PS11: Anticipates conflicts and orchestrates activities and interactions to promote the pro-social development of young children in the areas of self-awareness, personal responsibility, and respect for self and others, including explicitly modeling how to engage in equitable and respectful conversation and behavior
Evidence 1: Script for Assisting Children in Conflict Resolution
Description: This is the conversation that I encourage and aid children in having when they have been hurt by a friend.
Analysis: When materials are taken or children bump into each other, a child's first reaction is generally to cry or use their bodies in unsafe ways to resolve the conflict. As a teacher I am able to role model and assist children as they learn to use their words instead of their bodies. As children learn to communicate, they grow in respect for themselves and for others within their environment.
Evidence 2: Circle of Grace Program
Description: "Learn how to structure the first six weeks of school to lay the groundwork for a productive year of learning. Discover how taking the time to build a solid foundation in the early weeks of school can pay off all year long in increased student motivation, cooperation, responsibility, and self-control."
Analysis: This program assists in building an environment that is predictable and safe for all who enter. While this resource was created for Kindergarten through sixth grade classrooms, many of the tools can be altered to fit a preschool classroom. For example, the expectations for week one include all members of the classroom knowing each other's names, know basic expectations and routines throughout the day and children's artifacts will be displayed around the room. These are all tasks that we work on in preschool, but instead of having this be a goal for the first week of school, I stretch it out and make it a goal for the end of the third week of school. As pieces of this curriculum are implemented, children gain more control and responsibility within their classroom environment.
Description: Circle of Grace is a safe environment program for children and youth that is designed for use both in Catholic schools and in parish religious education programs. Circle of Grace’s curriculum is steeped in the truths of the Catholic faith and provides a holistic approach to the safety, well-being, and spiritual formation of children and youth.
Analysis: As I use this resource within my classroom, children learn about bubble space, or their own circle of grace, and appropriate touches. Children also learn about safe adults and words that they can use if they experience an unsafe touch. My favorite piece of this curriculum focuses on each child's circle of grace. Children practice stretching their arms in all directions to determine where their circle of grace extends. As they observe their circle of grace, and the circle of grace belonging to other children, students become prepared to accept a new level of responsibility in the care and safety of themselves and others.
Evidence 3: The First Six Weeks of School
Denton, P., & Kriete, R. (2000). The First Six Weeks of School. Turners Falls: Northeast Foundation for Children.
