Shyla Allen's 1st Grade Class

One our Big Rocks in the Transformation Zone is Climate and Culture. Climate is usually associated with behavior, while culture means the values and norms in a school. In many studies, it has been proven that student achievement in standardized tests are directly proportional to how healthy the learning environment is. This video was taken during the first few weeks of school. It shows how Ms. Allen uses chants, hand gestures and affirmations to reinforce positive behavior in her first grade classroom. The Atkins administrators have used this video during their PLCs to show their new teachers what it means to ‘practice and focus’ on model behavior during the first few weeks of school. Ms. Allen is truly a gift not only to Atkins, but to the Zone.