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Guiding
Behavior
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At Groton Community School we guide children gently and respectfully, encouraging them to be independent, self-directed, and responsible for their actions. Because these skills develop gradually with many experiences and repetitions, we gear our expectations to each child's developmental level. Children's behavior is affected by their environment, emotional well-being, language skills, social experiences, curiosity, interests, and state of health (which includes their speech and hearing). We expect that children will experiment with behavior as their way of learning how to get along in the world. When adults understand the origins of behavior, are compassionate, empathetic, and clear and consistent in their expectations, children are naturally guided toward appropriate behavior. We guide children with challenging behaviors in various ways depending on their age. Helping children to identify feelings is an important skill as a prerequisite for learning to regulate their emotional, social, and communication skills. Redirection and modeling are especially useful strategies to employ with younger children, along with modeling and practice with communication skills, problem-solving techniques, coping skills, and finding alternative solutions as they grow. Anticipating behaviors and designing the learning environment carefully can often prevent problems before they arise. Teachers respond to children at all times calmly and consistently, with respect and concern for the safety of everyone. We do not allow children to hurt themselves or others. Children are not deprived of special privileges or food because of behavior problems. We never intimidate, yell, curse, hit, physically mishandle or humiliate a child. Children will not be punished for soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet. Creating a positive emotional climate for children involves conversation, warm interactions, acknowledgement of accomplishments, and consistent and age appropriate responses to children’s emotions. Teachers are sensitive to differing abilities, temperaments, and activity levels. Teachers guide children in recognizing, expressing and regulating their own, and responding to the emotions of others in appropriate ways. Effort is made to counter bias and stereotypes, and to discuss the similarities we all share, as well as respecting and valuing differences. We foster the development of friendships, and support children as they learn to share and learn how to play cooperatively together. We explore the principles of belonging and friendship, compassion, cooperation, and kindness with children. We take our school name seriously, and strive to create a classroom and school “community” together. All employees are trained to recognize signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, and are required to report any suspected incidents to the Department of Social Services and the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
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