RE group covenants and behavior
Every RE group at UUSGU should have an agreed upon covenant for their group at the start of the church year. This is usually created during the first RE session of the year.
What is a covenant?
For children at grade school age, the words "agreement" and "promise" are presented as being very close in meaning to the term covenant. A covenant for a group of people in our congregational setting has to do with agreeing to behavior that is respectful of others in the group. It answers the question, "How do we need to treat each other?"
Children understand this from a fairly young age. Words such as "Be kind," "Be nice," and yes, "Respect," readily come up during a discussion about making a covenant. RE teachers help children extend their thoughts to include some specific behaviors that reflect having respect for each other. They can encourage children phrase things in the positive so as not to end up with a list of "Don'ts."
What is a covenant?
For children at grade school age, the words "agreement" and "promise" are presented as being very close in meaning to the term covenant. A covenant for a group of people in our congregational setting has to do with agreeing to behavior that is respectful of others in the group. It answers the question, "How do we need to treat each other?"
Children understand this from a fairly young age. Words such as "Be kind," "Be nice," and yes, "Respect," readily come up during a discussion about making a covenant. RE teachers help children extend their thoughts to include some specific behaviors that reflect having respect for each other. They can encourage children phrase things in the positive so as not to end up with a list of "Don'ts."
Covenant and behavior
The group covenant is made up as a poster and put on the wall for all to see and remember. If troublesome behavior does arise, the covenant is right there to be used as a reminder. Even when there are no blatant problems, it is useful to review the covenant every once in a while with the group. Covenants serve as a way to set norms and expectations, and are a preventative measure against behavioral lapses.
When you are teaching a particular group, look for their covenant as part of your getting oriented to the room, materials, and so on.
The group covenant is made up as a poster and put on the wall for all to see and remember. If troublesome behavior does arise, the covenant is right there to be used as a reminder. Even when there are no blatant problems, it is useful to review the covenant every once in a while with the group. Covenants serve as a way to set norms and expectations, and are a preventative measure against behavioral lapses.
When you are teaching a particular group, look for their covenant as part of your getting oriented to the room, materials, and so on.
Steps to try when intervening in or addressing behavior that is out of covenant and after you have already tried a more general approach
- Speak to the child or children specifically about behavior you observed that is not in keeping with the group covenant (agreement). Do this in a timely way so the behavior and your response are connected. Example: "Kyle, we have a group agreement-- our Covenant-- to listen to each other respectfully. We can't do that when you are talking when it's not your turn. What can I/we do to help you remember this?"
- If a child or children continue to be a significant disruption to the group, go and get the DLRE.
- Always talk with the DLRE after the session ends about what happened and how things went.
There are a number of resources about covenants on the UUA website that are good for further reading. Covenants are important for all ages, children, youth, and adults!