Eastern Washington University
This tool is a great way to implement a positive community in the classroom. Many times we think of positive behaviors and accomplishments people around us do but do not tell them. Praise is one of the most simple and effective methods for engaging and motivating your students. Praise, when used correctly, may help children overcome behavioral issues and enhance their attitudes toward learning.
SLANT is a tool for getting student attention. In a call-and-response style, the teacher raises their hand and shouts, “slant!”. The students all respond, “slant!”, and then give the teacher full attention and a zero voice level.
Fuzzy Friend is a stuffed animal of any sort that will remain on a different student’s desk every day. Students will decide at the end of each day which student was helpful, friendly, giving, respectful, etc. will get the fuzzy friend to sit on their desk the next day.
I wanted to include more ways for students to share their thinking, other than think-pair-share. Having students talk in pairs is great to share their knowledge, but sometimes in a kindergarten classroom, students can get distracted and off topic when sharing with their friend. With whisper in hand, students can share their understanding, by whispering the answer in their hand, and then releasing the answer.
This tool is a great way to create a community that supports each other and teaches social emotional skills for our students future. The tool is a jar that is used to shout out fellow students who are showing character traits that should be celebrated.
This tool includes a mirror, and positive affirmations all around the mirror — students are able to look at themselves and think positive thoughts/cool down if needed/etc.
When students are absent, another student is the “Well Wisher”. The student will color a picture and write a note to the student absent, reminding them we missed them at school.
Kindness notes are a great way for students to support one another in the classroom. Students are to draw a name out of a cup and write a nice note towards the other student. This helps students branch out and find new friends within the classroom.
This tool is a call and response. The teacher calls out “Boomer” and the Students yell back “Sooner” while stopping side conversation and facing the teacher.
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