Our Buckets Are Running Over!

As a part of Capturing Kids' Hearts, we have affirmation buckets in our class. When students finish work early or during our Guided Reading/Daily Five time, the students can write one another positive notes. Right now we are working on using the phrase "I like the way you..." to start the affirmations which leads them to be specific in their compliments. As you can see, writing affirmations has really caught on. These are just from one day!

Affirmation Station

At our campus, we use Capturing Kids' Hearts as a part of our discipline and guidance plan. As a part of that process, students are taught how to receive and give affirmations - both verbally and in writing. In the past, my students wrote the affirmations and would place them on the corner of the receipients' desk. Other people in my school have used bags to place the affirmations in but I have found that I do not have enough room for this in my class. So, this year, I am trying something new. In our class we will have an "Affirmation Station." In the station, each student will have a pocket (a library checkout pocket that can be found at most educational supply stores) with their name on it. At the station, there will be various colored pencils and index cards for them to write their affirmations on. The students can write affirmations as morning work, when they finish work early, or at stations. The affirmations will then be put in the receipients' pocket which can be picked up during Reading Workshop and Literacy Stations or at the end of the day.