Nice Notes

Something that I think is very important and greatly influences the relationship I have with the students and the classroom environment is focusing on the positive.  I try to always point out the positive behaviors and work habits that I see.  Not only is it important to me to be verbal in the classroom about the great things I see, but there is power in writing it down and sending it home with the students.  Last year I tried to send nice notes home with my students, I was much better at the beginning of the year than I was at the end.  When those notes did make it into my students cubbies and home  it made me so happy to see how happy the notes made the students.  I think that it did help improve my relationship with each of my students because I was taking time to show my students that I notice and appreciate them and the work and things they are doing in class.

In order to keep myself on track next year and to make sure that my nice notes home don't drop off the face of the earth at the end of next year I made a chart.  Here I can record the names of the students under the day that I sent a nice note home with them.  It will be easy for me to see who has gotten one and who needs one.  Seeing the chart will also be a good reminder for me to write some every day.

 Grab a copy of the chart HERE

Another thing that helps me to stay on track is to keep a stack of nice note papers right next to my computer where I will see them and remember to write on them.

HERE is a copy of  my nice notes.  I just make a few copies of these and then slice them up and I am ready to go!

What are some of your favorite things to do to create good relationhips with your students and a positive environment in your classroom?