Lakeview

There are several cohorts how the school is divided up, there is K; 1-2 Grades; 3-4 Grades; 5-6 Grades; and 7-8 Grades. My experience is from working within the school at the 3-4 Grade levels and the 5-6 Grade Levels. The 3-4 Grade are covered by a strong team of teachers. If your kids are in this grade level, you will be seeing improvement in short order. My concern is for the children within the 5-6 Grade Levels. I wish to express my commitment to a classroom model that practices Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports. Unfortunately this is not the approach taken by the 5-6 staff. Teachers could never leave their classrooms their because the class would resort back to misbehaviors that result from not instituting a management system. Teacher will arrive back from any absence expressing disappointment, achieving behavior compliance by reverting back to yelling, yelling that they should already know expectations, yelling at them to be quiet, yelling and threatening various levels of punishment both to the whole class and individuals. These teachers rely on negative reinforcement tactics. Children should not be regularly yelled into compliance. Two, if the children in the classroom were talking it is because of a lack of continuous structure, lack of student engagement, or lack of clear expectations. Children should not be getting in trouble especially if it was the fault of their instructors for not creating a productive classroom environment, one that provides them the opportunity to be at their best. What I share with you right now is evidence that punishments (lunch detention, calling parents, threats of Friday school) and rewards (jolly ranchers, chocolate, free homework assignments) don't work long term because they don't teach self discipline and responsibility. As soon as the controller (the giver of rewards and punishments) leaves, the kids go bonkers because they haven't learned inner control. The entire 5th and 6th grade hall is controlled by intimidation and punishments and lacking in effective time management. Anytime the issue of talking raises its head, it is because the children are waiting for direction or engagement. The children are not bad, either are the teachers. They just haven't been train in positive supports. I suggest showing support for this community by calling for positive class management reform.