Third-Graders Rewarded For Helping Other Kids

LINCOLN — Third- graders at Lincoln Elementary School spent a week in May learning about “Gimme 5,” which focuses on five ways to support others and promotes non-bullying behavior.

The program at Lincoln Elementary was called Kids Helping Kids. As teachers or students saw someone exhibiting one of the five behaviors, that student was given a ticket to place in a drawing. At the end of the week, all students who received tickets were recognized and 10 students from each class received a free t- shirt if their name was drawn.

“It’s a good thing to focus on positive behavior and reward kids who are doing those behaviors,” said Blaine Hubbard, program coordinator for School Based Services for Rural Schools with Ozark Guidance Center. “This was to have more of a positive aspect on what kids are doing, not so much emphasis on bullying.”

Kids Helping Kids was in partnership with Ozark Guidance and with Lincoln Wellness Center.

Hubbard said he wants students to know that it’s OK to treat others with respect and to be different.

“It’s true that sometimes kids get picked on for being nice,” Hubbard said, adding, “This was just a good way to put a lot of emphasis on kids that are doing good.”

Mary Freeman, elementary school counselor, said she believes “Gimme 5” is a continuation of teaching children about bullying behaviors.

“I think the first step in teaching kids about bullying is to teach them what to do if they are bullied,” Freeman said, noting that bullying behavior is meant to humiliate someone on a continuing basis.

She said the school starts teaching about bullying and how to treat others in November and continues discussions throughout the year.

The school uses the Seven Habits of Effective Leadership and encourages students to develop and use their own leadership skills. The school also promotes team building, Freeman said.

At the end of the week, the school held a special assembly to recognize students’ behavior and hand out T-shirts.

COURTESY PHOTO All these third-graders at Lincoln Elementary School were recognized for acts of kindness toward others. The students learned five ways to support others. The program called “Gimme 5” promotes and rewards non-bullying behavior.