For the 2025-2026 school year, our district-wide focus for creating a positive culture and climate in which all students can learn is "cultivating joy and community." Staff members are asked to provide daily opportunities for students to engage in community and experience joy with their peers and throughout the school. Below you will find a variety of best practices for cultivating joy and community. These resources will be updated regularly.
Each month a slide deck is created with daily ice breakers, would you rather questions, short games, and quotes for discussion. Staff are asked to set aside 10 minutes a day to utilize activities with students in efforts to cultivate joy and community.
To create a positive classroom climate, focus on the following five key components:
Relationships & Community
Expectations & procedures
Skill Development
Responding to behaviors
Systems of acknowledgement
Slide deck covering the 5 universal supports.
Relationships & Community:
Expectations & procedures:
Harry Wong- how to start class immediately with respect and care
We are teachers: 38 must teach classroom procedures and routines
Skill Development:
K-8th Grade: Second Step
Behavior Lessons (K-8 Examples) (6-12 examples)
Nearpod SEL lessons (elementary) (middle school) (high school)
Responding to Behavior:
Use school t-chart (example if needed)
Classroom Managed Behaviors documented In PLP Classroom Behavior (Guide -- Video)
PLP Classroom Behavior Notes- explanation of student behavior choices with supports
PLP Classroom Behavior Notes- teacher responses choices with link resources
Office Managed (or chronic behaviors) documented in Behavior Referral (Guide -- Video)
Systems of Acknowledgement:
5:1 verbal praise to negative/re-directive praise
Additional best practices and examples can be found in the Culture, Climate and Alternatives to Suspension Toolkit.
Each month a specific aspect or best practice with culture and climate will be highlighted in a monthly booster pack. These booster pack best practices should occur in addition to the key components of the culture & climate starter pack. We want to ensure staff members are utilizing the starter pack first.
The 2x10 intervention is a low involvement, research-based intervention for building positive relationships and connections specifically with students most in need of positive connection. The 2x10 intervention promotes mattering and connection, especially for those students who may feel disconnected from school or struggle with their behavior, academic performance, or attendance.
The 2x10 intervention involves spending two minutes a day, for 10 day straight, engaging in personal, positive, and non-school performance related conversation with identified students. Staff members find a time to have a private one-on-one conversation with the student. This can be done within the classroom setting but should be physically separated from the rest of the class so the conversation can be personal and private.
Students are identified by classroom teachers either based on attendance, behavior, or academic engagement outcomes.
Identify a student through behavioral, academic, or attendance screening. Schools are also encouraged to use “relationship mapping” to identify students who could benefit from this intervention. It is recommended to identify 2-3 students at a time to ensure students have the opportunity to have two minutes daily with you.
Commit to two minutes a day. Ensure you find two minutes each day (during the class period for traditional middle and high school) to talk with the student. This time can be when other students are engaged in an academic activity, small group time, or some transition time.
Keep it student-centered and positive. Ask about hobbies, favorite games, movies, tv shows, music, food they eat, pets, dreams and inspirations, and other student-centered interests. During this time, you do NOT discuss anything related to the student’s behavior, attendance, or academics in school.
Be present and genuine showing you are listening. You should have a two-way conversation and share yourself, but keep the conversation centered on the student.
Document the intervention occurring in Infinite Campus. A one-time PLP Contact Log: 2x10 Intervention is entered into Infinite Campus.
Connect with the parent/family at the conclusion of the 10 days. At the conclusion of the 10 days a positive phone call home is made to connect with the family and share something you learned about the child during this process and encouraging further communication between you and the family moving forward.
Additional Support:
https://youtu.be/4PipK8fuMow?si=pUml8pb6wdwhFHa_
https://truthforteachers.com/the-2x10-strategy-a-miraculous-solution-for-behavior-issues/
https://www.ncesd.org/behavior-health/2-10-strategy/
Possible Conversation Starters:
If you could eat lunch at any fast food restaurant for free, where would you go?
When you have a weekend free, what is your favorite thing to do with your family?
I know you are a football fan; how good do you think the Packers will be this year?
What is your favorite movie to watch again and again?
Tell me more about the soccer tournament you played last weekend.
I saw Iron Man on your lunchbox yesterday, is he your favorite superhero? Why do you like him the most?
I know you are interested in becoming a chef when you graduate, what interests you in getting into that career?
Tell me more about that comic book you are reading.
If you could play any sport professionally, what sport would you want to play?