A new seat awaits students every day, determined by what color flamingo eraser they draw, allowing them to get to know each other better and break down cliques. Along with being her favorite color, FLAMINGOS doubles as an acronym for the social contract that adorns the wall and guides students through a set of Moral Focus-based traits – focused, leaders, accomplished, mindful, intelligent, nice, growth mindset, observing, and scholars.
Her students have taken those qualities to heart each day.
“We're going to help each other,” Barona said. “They really support each other to where I could take a backseat. I was there for support but they really didn’t need me.”
A discussion about goods and services led to Barona’s class putting on a “maker’s mart” in which students submitted a business plan breaking down costs and brought in goods to “sell.” Initially expecting them to make signs and posters to peddle their goods, the students’ enthusiasm for the project was evident. They made full-blown stands with some help from their parents and supported each other in the process of buying items, staying true to their FLAMINGOS guidelines.
“They all went above and beyond so being able to have that parental support really helps to solidify the lesson,” she said. “It helps to make the information stick in their head and get them excited about learning.”
Barona taught kindergarten for four years at Atlanta Heights before switching to first grade this year and looping up with her students from the previous year. She enjoys seeing the growth the students display at that age as their personalities develop.
“They’re really easy to read, they’re interested in learning,” she said. “It’s a perfect age.”
The close bond that she shares with the Atlanta Heights staff makes it that much easier to bounce around ideas in support of students. It also creates a selfless learning environment that has seeped into the students’ conduct during their formative years.
“They want to do the right thing and they want to help other people,” she said. “It’s not all about yourself. They really are good kids, so to see them developed like that, it makes me feel like I did my job as teacher.
Keep up the excellent work, Mrs. Barona!
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About Atlanta Heights Charter School
Atlanta Heights Charter School is a tuition-free, public charter school in Atlanta, Georgia, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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