Teaching Students the Behaviors we want to see!
Olson Elementary- Positive Behavior Supports (PBS)
Universal Expectation: BE RESPECTFUL
Name of the Skill/Performance Standard: USE KIND WORDS
Setting: CLASSROOM
Purpose of the lesson & why it's important:
To teach students that being respectful in our school makes a great community and safe place for learners.
Teaching Examples:
A group of students are playing basketball at recess. Alex is getting frustrated, because he plays on a basketball team and the kids are not playing the way he’s used to. Sarah, who’s on his team, shoots and misses a basket. He feels like yelling at her and telling her she’s ruining the game, but he remembers he needs to BE RESPECTFUL, and USE KIND WORDS. What could he say instead? (ex. Nice try, give her some pointers.) How can saying KIND WORDS affect everyone at Olson?
Student Activities and/or Role Plays:
· Take a few minutes of free time in the room to play a short game and practice giving complements and encouragement during the game. You may also incorporate this in an existing lesson. For example, in group work or partner work ask students to specifically think about USING KIND WORDS for a period of time or during a specific activity. Perhaps you ask 1 or 2 students to be ‘observers’ and silently tally any time they hear someone USING kinds words. Reflect on number of KIND WORDS. Try again later that day or another day with different ‘observers’ and compare.
Reflection Questions: How does it feel when someone says something encouraging and kind to you?
How can using KIND WORDS make our class and school a better place?
· Take your class out for an extra recess to play a group game, while practicing giving complements and encouragement during the game. Examples, ‘nice try,’ ‘great job!’ ‘keep up the good work!’ ‘great pass/shot/etc.’
Reflection Questions: How does it feel to hear mean things during a game/activity?
How does it feel to hear kind encouraging words during a game/activity?
Let’s brainstorm other Kind Words we can say to each other during games/activities.
· Pass out “Kind Words badges” or use Olson Oak Awards intensively for a day any time you hear a student USING KIND WORDS.
Follow-up Reinforcement Activities: Olson Oak AWARDS! Verbal Praise (also a great way to model using kind words), Olson Otter Classroom Award.
PBS Team- Alice Turner, Vib Kale, Kristine Harms, Kris Colbert, Sheri Boser, Paul Gillis, Cathy Krause, Pam Emmerich, Kelly Hamilton, & Sara Knueve. Please share your ideas and feedback with us! Thanks! J