I hope you are all having a fantastic weekend! I woke up this morning thinking about the class and some very good things that happened last week. I have to share them with you!
On Wednesday, we were on our way to lunch, and Grandma Jane, who works in Mrs. Campbell's class, was walking in front of us. She noticed how quiet our class was, and started to compliment us, saying things like, "Wow! Look at their class! They are so quiet and their hands are behind their backs!". I was so focused on just getting to lunch that I hadn't even noticed they were doing well. I turned around to see 20 sets of eyes all looking forward, 20 lips all zipped, and 20 sets of hands clasped behind backs. I was thrilled! I think that was the first time all year our class received compliments for walking in the hallway!
On Thursday, before heading to lunch, I shared the compliments we were given the day before to the class. I told them how proud I was of them and how I would love to get more compliments that day. They latched on to this idea, and, once again, they did a phenomenal job walking through the hallway. As we entered the cafeteria, I quietly asked Mr. Meyering to compliment them (because I wanted them to know they did a great job). The children had smiles from ear to ear when they heard him say, "Wow! Mrs. Hansen's class, you are walking so well in the hallway!"
Now, to put a cherry on top of that, Mr. Meyering also complimented them during lunch for being a very quiet table (this time, without any prompting from me!). I always walk through the cafeteria after I finish eating in the lounge to check my mailbox. That day, as I walked through the cafeteria, I was greeted with shouts of, "We got another compliment!" They were so proud of themselves, and I was proud of them too!
We talked about the compliments again on Friday. I told them how proud I was, and we talked about how good it felt to hear people say good things about our class. We hoped for more compliments, and we got them! Mrs. Campbell was waiting at her door as we walked past, and she complimented us on our nice, quiet line. Then, as we got to the cafeteria, Mr. Meyering gave us yet another compliment! The kids and I were through the roof!
I'm hoping this carries over into next week and the rest of the year. It's the smallest things that make a difference in the choices the kiddos make. Hearing compliments from adults in our school is really helping them make good choices. I know it's helping them to feel good about themselves too!
On Wednesday, we were on our way to lunch, and Grandma Jane, who works in Mrs. Campbell's class, was walking in front of us. She noticed how quiet our class was, and started to compliment us, saying things like, "Wow! Look at their class! They are so quiet and their hands are behind their backs!". I was so focused on just getting to lunch that I hadn't even noticed they were doing well. I turned around to see 20 sets of eyes all looking forward, 20 lips all zipped, and 20 sets of hands clasped behind backs. I was thrilled! I think that was the first time all year our class received compliments for walking in the hallway!
On Thursday, before heading to lunch, I shared the compliments we were given the day before to the class. I told them how proud I was of them and how I would love to get more compliments that day. They latched on to this idea, and, once again, they did a phenomenal job walking through the hallway. As we entered the cafeteria, I quietly asked Mr. Meyering to compliment them (because I wanted them to know they did a great job). The children had smiles from ear to ear when they heard him say, "Wow! Mrs. Hansen's class, you are walking so well in the hallway!"
Now, to put a cherry on top of that, Mr. Meyering also complimented them during lunch for being a very quiet table (this time, without any prompting from me!). I always walk through the cafeteria after I finish eating in the lounge to check my mailbox. That day, as I walked through the cafeteria, I was greeted with shouts of, "We got another compliment!" They were so proud of themselves, and I was proud of them too!
We talked about the compliments again on Friday. I told them how proud I was, and we talked about how good it felt to hear people say good things about our class. We hoped for more compliments, and we got them! Mrs. Campbell was waiting at her door as we walked past, and she complimented us on our nice, quiet line. Then, as we got to the cafeteria, Mr. Meyering gave us yet another compliment! The kids and I were through the roof!
I'm hoping this carries over into next week and the rest of the year. It's the smallest things that make a difference in the choices the kiddos make. Hearing compliments from adults in our school is really helping them make good choices. I know it's helping them to feel good about themselves too!