Description of Improving School Climate to Support Student Achievement
Understanding the Whole Picture
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Nature of school climate
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Research on negative messages and the brain (stress and learning)
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Nature of "respect" and importance of school connectedness
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Aligning school climate with RTI practices
Violence in Schools & Bullying
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School violence and the school shooters
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Etiology of violent behaviors, saving children at risk
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Nature and continuum of violence and teasing, overview of bullying
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CT landscape on bullying and the updated bullying law, role and aftermath of zero tolerance policies
What can be done--ProActive Structures & Strategies
- Creating a caring majority community of learners
- Setting clear standards and boundaries
- Classroom decision making and reflective practice
- Importance of modeling
- Adult responsibility and Codes of Ethics
- Rote of character education and practical guidelines for creating respectful environments
- language use
- classroom seating/arrangement
- in-class assignments and homework
- discussion forums
- dealing with infractions
- ethical teaching methods
- establishing clear expectations and boundaries
- appropriate and responsible consequences for actions
- dealing with transitions