Tuesday 2nd September - the naughty board mark II

Tuesday morning sees J getting back on the naughty board……. albeit with about half the class. He had stopped to talk to a chum at the adjacent school on the way in, and, having left the house in plenty of time, had made himself late. So this is what they mean about being strict with punctuality (but at least he’s not alone).

I’m not sure what to make of this naughty board business – it seems like negative reinforcement of bad behaviour, but on the other hand, punctuality is an important discipline both in school and the workplace. Let’s be honest, the majority of J’s class will be in the work place in 6 years, and no one ever got a gold star for turning up to the office on time.

I’m beginning to wonder if we should keep a supply of finished, nice colourful pictures, to give to the teacher to get J off the naughty board, but then realise that perhaps that’s giving J the wrong message…….!

Another nice colourful picture, and he’s off it again, with a vow to leave the house 15 minutes earlier in the mornings. Phew.

Monday 1st September - the naughty board...

J has spent some of the weekend doing homework and drawing a nice picture to give to his teacher to get himself off the naughty board (they have to draw a nice colourful picture or sing a song in front of the whole class to get off the board).

He was on it because he had managed to get in the way of some loose gym equipment during sport lesson, which he then tried to prop up, but the teacher thought he was messing about. It wasn’t his fault, he said. But he knows to stay away from loose gym equipment now.

Anyway, he’s in the clear again, for now. He loses his watch after sport and doesn’t realise for a couple of hours, by which time he’s at home. I’m not best pleased with this really, but he manages to get it back from the sportshalle in the afternoon - at least it's not disappeared.