Dear Champion Family,
Champion Central Elementary now uses a tool called the PAX Good Behavior Game. All staff members in grades K-4 were trained in PAX on December 20, 2018. Our students have learned what it is to be a "PAX LEADER".
PAX is a Latin word that stands for peace, productivity, health and happiness. The PAX Good Behavior Game is the culmination of more than 30 years of research which shows schools that implement its strategies and activities have reduced classroom disruptions, fewer symptoms of inattention and impulsivity, reduced aggression, fewer referrals and suspensions, more time for teaching and learning, and reduced need for special education or mental health services. There is also evidence that students who play the PAX Game at school are less likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs later in life.
We have developed a shared language and teach the students all of the strategies and cues used in the program. We reviewed the strategies, created common area and classroom visions, and implemented the PAX Good Behavior Game throughout the remainder of the 2018-19 and 2019-2020 school years and beyond in grades K-4.
You can support our efforts with this new implementation in the next few weeks by asking your child what we want to see, hear, feel, and do (more or less of) at school in the cafeteria, hallways, restrooms and classrooms. Also, ask your child to explain new things they have learned, such as Spleems, PAX Quiet, PAX Voices, PAX Hands/Feet, PAX Stix, OK/Not OK, Beat the Timer, Granny's Wacky Prizes, and Tootles. Help your child learn the beginning of the PAX Leader Promise: "I am a PAX Leader as you will see. So I better my world and I better me!"
Please remind you child to be a PAX LEADER each day. Thank you for taking the time to read this and keep informed about our efforts to make our classrooms, schools, district and community even better.
Below you will find a list of various PAX strategies we are using in both our classrooms and throughout Champion Central Elementary School. These strategies are designed to reduce disruptions, increase time for instruction, and help foster an even more wonderful classroom and school. You will also find ways you can try some of these PAX strategies at home.
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Cue
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What is it?
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Benefits
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Home Use
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PAX Vision
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PAX Vision is a "how to" map to create more peace, productivity, health, and happiness inside and outside the classroom. Students learn to predict, self-monitor, and reflect on their behavior by setting clear expectations across multiple settings.
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Students learn to predict accurately what behaviors are needed in school and life. Students accomplish valued actions without constant reminding, nagging, or threats. Better self- regulation with fewer mistakes that interfere with learning.
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Discuss behavior expectations with your child before a task or action. For example before entering a restaurant ask your child "What voice level are we going to have at the
table?" "What will you do while waiting for our food to arrive?" "How are we going to sit at the table?"
Demonstrate and praise behavior you want to see
more of!
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PAX Quiet
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PAX Quiet is used to quiet the class, get
children's attention, or get them ready for learning. The signal is two fingered peace sign along with a short note on a harmonica. The teacher praises students for showing PAX Quiet before giving further instruction.
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Reduces transition time from one task to the next from minutes to seconds. May provide as much as an hour or more time for learning daily. Ensures all students are focused and ready for further directions.
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Practice using an agreed upon signal for focus and attention. Praise your child for stopping their current task to listen for further instructions.
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PAX Sticks
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PAX Sticks are craft sticks with students'
names on them. They are kept in a cup or the
teacher's pocket. The teacher randomly pulls a stick and asks the child whose name appears to answer a question or do a task.
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Increases participation and attention. Decreases disruption and increases perceived fairness.
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Sticks can be used to divide up chores or assist with decision making like selecting a family activity (movie, dinner plans, weekend activity, etc.)
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PAX Timer
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"Beat the Timer" is a powerful strategy to increase the accuracy; and speed of task completion. The teacher sets a timer for a short period and children attempt to complete a task before the timer goes off. Adults will praise
students for "beating the timer"
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Helps students have less downtime or dawdling so that more instruction can happen. Students and teachers experience fewer disruptions and better accuracy with tasks. Beat the Timer also reduces arguments and stress.
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Set a kitchen or cell phone timer to see if your child can complete tasks like getting ready, bed time rituals, or chores before the timer goes off.
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PAX Tootle Notes:
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Tootles are the opposite of tattles. Tootle notes are given when someone shows a positive PAX behaviors like helping others, being kind, or following the PAX Vision.
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Tootles improve behavior, character, and social competence. They help reduce bullying and reduce aggression.
Encourages praise and recognition for positive behaviors.
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Try leaving simple notes of encouragement or praise to your child. For example: "Thank you for helping me today." "I noticed how you shared your toys with your sister".
*Ask your child's teacher about how you can
receive Tootle Notes via the PAX UP App!
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Wacky Prize
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Wacky Prizes are quick, active, and fun rewards given to students for accomplishing a task, making improvements, or showing PAX behavior. These prizes are activities that kids naturally like to do like paper ball toss, giggle fest, or pencil drumming.
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Wacky Prizes are rewards that teach children how to self- regulate under conditions of excitement. They're quick and active rewards that bring the fun back to learning.
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Try rewarding your child with a simple and quick activity for accomplishing a task or giving a hand around the house. These rewards should be simple and active things that do not cost money or require batteries. You can have a paper ball fight, fly a paper airplane, play a board game, or make a craft.
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