School Climate Impacts All Achievement

Ask yourself, “Would I rather have children say, ‘What do I get if I’m good?’ or ‘How do I give of my goodness?’” How you answer this question will determine the school climate and culture you want to create. School climate impacts all achievement. The culture of a school can foster bullying, blame and cliques, or it can build cooperation, willingness and responsibility.

The School Family builds connections between families and schools, teachers and teachers, teachers and students, and students and students to ensure the optimal development of all.

Historically, we have unconsciously used the metaphor of a factory when creating our classrooms and schools. The goal of a factory is to create standardized products through a rewards and punishment paradigm. Research and experience prove that we need a new metaphor if we wish to build successful and safe educational institutions. The School Family, built on a healthy family model, is this new metaphor. The goal of a healthy family is the optimal development of all members.

The School Family is created through routines, rituals and structures.

The School Family creates a fundamental shift in education and classroom management. Leave coercion, fear and external rewards behind, and step into a world where intrinsic motivation, helpfulness, problem-solving and connection govern your classroom.

How are we helping cultivate The School Family at Common Ground?

Changing the entire philosophy and direction of our educational system seems daunting… but how do you do anything? One step at a time.

One of the little steps is: Creating a visual schedule in our classrooms.

The classroom is for the child. It is supposed to be a supportive, loving environment structured toward holistic learning. A child thinks symbolically and needs assistance with visualizing the future. If a child is anxious or unsure about what comes next, this impacts their attention and their behavior. This simple addition to the classroom offers a clear view of transitions It can also help with home sickness.

All of our schedules will be a more specific version of this example from Conscious Discipline’s helpful materials.

What schedule pictures would be on your schedule at home? How does/would a consistent schedule help you and your children during transitions?

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