This term our students have been focusing their learning on Respectful Relationships and our School Values during Personal Learning. They have been reviewing our school Matrix of expected behaviours and demonstrating these through the choices they make in class and in the yard and earning lots of tokens. Each year level by developed an Incentives Chart and can start to cash in their tokens for rewards. This includes things like prize box, canteen vouchers, computer/iPad time, extra play time and the 200 Club. Students work with their teachers to cash in and keep a record of how many tokens they have earned and determine when they want to use them for a reward.
Another focus of Personal Learning has been around Personal Strengths. This is a module of the Respectful Relationships curriculum and supports students in building a vocabulary to help them recognise and understand strengths and positive qualities in themselves and others. This topic provides learning activities to build this vocabulary and to use it when discussing personal, social and ethical challenges. Research in the field of positive psychology emphasises the importance of identifying and using individual strengths. Social and emotional learning programs which use strength-based approaches promote student wellbeing, positive behaviour and academic achievement. It links strongly with our School Values and has been a positive way to start the school year.