Roller Coaster

Do you ever feel like you're on the roller coaster of life? I've been feeling that way with teaching lately. I absolutely love it, then the next day I'm so overwhelmed and frustrated by it, I wonder if I chose the right career. Then the next day, I'm encouraged and motivated again. Can't I just be on my teaching high all of the time, instead of this up and down on the roller coaster all the time?



The last few days were wonderful- high on the roller coaster! We have a "compliment jar" in the classroom. Anytime we hear a compliment, such as, "what a great line," "you are all working so hard," or "they did a great job in science today," we write it down on a small piece of paper and put it in our jar. I used to use popcorn scoops for each compliment, (thanks to the idea of another teacher friend!) and once the jar was full we had a popcorn party. However, I wanted the kids to learn more about integrity and to do things because it is right, rather than for a popcorn party. Plus, I could never keep up with the popcorn! The students are in charge of the jar this year- they write the compliments and put them in the jar. I have found the the compliments mean much more to my students this year than it did last year. Partly because it is for authentic purposes, rather than a party, and mostly because they are in charge of it. However, always do what works for you! :)



Friday we celebrated our accomplishments, and read all of the compliments and glued them to a poster to display. I wasn't sure how into it the students would be, but boy were they excited about it! So that was very encouraging. Now anytime they hear anything, they are writing it down and putting it in our jar! I also challenged them to write more- who specifically gave the compliment and what the students were doing to receive it. They clapped their hands at this idea! Another encouraging moment. And most awesome of all, the students are giving each other compliments, and writing it down! This is very encouraging for our community building! Now we can look back and see what people noticed us doing. With the popcorn, we had no idea what we did, except that we had gotten compliments from someone!