Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) is utilized to teach and affirm positive adult and student behavior as part of the larger Wish School culture and climate. Wish Students accumulate PAWS as a reward and affirmation for their positive behaviors. PAWS make up the PBIS Core Values @ Wish School:
P - Practice Kindness
A - Always Be Respectful
W - Work Hard
S - Stay Safe
UConn HNS, as an aligned and contributing partner @ Wish School, integrates PBIS and PAWS within all educational programs and school-wide collaborations. UConn HNS staff also serve as the lead facilitators for “Thriving Thursdays” which operates as a rotation of school-wide initiatives that occur every Thursday to celebrate different Wish School stakeholders through investments such as Staff Appreciation, Student Lunch Bunch, Classroom Recesses, Classroom Snacks, and more.
The PBIS School Store is offered once per month during “Thriving Thursday” to every Wish School Student/ Classroom. In addition to the prizes available for students to purchase using their PAWS during the PBIS School Store a, a special opportunity is offered to purchase an entire class recess with UConn (Cost=100 PAWS).
On this UConn HNS “Thriving Thursday” @ Wish School, we were able to engage with both students and staff to learn more about students’ interests and educators’ suggestions regarding: INDOOR RECESS
Students
On 11/20, Wish School Classrooms in grades 1st, 3rd, and 5th were out having fun and playing at Recess. Making sure to not interrupt students’ fun play time, we asked one specific question and took down their responses in less than 30 seconds per student!
Students: What games or activities do you want for Indoor Recess?
152 Total Responses – 44 Different Responses!
Top Responses
- 28 – Tag
- 12 – for each – Musical Chairs, Football
- 10 – for each – Basketball, Baseball, Soccer
- 9 – Races
Others Receiving Votes
- 5 – for each – Jump Rope, Redlight-Greenlight, Mini-Golf
- 4 – for each – Fast Mode-Run Then Go Slow, Any Sports, Swing, Legos
- 3 – Slime, Softball, Any Games Wish Students vs. UConn HNS
- 2 – Hide & Seek
- 1 – for each – Trampoline, Slide, Hula Hoops, Giant UNO, 7 UP, Helicopter Game, Survival Game with One Zombie, Duck-Duck-Goose, Simon Says, Art Competition, Computer Games with No Violence, Dancing with Music, Tic-Tac-Toe, Sharks & Minos, Obstacle Course, Volleyball, Trying Different Foods, Guess Who, Minecraft, Watch Home Alone, Coloring, Legos, Four Corners, Sparkle Math Game, 6/7 Game with Rock-Paper-Scissors, Bubbles
Educators
UConn HNS staff continues to appreciate our collaborative partnership with the extended Wish School Community. Clearly an integral component of this larger partnership are the everyday working relationships with the cool and talented educators @ Wish School.
On 11/20, we made and served Hot Chocolate to all educators interested. At the same time we sought to learn from their expertise by asking one quick question.
Educators: What suggestions can you share – how can we make sure that your students are engaged during indoor recess?
Many educators' responses reaffirmed existing approaches of UConn HNS. We continue to appreciate our partnership, with key themes as follows from Wish Educators’ suggestions.
“Divide & Engage”
- “You can utilize different stations to ensure everyone is in small groups. Have a time limit, maybe 15 minutes, at a station then rotate students to the next station.”
- “Suggest that you have students play fun games in small groups.”
- “Work to make sure all students are engaged in the activities”
- “Offer more than one activity at a time.”
“Celebration & Affirmation”
- “Make sure you are cheering students on as you play games.”
- “Include PAWS in your planning and give them out to students.”
- “Positive reinforcement is always important.”
- “Kids like to compete and they like to work on being good teammates. Encourage both!”