Since opening 4 years ago, our school has used PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) as a school-wide system for setting expectations and managing behavior. (Read more about PBIS whole-class rewards our school uses here.)
What is PBIS? Why?
Tracking Notes Sent Home
On my “A Note from My Teacher” pad, I write the dates so I see how frequently a student received a note. Since a sticky note is a lot smaller (and most of the time written on the fly as I see something great throughout the day), I use checks and dots. Checks are positive notes and dots are “Today ______ struggled with ___________. I know tomorrow we will _________!”
Printing Your Own Notepads
How do you track positive notes? I’m always looking to streamline my systems and would love to hear your ideas! If you are interested in other FREE classroom resources, you can sign-up here for teaching freebies to land in your inbox every month and check out other ways I reach-out to families here.
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Ashley Weiss says
October 12, 2015 at 12:37 amLove love love this idea. You're so on top of this! I send one positive postcard home a quarter. I address them in the summer so the tedious part is done and then I know who hasn't received one.
Kate says
October 12, 2015 at 2:08 amI love the idea of pre-addressing the envelopes! That would definitely be an easy way to track. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Sara says
October 13, 2015 at 12:11 amI do the same but print of my kiddos names/addresses on labels. I have positive postcards that I send home and like Ashley said, I put the label on ahead of time so I can always tell who still needs one sent out. Once I get through everyone once, I start over again. Of course I still send extras here and there as needed.
Michelle says
October 12, 2015 at 1:06 amI use a precut hand shape and give the kids "high fives". I track them in my teacher binder in my student info section.
Michelle says
October 12, 2015 at 1:06 amI use a precut hand shape and give the kids "high fives". I track them in my teacher binder in my student info section.
Amy Bauman says
October 12, 2015 at 1:26 amGreat idea! Thanks for sharing!
Amy Bauman says
October 12, 2015 at 1:26 amThanks!
Katie Kubski says
October 12, 2015 at 1:31 amI just ADORE this idea! My co-teacher and I are always looking for ways to praise students for the little and big things they do throughout the day and week. Currently, we use Class Dojo for our behavior management system. It has made it a lot easier to shoot parents a note to tell them the great things their child has been doing, but I think that being able to walk in with a tangible, "fridge-worthy" note makes such a difference.
Thanks for sharing! My co-teacher and I still love following you, even though you no longer teach fifth grade, thanks for all the ideas!
vicky1970 says
October 12, 2015 at 1:38 amThis is great! Thanks Catherine!
xo,
Vicky
Teaching and Much Moore
~Christina says
October 12, 2015 at 1:55 amLove these, they go a long way!
~Christina says
October 12, 2015 at 1:55 amLove these, they go a long way!
Kayla says
October 12, 2015 at 2:00 am2-3 happy notes has been my (mostly successful) goal so far this year. my kids have loved it so much! starting tomorrow im also incorporating happy bracelets for them to wear. there are lots of good freebies on tpt!
Kate says
October 12, 2015 at 2:09 amHappy Bracelets? I'd love to hear more about this idea! 🙂
Kayla says
October 12, 2015 at 10:41 pmthey say something like "i am a great writer", "i am a kind friend", or "i was a great listener all day". i am handing them out at our closing meeting (which is new this quarter – we need that reflection time!). i wanted to do brag tags, but honestly, that was too much to manage right now (maybe a goal for next year). the bracelets are perfect – easy to manage, easy to keep track of on a checklist, and motivating. i handed out the first ones today and my kids loved them!
Philicia Mollere says
October 12, 2015 at 2:10 amTo be totally honest- yes brutally honest, I have been so overwhelmed with a new school, new grades, all subjects, could go on forever- anyway- that I have NOT been doing this. I am starting tomorrow. I plan on getting back with you to report how I am going to track this. I am thinking of using a post it template, or getting pads made with student names- going to talk about it with my paras tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me- I need to slow down, and remember what's important.
Jen Bonner says
October 12, 2015 at 2:22 amLove this idea Catherine!! Thank you 🙂
Kristi Felchle says
October 12, 2015 at 2:32 amWhen you order your notepads do they cut them in half since the template has two on a page?
Kate says
October 12, 2015 at 2:33 amHi Kristi! I actually use the JPG image (linked above) and create a custom notepad. That way the note pad comes bound from the printer!
Ms. Baker says
October 13, 2015 at 12:19 amIs it a sticky notepad like a post-it note? I notice your roster is stuck on the back of what looks like a sticky post-it note notepad
Dana White says
October 12, 2015 at 2:32 amSuper idea!! Thank you for sharing.
Suzanne Schiavoni says
October 12, 2015 at 11:11 amThis is just perfect! It was very kind of you to share this (for free!!!). Thank you!
Suzanne
Mrs. Frost says
October 12, 2015 at 12:43 pmI have a daily sunshine award as part of my afternoon meeting. It is a sunshine notepad and I choose one student who has brought sunshine to our classroom for the day. To recognize students in the moment I have a warm fuzzy jar. Students who show expected behavior earn the class a warm fuzzy and when the jar is full the whole class earns a reward.
Linda Groce says
October 12, 2015 at 1:07 pmI love this!! What a great organizational resource for sending home positive notes and I've enjoyed reading all of the replies to get more ideas!! Thanks, Catherine!!
Jennifer Maier says
October 12, 2015 at 2:45 pmLOVE this. So many times we forget about the good things the kids do.
kdgunter says
October 12, 2015 at 7:43 pmThank you for sharing your idea! I am a new teacher, and I have been looking for ways to address positive behavior. Can't wait to start using these tomorrow!! 🙂
Rebecca Adams says
October 19, 2015 at 12:24 amThis is such a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Erin says
November 28, 2015 at 5:34 pmI teach 2nd and we do "shout outs" every Friday – the kids LOVE IT! I highlight their name when they get a shout out and try to make sure they get at least 2 a month. Thanks for the template!
Janelle Kay says
February 28, 2016 at 5:15 amI love this idea! I am a middle school teacher and this would be so powerful in our school! Thanks for sharing!
katie4thgrade says
May 16, 2016 at 12:44 amLove this! Is there a Spanish version? All of correspondence home has to be in English and Spanish
Tami says
December 24, 2016 at 9:54 amMy school also uses PBIS and we have 2 positive interactions. 1 is Gotcha tickets, a small token of appreciation for good behavior and Ranger recognitions (our mascot is Rangers). One of our office ladies keeps track how many and which students receive these on a monthly basis. We as a class keep track how many Gotcha tickets are turned in monthly and when we have met our monthly goal the entire school gets free dress.