Every Positive Interaction Counts

EPIC-Collaborative Parliaments and Positive Interactions :)

My friend, Jessica Brown (Instructional Coach at Berger and Horace), is starting a movement!  After visiting our school and noticing an EPIC sign, she was inspired with her own version of EPIC- Every Positive Interaction Counts. Thinking about that, and what we've been doing with CHAMPS, makes me reflect on my interactions with the students of Osgood.

I've made the comment that since I don't have my own class of students, I feel like the 'fun aunt' sometimes! I don't necessarily see the students in times other than a happy, positive environment. I certainly remember being in the classroom, and definitely NOT feeling like a fun anything!  I know the stress you feel, I know that behaviors exist, and I know how hard of a job YOU have! But knowing all of that, along with the importance of positive interactions with students (and staff), makes me wonder what my positive to negative interaction ration was and is.

CHAMPS

Remember STOIC? Chapter 7 in our CHAMPS book begins the information on Interacting Positively- the I in STOIC. As a reread this chapter, I made many connections to what we're doing with Lost at School, especially in the section When students respond negatively to positive feedback.  Although Joey wasn't receiving positive feedback during the time of his disruptive behavior in Lost at School, he was embarrassed by receiving any attention at all for not knowing what to do on his assignment. Knowing this, Joey's teacher was able to collaboratively come up with Plan B with Joey.

If you know you have a student who responds negatively to positive feedback, what do you do? On pages 291-292, suggestions are given on how to deal with those situations. One of them being finding a way to give positive feedback more privately.  Some students don't know how to handle positive feedback, but gradually, we can build up their sense of worth by using noncontingent feedback and subtle praise until they do.

A Challenge for You

If you've made it this far, through my rambling of EPIC-ness, positive interactions, and our good friend Joey...well done and thanks for sticking with it!

My challenge for you is to join Jessica's movement.  Each day, plan to be the positive in all that you do.  The more positive we share, the more we shall receive. One positive interaction can change someone's entire day-including yours!