Phillips Friday Focus
January 11, 2018
Fundamental Five, Practice 4
Recognize and Reinforce
Academic Recognition & Social and Behavioral Recognition
Academic Recognition:
As educators, we readily give recognition to those students who earn A's. However, we often miss the opportunity to recognize those students who are making progress toward achieving higher academic goals.
- Easton hasn't turned in homework in three weeks, but today, he did.
- Robert has never scored higher than a 72 on a test. Today, he scored an 80.
- Bridget made the honor roll for the first time.
- Chloe's state assessment scores show she scored at the commended performance level.
We tend to recognize the success of Bridget and Chloe, but fail to use the opportunity to recognize the smaller, but possibly more important, successes of Easton and Robert.
If we give recognition of all academic levels, we are providing all students with the motivation to continue to pursue academic success.
Social and Behavioral Recognition:
Personalization and Specificity
Personalization means the teacher addresses specific groups of students or a individual student. Specificity means the teacher clearly states the behavior or action that deserved the recognition.
When teachers recognize and reinforce the behaviors they want to see, they are able to mold a student behavior that they need to have a successful and engaging classroom. Teachers will see a positive change, (first five staff members that email me or text me after reading this article will get a prize)academically and behaviorally, when they look for opportunities to recognize and reinforce. When teachers work in the power zone they are given those opportunities.
- Make a big deal of the small things.
- Start reinforcing the work it takes to be successful.
- Look for the positive, good things going on and be specific.
What's Ahead...
6:30 Dinosaur Live at Nash for all KISD families
January 15- 3:45- Planning Math night meeting, please attend if you want to help plan, library
January 16- 4:00 Teacher meeting, The Fundamental Five, practice 5, Telpas, Restorative Practices
January 18- Sunshine luncheon
January 21- Holiday
January 23- 3:45 Grade level Lead meeting, conference room
January 28- PLC day
Happy January Birthdays!
Jan. 1- Chris Hicks
Jan. 3- Sandy Albin
Jan. 11- Heather Kinney
Jan. 16- Anna Whiteman
Jan. 27- Kim Dabbs