Responsible Thinking Program
Purpose
The purpose of the Responsible Thinking Classroom is to create a safe environment conducive to learning and free from disruptive behaviour, where students develop the ability to become self-disciplined. The Responsible Thinking Program is designed to teach the students to take responsibility, not only for their actions/behaviours but also for their learning.
What is the Responsible Thinking Program?
The goal of this program is to help children to think in such a way that their actions demonstrate respect for the rights, safety and the learning of others. In many instances people do things to get what they want, but often pay little attention to whom it hurts or what may happen as a result of their actions. By asking the children a series of questions, they are taught to think responsibly about what they have done and what choices they have made. Through this questioning process children are not told how to act, but instead taught how to think.
The Responsible Thinking Program is not based on rewards and punishment because that places responsibility for the actions on the person with authority instead of the child, where it belongs. Mutual respect is fostered through the questioning process. Children learn, with assistance, how to make a plan to help them deal with future situations. Confidence is built when students make their own choices to obey the rules and, by doing that, experience success.
What happens when children choose to not follow our school expectations?
When children choose to not follow our school expectations they are asked a series of questions in a calm and curious tone by the classroom teacher/specialist teacher.
Questions - Set 1
- What are you doing?
- What should you be doing? OR What are the rules?
- What happens when you break the rules?
- Is this what you want to happen?
- Where do you want to be? Or What do you want to do now?
- What will happen if you disrupt again?
If they disrupt again ask the second set of questions.