The Power of Encouragement in Lower Elementary

How do you feel when someone takes notice of your hard work and acknowledges you for it? How does positive feedback affect your motivation? Compliments and acknowledgments are important to the Lower Elementary community, and we practice sharing and accepting these on a weekly basis.

In our classroom, students learn how to observe and articulate the positive in others and in themselves through role-playing, discussions, and writing activities. Every community meeting starts with compliments or acknowledgments and sometimes the class gives an individual student an acknowledgment circle.

These acknowledgments enhance students' sense of belonging by teaching them to notice and cultivate the positive aspects in each other, fostering close connections. These statements also help the students understand how their actions have a positive impact on their classmates and allow them to see the value of their contributions.