Our new school year has begun and the children are settling into school and their new classroom routines with friends old and new. As we begin our new school year we are focusing on developing connections with all our children. Part of our learning as we returned from our summer break has been all about “Positive Discipline”. The approach is well researched and forms the foundations of cooperation, communication problem-solving and mutual respect, which create a climate for motivated and enthusiastic learners.
We have been playing games and getting to know the children whilst also encouraging them to get to know their new classmates and friends, building foundations. In Foundation Stage we focus on the Prime areas of Communication and Language, Personal Social and emotional development as well as Physical before learning more specific areas of Literacy and Mathematics. The Positive Discipline approach supports the key skills building relationships with individuals and giving time to listen and share ideas.
In our classes we have been thinking about things we have enjoyed, who are our friends, who has been kind, what have we done to help others, what can we do.
We have enjoyed making connections in circle times, passing around the class mascot for children to take turns speaking. Children have shared ideas and worked cooperatively in class. We have expressed our feelings about things we have enjoyed and making friends.
As we develop our language we will be making agreements for our learning environments to make them positive and motivational.