Last month I began sharing the strategies that we have used with our students to enhance our school culture. This month, I will share the second set of activities we implemented with our students. My hope is that something I share will spark an idea that you can apply within your own school/district.
- Good News Cards/End of the Semester Good News Card Drawings
- Each month, teachers are asked to write at least ten Good News Cards to students. Our Family Resource Center takes care of mailing the Good News Cards home to students. I have heard several students and parents comment on how excited the students are to receive their cards in the mail. We also keep a copy at the school, and each morning we draw two winners from each grade. The winners are then allowed to choose three friends to sit with them in the booths at lunch. At the end of each semester, we have our end of the semester Good News Card drawings. During this time, we draw ten winners who are allowed to choose from a selection of prizes. Obviously, the more good news cards you have received, the better your chances are of winning. I also will draw five to ten teacher’s names and award them a prize as well.
- MAP/Behavior Rewards
- After we complete each MAP testing cycle, we reward those students who have stayed on grade level or have shown improvement in Math and Reading. We organize various activities allowing us to involve at least 80-120 students at a time. Some of the activities include: South Middle Shootout, South Middle Survivor, South Middle Tug-O-War Challenge, and our South Middle Water Wars.
- Extreme School Makeover
- Each Spring, just before school is out for summer, we divide our student body into approximately 25 groups. Each group is assigned a specific task, such as: landscaping, painting, wiping down lockers, etc. Each group is led by a teacher or staff member. They are able to choose their own groups, as each student may have different interests. They are given a four hour block to complete the task, as well as eat lunch. After we complete our Extreme School Makeover, we finish off the day at the football field with Water Balloon Dodgeball or our South Middle Water Wars.
- “Caught Doing Good” Notes
- I carry “Caught Doing Good” Post-it notes around with me as I walk through classrooms. When I see a student participating in class, enriching discussions, or doing a great job on a project, I will give out one of these notes. I try not to give them out for just anything, but for doing more than expected. On the note, I will write a personal comment for the student.
Next month, I will share even more activities that we have used with students to improve our school culture.