{Recognition and Reminders}

I don’t know about you, but do you ever feel like you are endlessly running to the computer to type a quick note to the parents? Do you feel like a nag about student behavior? Well I am solving these problems for myself this year!

Last year I would send parents quick daily text messages shouting out the kids who were rocking it. It was great! I did about 2 kids a day.

But then I got to thinking, I wish I could shout them out both to their parents and to their peers! This idea rattled around a while, and so I started reading the text messages to the kids. They loved this even more! But it still wasn't what I wanted…Still more rattling, and now this has come to life! 80 mini awards, or Shout Outs, to end our day!

I will be able to praise amazing behavior, effort, and improvement during the last 5 minutes of class, and the students can take their Shout Outs home! I might start my day this way. I can’t decide!!! Either way I have taken positive reinforcement and made it tangible for my students.

It’s a easy as grabbing an award, writing a name, and giving it to a deserving student! All of my lovebugs will get an award on Day 1.

I have created over 80 recognition notes! Notes shout out rockin’ students, improvements, reaching goals, helping adults, helping friends, Daily 5 behaviors, helping the sub, and so much more!!!

I don’t want to nag this year. I also want to encourage my lower students. These kids are making strides, trying, and hoping to be noticed. I feel like more often than not they get noticed in ways they don’t feel good. I can only imagine how it must feel to grow, but not reach the benchmark or to make huge strides but never catch up. These are the kids I wrote the improvement notes for. These are the kids that NEED to shine and beam with pride for their efforts toward improving!

My second pack is a reminders pack. No more running to the computer (at last recess) to type a note reminding parents that the fundraiser ends tomorrow, registration paperwork is due, Sam the Student needs his school supplies, or that ______ is tomorrow!

It’s all in this pack!