Students’ good behavior rewarded with a day filled with fun, competition

Published 6:37 pm Saturday, March 11, 2017

Beechwood Elementary School students worked hard for the past nine-weeks to earn a minute — a minute to win it that is.

On Friday, students who had not been written up for any behavior violations got to take part in the school’s version of the TV game show “Minute To Win It.”

The game-filled day was in conjunction with PBIS — Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports — which focuses on rewarding good behavior, lead teacher Stacie Schrader said.

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“We do something different every nine weeks,” Schrader said, “but every spring we do minute to win it.”

About 500 students from pre-k to sixth-grade participated in the event that challenged competitors to complete deceptively simple games in 60 seconds or less.

“I think it is cool,” third grade student Kamaya Evans said as she cheered on her classmates that were competing.

Colton Key and Chandler Jackson, who are youth ministers at Crossway Church, served as the school’s game show hosts.

The high-energy duo pumped up the crowd following the explanations of how each game was to be played.

“I did it last year when I was in fourth grade,” Beechwood student Benjamin Runnels said, of being one of the students called to compete.

The fifth-grade student also added that having the chance to participate in the school’s PBIS events were a big incentive for good behavior.

Beechwood implemented PBIS in 2012, and the school in now a model site, principal Tamikia Billings said.

Becoming a model site means those who work with PBIS in the state of Mississippi come and observe the school to make sure things are done right, Schrader said, and the proactive approaches for rewarding good behavior are used throughout the year.

“Teachers do everything in their classrooms that combine with PBIS and positive behavior. Students are rewarded for positive behavior daily, which can help build intrinsic motivation in kids,” Billings said.

The school has already seen evidence that PBIS has been positive for Beechwood.

“We have seen decreases in student referrals, increases in academic achievements, increases in building effective relationships, and it has created a positive and conducive climate and culture for teaching and learning,” Billings said.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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