Joplin Schools Core Behaviors

It's interesting that the Readiness Indicators for Joplin Schools (our new document that explains what is expected from each student to enter the next grade level) include an important behavioral component.  It seems that someone has been paying attention to core behaviors, including the following for greeting others appropriately:

• Look directly at the person
• Use a pleasant voice
• Say "hi" of "hello"
• Stand up if sitting down
• Extend a hand
• Interact with others
• Recognize when a peer is being left out and invite him/her to join the group
• Make sound judgments and decisions

• Articulate point of view
• Differentiate greeting approach for different settings
• Demonstrate awareness of hierarchy and use proper names
• Know personal information and use it as a conversation starter
• Use context of environment to start "small talk"
• Move from small talk to appropriate talk

This list in interesting, because Hoggatteers have been developing them for the last five years.  As far as I know, we are the premier group in the area for this type of behavior.  I've seen these simple actions cause a decrease in less desirable behaviors.  I've watched students who were unable to feel necessary or vital begin to hold up their heads and present themselves to others with confidence.  They're more apt to smile, to speak, and even to approach problems that appear unsolvable.  They make mistakes without counting themselves out.

I've come to understand that mastering the greeting is something that every student can do successfully, and that gets my foot in the door to foster a more meaningful teacher/student relationship.  Others notice, as well, and suddenly these kids are more personable, more respectful, more enjoyable to be around, and in the long run, more employable.

It's exciting to see that our school district is adopting this as an expectation.  Soon, if teachers teach it and expect it, our community will notice a transformation.  Community leaders will recognize the change, the respectful culture that all started in Room 404 (OK, I probably shouldn't take credit for inventing the handshake, but I can truthfully say that Hoggatteers are a step up on the rest.).