Members Only

Some of you may be too young to remember the Members Only jackets. I remember begging my parents for one. I had a soft blue jacket and wore it every day (well, almost every day). It was neat to be one of the many students who owned the coveted jackets. And just like the name...it made you feel apart of something bigger.

I am hopeful that The Breakfast Club (TBC) will do the same for participating students.

Although TBC idea came out of conversations with teachers on Friday it has been tried by many schools to help decrease tardies, increase appropriate school behaviors and improve academic achievement. It's a great way to build stronger relationships with students and parents who need additional support to be successful at school.

Our inaugural class of 2012 Breakfast Clubbers will meet each day with me. Because we have 24 students participating (at grades 4-6) I am using our guidance counselor substitute (Mrs. Brown) as well Ms. Ludwick to help.

We'll start our day with a Morning Meeting (just like our classroom teachers). We'll have a group discussion and a team building activity prior to setting goals for the day. Each student will set 2 behavioral/engagement goals for the day. After writing their goal they will meet one-on-one with one of TBC sponsors. Once the sponsor determines the student is indeed ready to start their day in the classroom he/she will be sent, along with his/her goal sheet, to the receiving teacher.

We ask that receiving teachers give the student (written) feedback each day on how the day went and send the form home for a parent to see. Students will bring their goal sheets back the next day to TBC. Teachers will have a space on the sheet to report what level/percentage of points earned by the student that day.

With this wrap-around concept I am hopeful that we will begin to see improvements in student behavior in class and more positive interactions with each other.

Keep me posted on what you observe.
Dr. N