Special Mailbox
A cute idea for the classroom is to mount a real mailbox on a support stand. Use this to send special notes to students, praising their efforts and progress.
Some examples of reasons to send notes are as follows:
- being kind to another
- making learning progress
- being polite and courteous
- birthdays or other special times
- putting away something left out
- cleaning up unprompted
- saying something kind
- helping another student
- straightening the desk
- remembering what the teacher said
The teacher can write a special note to the student who is caught being good and put it in the mailbox for delivery. Have a mailman deliver the notes at the end of the day. Students love getting their mail and showing it off to others.
You can also have note cards ready for others to write notes. The principal, another teacher, the lunchroom people, or the custodian might want to offer praise. You can attach a small piece of magnetic tape to the back of the note before you send it home. Parents love knowing the good things their child does and posting the evidence on the refrigerator.
It’s Awesome!
After students know and understand rules and consequences, this idea will work with success. Cut out the letters for the word, awesome. Attach each letter to a visible board at the beginning of the week. Tell students that if they can keep up the word all week without losing all the letters, there will be a special surprise on Friday. When disruptive behavior occurs, remove one letter. Continue to remove letters whenever necessary. You will be surprised how much peer pressure works. 😛