Welcome To My Classroom!

This newsletter is an example of the communication I shared with families throughout the school year. It provided an overview of what was taking place in our classroom at that point in the year, along with detailed information about each subject area so families could better understand what students were learning. The newsletter also included important dates, reminders, and upcoming events to help keep parents informed and connected to our classroom community.

Positive reinforcement played a significant role in my classroom management throughout the day. Providing opportunities to reward positive behavior encouraged students to follow expectations and remain engaged in learning. One successful strategy implemented in the classroom was called the “Undercover Coyote.” At the beginning of the year, students created and decorated a small coyote image that was laminated for daily use. Each morning, one coyote was selected at random, and the student remained anonymous throughout the day. As the day progressed, students were encouraged to demonstrate positive behaviors, follow directions, and model classroom expectations, while the “Undercover Coyote” received specific praise when displaying these behaviors. At the end of the day, the identity of the “Undercover Coyote” was revealed to the class. Students were highly motivated by the activity and eager to demonstrate positive behavior throughout the school day. Additionally, when the class successfully met their behavior goals consistently, they earned rewards that contributed to a larger classroom incentive system.

The next source of positive reinforcement I use was raffle tickets throughout the day. To ensure every student had an opportunity to be rewarded, we passed out tickets to students who set a good example. At the end of the week, we had a raffle and gave out ten vinyl stickers that the students could add to their desk.