Back to School Checklist for Schools, by Dr. Brad Schwall

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Focusing on respect, behavioral expectations, procedures, and cooperation on the first day of school can help get the year off to a positive start.  Taking time to address the social, emotional, and behavioral aspects of learning:

• Supports academic performance
• Creates a safe learning environment
• Decreases disruptions to learning
• Encourages engaged learners
• Fosters the well-being of the educators and school staff
  
• Prepares children for life as they need relational and emotional skills in addition to academic knowledge and skills in order to be successful in college and beyond 

To create a positive learning environment, schools may:

• Make expectations for student behavior clear
• Prevent problems by creating orderly routines and procedures
  
• Engage students in sharing what rules and behaviors they believe make their learning community a pleasant and safe place to learn
• Use engaging instructional strategies
• Facilitate cooperative group work to encourage compromise and a sense of belonging within the school
• Identify strengths in all students and work to help all students find their place in the learning community
• Be present, visible, and attentive to prevent problems or intervene early in problems
• Engage staff and students in creative brainstorming to solve problems and challenges
  
• Talk about, model, and practice respect