Circle Time

The basics of circle time

Rights respecting school

UNICEF UK rewards schools which hold the 'Convention on the Rights of a Child' as central to their curriculum. Scince 2004 over 800 schools, both primary and secondary, have been recognised as Rights respecting schools.

Evidence has shown that pupils benefit from the school ethos, resulting in better behaviour and more positive attitude, a greater knowledge of global issues and improved inclusion within these schools.

Schools promote respectful behaviour to one another and provide a better understanding of where children stand within their environment and the world as a whole. It helps children better understand their rights and their responsibilities.

Rights respecting schools award

Rights respecting schools website

Bronfenbrenners ecological mode

of child development

A Grey Elephant from Denmark

1) Pick a number between 1 and 9

2) Subtract 5

3) Multiply by 3

4) Square the number

5) Add the digits of that number together, for example, if you number is
83, you would add 8 and 3 and get 11.

6) If the resulting number is less than 5, add five, otherwise subtract 4

7) Multiply by 2

8) Subtract 6

9) Assign a letter to your number.  A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, etc

10) Pick a country that begins with your letter

11) Pick an animal that begins with the second letter from your country

12) think of the color of that animal....

The hurried child

by Carleton Kendrick Ed.M., LCSW

New Internationalist, March, 2002 by Kathleen McDonnell

Convention on rights of a child - UNICEF

Guiding principals
Protection
Participation
Survival and Development

There are 42 articles stated under the convention on rights of a child which dictates what is necessary for the successful development and well-being of a child. It explores how countries individually and internationally can meet the needs of all children and help create a better quality of life for them. It discusses the rights to food, water, shelter and education in addition to others.

Praise Pod

An innovative new invention hoping to tackle badly behaved children by acknowledging positive rather than negative behaviour. This works on the belief that children striving for attention will need to show positive traits and good behaviour in order to gain attention, praise and earn rewards. Good behaviour will be recognised and recorded.

Children will we sent to the pod for particular instances during the school day for example if they have been particularly polite, tried hard on a homework task, helped an adult or another child e.t.c. They will then get the opportunity to record and burn to a dvd their achievement, which they can then show their parent or carer. Children are also given the opportunity to praise other children or adults in the school, which reinforces positive thinking and respect for one another.

Although this is still being tested, the schools using the praise pod have recorded successful results: improved behaviour and higher self esteem from pupils.

newsround article
praise pod website