TET Notes - Valuing of Rituals in school and its Celebration

 

                                Valuing of Rituals in school and its Celebration

 

v A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words and objects performed according to set sequence.

 

v  Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community.

 

v Rituals are a feature of all known human societies.

 

v Schools are communities with rules, expectations and customs all of which reflect schools underlying values.

 

v  A positive atmosphere for learning is created when the basic values of the school community have been clearly defined and all members of the community accept them.

 

v A sense of belonging is created when we celebrate school rituals.

 

v Rituals in sporting events also enhance group activities.

 

v  Standing for the national anthem or joining in a cheer when our sporting teams perform well is all rituals and their celebration enhances life skills classroom rituals and routines can provide children with same benefits.

 

Examples of rituals in school

 

v A Friday party goes a long way towards bringing the children together and making them feel part of the group.

 

v  A song used each morning to greet the group provides a sense of security and comfort when children transition from home to school.

 

 

v Reading aloud time after lunch everyday gives structure to the day and offers children the comfort of imaginative escapes within a safe setting.

 

v  Classroom clean up at the end of week helps everyone to organize materials, provides a start to the next week. It gives a feeling of stability and control.

 

v Come to school with their parents provides a deep way of connecting home and school.