IMPLEMENTATIONS OR PILOTS STARTING BEFORE MARCH
Teachers beginning instruction of the Caring School Community program after the start of the school year but before March should teach Weeks 1-10 as written; depending on how far into the school year they are, teachers may want to consider modifying the teaching of procedures so that it is treated more as a review than an introduction. After Week 10, kindergarten and first-grade teachers should continue teaching the weeks in order, while teachers of grades 2–8 should select Topic Weeks that are relevant to their students. Note that January would be an ideal time for a midyear start of the program because it would be appropriate for teachers to establish new routines and procedures when the students return from winter break.
IMPLEMENTATIONS OR PILOTS STARTING IN OR AFTER MARCH
Teachers beginning instruction in or after March should read through Week 1 so they
understand the program’s routines and how its lessons are structured. Teachers should
begin instruction with Week 2, adjusting as necessary for the late start (for example, by
treating the teaching of procedures as a review rather than an introduction). See below for
grade-specific recommendations for where to begin instruction.
Kindergarten and Grade 1 Teachers
In grades K–1, teachers should use the following select weeks from Weeks 1-10, followed
by Weeks 11-30.
- Week 2 (focuses on ways students treat one another and work with partners)
- Week 5 (focuses on meeting and getting to know new partners and using “Think, Pair, Share”)
- Week 6 (focuses on working with new partners and practicing listening and
- speaking skills)
- Week 7 (focuses on getting to know adults who work in the school)
Grades 2–8 Teachers
In grades 2–5, teachers should use the following select weeks from Weeks 1-10, followed
by Topic Weeks relevant to their students for the remainder of the school year.
- Week 2, Agreeing on Norms
- Week 5, Making School a Happy Place
- Week 6, Developing Empathy
- Week 7, Feelings and Challenges
In grades 6–8, teachers should use the following select weeks from Weeks 1-10, followed
by Topic Weeks relevant to their students for the remainder of the school year.
- Week 2: Creating Norms
- Week 3: Building a Caring Community
- Week 5: Making Things Right
- Week 7: Developing Empathy Week 9: Understanding Bullying
- Week 10: Bullying: The Role of the Bystander