enough to make such decision. I am amazed at what some 1st/2nd graders get for lunch. I wish parents would ask more questions and get more involved in the food situation at school. I agree that most parents think their child is getting what is on the menu, but this is not true at our school. Tips for Taking Field Trips with Your Child - Blog Entry20 Jan 2007 09:51 AM Working for twenty-one years as an assistant in the local school system, I have been on many field trips. Mostly, the parents are wonderful helpers, but I, too, have seen parents who are there 'just for their children'. I think teachers and parents will benefit from Ms. Weathers' article. |
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