Healthy Pride

Every morning, I make my rounds, checking on children all around the school and encouraging them to do their best. These students all have a goal to work on, which can focus on work effort, behavior, anxiety level, or anything appropriate for the particular child. The teacher gives the child a 1-10 score on how behavioral goals were met on the previous day, and the student colors in the corresponding number of squares on a vertical bar graph. For example, if a child earns a 7 on work effort, he'll color 7 squares. Obviously, most children start their charts at a low number, or there would have been no need for them to be referred to me. One of the children I check in with is a handsome dark-haired boy. His goal is to use self-control when frustrated, and he started at a 2, often "huffing and puffing" when work became difficult. In recent weeks, this child has been receiving wonderful scores, including many 10's. One morning this week, he happily colored in his squares at a table out in the hallway, and after doing so I expected him to go back to class as usual. Instead, he turned toward the wall, which is lined in cork strips to allow student work to be displayed. Finding a couple of pushpins, the little boy tacked his chart up on the wall. Then he stood tall and turned to look at me with a big old smile and his head held high. He was rightfully proud of his efforts and how they were paying off, and his desire was for others to see how well he was doing. Of course he knew we couldn't leave his chart there, but it meant a lot to me to see this sweet child's delight in his newly improved self-discipline!