We use a peacemaking curriculum that helps promote a positive and peaceful learning environment. The peacemaking curriculum is implemented in each class and throughout the entire school community.
The curriculum encourages:
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Children to talk to one another about their problems and settling their disputes
- Teachers to be responsive to the children at all times
- Teachers to expect positive behavior
- Children and teachers to show respect, warmth, and kindness for each other
- Using positive words and praise to help guide the child
Discussing problems privately whether talking with the child, parents, or other staff
- Awareness of appropriate behaviors and different developmental stages.
Social skills are an important part of early childhood development. We are fortunate to participate in the Lifeworks Strategies, Adventures in Peacemaking Program. This program provides the teachers and children with innovative methods of dealing with conflicts in a peaceful manner and develops productive conflict resolution habits for the future.
The program includes activities in all subject areas, for all ages. These activities teach: acceptance, diversity, cooperation, sharing, feelings, winning, and more! Focusing on the Peacemaking Program in the everyday aspect of the classroom is a primary goal to help children resolve conflict in a peaceful manner. We mediate disagreements between children and help them with problem solving techniques. We teach them to use their words and not actions when they are angry. We teach them to understand that they are allowed to get angry at other children and at their teachers, as long as they use their words kindly and fairly and not their hands or feet.
You will hear us say that certain behaviors are not “peaceable”. Our goal is to have the most “peaceable” school possible. Very often, certain things that children do outside the school setting seem peaceable there, but are not so in a room with up to 19 other children. In order to make this program successful we also incorporate the help of all families. We ask that families carefully consider what children see on television. Many of the programs that are available to children on television and through play activities are not “peaceable” when placed in the school setting. Thus, children will model and mimic behavior at school that may not be age appropriate and are violent. The following shows are minimally rated G-7: Power Rangers, Batman, Superman, and other Super Action Hero shows. This means they are appropriate for children over 7 years of age as most children younger than 7 have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy. This leads them to believe that if someone is bothering them, it is okay to use “non-peaceable” methods to resolve a matter.
We ask that children not be exposed to these Action Heroes characters when at all possible. It is difficult to focus on important academic skills when children are attempting to imitate the actions of such characters with each other. We do not allow Super Action Heroes at school and we do not discuss them within our conversations. We tell children that those things do not belong at school, because they are not part of our “peaceable” program. We also ask that children not bring in anything related to these types of television programs or action figures. No guns, swords, or toys of a violent nature are allowed at school.
We will praise children all year for the peaceable acts that they perform. We will attempt to teach them as many peaceable skills as we can and appreciate parents help to make this work. Our Administrative and teaching staff are always available to work with families in this area. With the guidance of this program and parent support we continue to look enjoy very peaceful days!
