Positive Notes Home

I pride myself on my strong classroom management.  It took me a few years to get it solid, but I'm so glad I invested the time and energy into getting it to where I want it.  We are a PBIS school and have been for 11 years.  I can't imagine it any other way.  It has made a tremendous difference in the climate of our students.  We are a rural, Title I, low income school.  90% of our students receive free and reduced lunch.  Research and statistics say that our students should not be performing well.  But they are.  At my building, we are beating the odds.  I attribute PBIS to this.  And teachers that care and work hard.

I try to focus on finding the positives each day...even when I am moody or tired.  One way I do this is by starting the day with a "Positive Note" on someone's desk.  The kids always arrive and look around to see who has the note each day.  I announce it in the morning and remind the child throughout the day that they are working hard on keeping it, so they can take it home to show their family that they had a great day!  This is a very simple classroom management tool that takes little time to prep but makes a BIG difference.  Think about the last time you called a parent to share something positive.  Can't remember, right?  It seems like all the phone calls we make are for the negative things the children did throughout the day.  We are all pressed for time.  We are over-worked.  We have a never-ending to-do list.  You can quickly make a routine of sending a positive note home each day.  It takes less than a minute.  YOU WILL BRIGHTEN YOUR STUDENTS' DAY and LET PARENTS KNOW THAT YOU CARE.  

To take the positive notes a step further, add just a few more minutes to the routine.  Select a note that is specific for what you noticed a child do during the day.  Send a specific note home.  Or better yet, have THE CHILD fill out the note!  

I've created a Positive Note Home pack to help you make a school-to-home connection quickly and efficiently.  To check it out, click below.

xo

Megan