Today, educators everywhere are responsible for keeping the norm in the most abnormal circumstances. We must truly make the choice to try to understand our students with compassion and kindness more than ever. We must counter frustration with patience and seize every opportunity to reach our students through the screen. Teaching our students that they are filled with the power to choose to succeed in their schooling, despite the circumstances, will build their character and resilience to handle life’s unexpected curve balls. Teaching CHOICE is the one of the most powerful tools that we can give them. Let’s continue to teach our students that they are the power person in their own lives whose choices and voices matter, and that they are capable and full of potential to overcome adversity..

The classroom tip for the month is to give students CHOICES. When we give students choices about their lessons and assignments, they feel empowered. When there is conduct that needs improvement, giving choices makes them think. When we teach that there are choices in life, we teach them that they can make decisions and believe in themselves.

Please review the PBIS matrix with your students so that we are all on the same page and students are well aware of our distance learning expectations. The matrix is also a great tool to refer to when speaking to parents.