Students are setting the expectations for classroom responsibility at Unqua Elementary School this year following the introduction of the RULER approach in Massapequa.
RULER, an evidence-based system for social and emotional learning developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, launched this year following extensive training for administrators and teachers. One of the tools of RULER is the class charter, a document created collaboratively that describes how students want to feel at school and what they can do to ensure everyone has those feelings consistently. It is created through student voices and all have an active role in bringing it to life in the classroom.
Second grade teacher Kaitlyn Corrigan and her class created their charter with sticky notes following a brainstorming session together. The four points of the class promise was also made with student input, and is recited every morning to begin the school day. To support the charter and the promise, there are regular kindness activities, such as crafts and read alouds. Recently, her second graders made “Kindness to the core” projects that focus on ways they can be kind to each other.
“We’re really making sure in second grade that we’re kind to each other,” Ms. Corrigan said, adding that there is accountability among her students to ensure that good choices are being made.
Sarah Lang’s fifth grade students created their class charter poster after a thoughtful discussion, which outlines how the classroom should feel, look and sound. They added drawings and signed their names to truly have ownership of the charter.
“We everybody to feel good and happy,” fifth grader Amelia N. said about the goal of the class charter, which prominently hangs in the room.
All fourth graders created projects based on the book “Each Kindness.” This prompted discussion among students on how they want to feel in school and how they want others to feel, as well as the ripple effect caused by one small act of kindness.
In partnership with art teacher Marissa Sondo, fourth graders made watercolor paintings of rippling water, then glued on a small rock and added a statement about kindness. Fourth grade teachers noted that the project merged RULER, art and the Writing Revolution initiative that encourages more in-depth, thoughtful sentences.
In addition to class charters, there is also an Unqua Elementary School charter that hangs prominently in the school and features the mascot Rocky the Raccoon. Principal Deanna Catapano said it was developed by faculty and staff following professional development sessions last year. Unqua’s charter lists actions that students and staff should take to ensure everyone feels appreciated, happy, respected, valued, supported and motivated.
Dr. Michelle Walsh, assistant superintendent for instructional services and general administration, said each elementary school had a RULER implementation team, which worked extensively for the launch this year. She added that RULER is another tool in the district’s social and emotional learning strategy, bringing a common approach across the schools but also empowering teachers and students at each building to take ownership.