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Special attention is given to the social, emotional, and spiritual development of each child at Crossroads. Through weekly "councils" each child is encouraged to express his or her thoughts or feelings on a variety of developmentally appropriate topics. In a council, children sit with their teacher in a circle and learn to speak only when it is their turn, to speak briefly on the issue, and to listen attentively to others. Councils may be held to deal with a particular classroom issue about respectful treatment of one another, to discuss local or national news that children have brought to school, or to recognize a child's birthday in a celebratory way called a Birthday Circle.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION is taught and practiced through a common procedure at all grade levels. The goal is to enable each child to understand and articulate the point of view of another child, and for both children to be able to arrive at a solution to the conflict that is mutually agreeable.
SOCIAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT includes knowledge and understanding of differences among people. At each grade level specific lessons are introduced that focus on respecting differences. The goal is to eliminate name-calling and prejudicial thinking and to enable all children to see themselves and their families in literature selections and in conversations.
In fifth grade, children learn about what is happening or about to happen to their bodies in a unit on puberty taught by the classroom teachers. Parents are informed about the contents of the curriculum prior to the introduction of this unit.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT is fostered in weekly gatherings of the entire school community. Each week begins with Monday Morning Meeting where children and teachers greet one another, make announcements, and sing together. The week closes with "Gathering," a time when children, teachers, and parents gather to celebrate events occurring both within the Elementary School community and the community at large. For example, a class may present a special program that is a culmination of a theme studied, or a guest from the Los Angeles community may make a presentation based on a celebration such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or Earth Day. Lighting candles and closing with a song frame this special time.
