 |
Grade: all
Subject: Reading/Writing
|
 |
A WRITING LESSON FOCUSING ON PUT-UPS!RATIONALE: Can a classroom function if we haven't taken time out to teach social skills? Not very successfully. We need to consistently remind and reinforce Put-ups as an expected part of our classroom language! A teacher should never use a put-down or allow one to be used in the classroom.
SKILL: Teaching kids how to speak respectfully and in an encouraging manner to one another.
MOTIVATION: To help your class consider the impact of an unkind word, tell students a story about a child (Quigley). Describe a day in his life [As you recount the day, cut off a piece or rip a piece of the picture ( you can cut out a life-size child from
bulletin board paper)]....he spilled the milk and his father yelled at him and called him clumsy. He was then late to the bus and the driver snarls, "If you think I'm gonna wait on you every day, you're crazy. You'd better get here on time from now on." When he got to school, the coolest kid in class said, "What a stupid haircut." Etc. Ask students to recount some unkind comments. Crumple the figure slowly into a small ball. Then tell how the child met some very nice children who make some kind comments to him. As students share examples of kind comments (be sure to elicit positive behavior as being organized, listening, planning your time, and doing your homework), straighten the picture until it is as flat as possible. Instruct the class to observe the picture. Explain that although Quigley now feels better about himself, the evidence of the unkind words remain. Ask them if it has ever happened to them. How did you feel? How do you think Quigley feels? How can we prevent this from happening?DEFINE: PUT-DOWN: Actions or words that are designed to make a person feel negative about himself
PUT-UP: Actions or words that are positive, supportive and kind.PROCEDURE: Brainstorm common put-down situations at school. Have students share one common put-down situation with their classmates. Make a chart labeled PUT-UPS with the headings of look, sound , feel.
Example:
Look
Heads Nod
Faces smile
Thumbs UP
Hands shakeSound
positive
helpful
encouraging
supportiveFEEL
happy
special
important
uniqueREAD SOMEDAY as a model for Someday put-Ups
Have students create their own put-ups.EXAMPLE:
Someday when people go through the lunch line, everyone will say thank you.
Someday everyone will cheer for homework.TIPS
Display "PUT-DOWNS NOT ALLOWED" sign in classroom
Have a compliment can or Box where students write put-ups that are read
at the end of the week
Have a TERRIFIC TUESDAY Folder. On Tuesday, each child draws a name
and writes a put-up type letter to that person. Save them and compile
them into a year-end book.When focusing in on positive talk, look at specific situations where we can
take seconds to practice put-ups.
Practice put-ups during shared reading, practice during kick ball, or even
when working on an assignment.
Begin to recognize put-downs as bad habits which can eventually be replaced
with put-ups.
Never allow a child to say: I was only kidding. This is a bad habit that needs to be broken.Resources: Strengthen Your Fourth Grade Program Lori Wachter
Assorted Mailbox Magazines
New Jobs on Teachers.Net