to each student specifically complimenting something about his or her effort or achievement. Bringing in cookies or another treat for a birthday is another way to show students how much you appreciate them. If you want to get a little more elaborate, you could select a “mystery” student of the week. Put each student’s name on separate slips of paper in a container. Draw one student’s name and place it in a sealed envelope. At the end of the week, open the envelope and identify the student. If the student has completed all assignments, the class earns a reward. The best strategy for protecting each student’s dignity is to privately show the student that his or her name was drawn. If the student’s behavior earned a reward, then the student has the option of having that fact announced to the class. If the behavior did not earn a reward, the feedback is given only to the student without anybody else knowing who it was. Building relationships improves student behavior and motivation.
The positive postcard. Periodically send home postcards addressed either to students or their parents that briefly outline and praise specific positive behavior or achievement you have recently observed. In doing this, the student will not only feel proud from the praise received from the teacher, but may also receive good words and encouragement at home.
Dear ____________________,
I just want to let you know how pleased I am with the effort you are showing in our class.
Thanks,
________________________
The “2 × 180 strategy.” As mentioned previously, another excellent strategy is for 2 seconds every day for 180 days (the entire school year or more if there are more days), endeavor to have a positive moment with each of your students. It can be as simple as smiling, saying hello, or commenting on something specific, such as, “I really like the effort you put into your paper.”
Big Ziggy. For many years, I have been teaching the “H or H” strategy to teachers as a welcoming method. Every day, the teacher greets the children with a hug or a handshake. Over the years, this has been modified by others to include a handshake, hello, and how are you? For educators who are uneasy about giving a hug, you can instead use a stuffed animal. A teacher at one of my seminars named her animal “Big Ziggy.” When you sense a child needing a hug (or as part of your daily greeting practice), you can put a stuffed animal between yourself and the child, hugging the child with the stuffed animal. This strategy has been found to work through at least the sixth grade.
CLASSROOM LEGACY
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