Frequently Asked Questions
What is the "PeaceBeat" that BrightNow! focuses so heavily on?
The Premise: The PeaceBeat is the spirit that lives in all of us…that spirit that never dies.
The Goal: Teachers are not just improving student behavior, but constantly creating an optimal learning environment that promotes students’ overall school success.
The PeaceBeat project is a tool for students designed to help them think like, act like, and to be good people! This can be presented as a Professional Development for teachers or as a project in the classrooms with either an undergraduate or graduate student.
The PeaceBeat allows students to recognize and access the spirit inside them that helps them to “do the right thing” and allows them to be the best they can be!
Possibilities:
- Peace Tree—students become the “face of peace.”
- PeaceBeat drum-line
- Integrate with ‘school mantra’ [i.e. PRIDE]
- Integrate into school-wide PBIS
- High Frequency words/ Fry Phrases/ Dolch Sight Words: to create their own Peace Beat mantra (i.e. The sky is blue the clouds are white, when I use the Peace Beat I never fight. | Roses are red. Grass is green. When I use the Peace Beat, I’m NEVER mean.)
Peace Beat Project:
This video is part of our social emotional literacy framework and approach. It can standalone or integrate nicely with any ELA curriculum ( English Language Arts) and/or other SEL curriculum, or even morning meeting/responsive classroom/“daily five”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4NWFXb7Wh0&feature=youtu.be
What is the timeline for the Outcomes/Evaluation process?
Outcomes/ Evaluation Process
The need for this project was identified based on school office referrals for disruptive behavior that impede the learning climate and social development within the school.
- Goal 1: School-wide Information System (SWIS) referrals will be cut down by 15%.
- Goal 2: Physical Aggression referrals will be cut down by 25%.
- Goal 3: Twelve teachers trained and supported by the partnership.
Participants:
- Staff at Champions For Children
- Capital Area Intermediate Unit
- The Training Site (SHSD)
- K-5 Students/Teachers in Training
- Administrative Staff from Participating Schools
- PeaceBeat© Team Members
Timeline:
- three months prior to the start of the given school year
- throughout the actual school year
- post-evaluation survey given at the end of said school year
What does a sample SEW/SEL Framework Lesson Plan look like?
Sample SEW/SEL Framework Lesson Plan
Social Emotional Skills/Competencies: Choose skill of focus; e.g. Responsible Decision Making Skills
SWBAT (Students will be able to):
- identify a decision
- gather information
- discuss alternative choices/solutions
- weigh outcomes
- review their choice
- take action
Procedure:
- Shape student responses into observable behaviors.
- Discuss the focus of the lesson using collaboration.
- Check for Understanding
- Appropriate Strategies
- Inappropriate Strategies
- Demonstrate
- Role Play
- Reflection Activity
Note: Subscription to program will give more in-depth, elaborate, scripted lesson plans that you'll have the ability to modify in fitting your students' needs.