Each February students exchange store-bought or even homemade valentines. This annual exchange can sometimes create angst and dread among your students. However, this year you could be the teacher that creates an experience that provides the warm and fuzzies as well as a keepsake. I am not saying ditch the cute cards, but this poster will make a bigger impact for sure! Do I have your attention yet?
Compliment posters will be something that your kids will be able to read over and over again, especially on those days that they might need a little extra boost. This is also a great tool to reinforce character education or the Positivity Project in your classroom.
The first thing you have to do is create a list with the name of each of your students on it. Each line should provide enough room for the name and a sentence to be written. Once your name list is complete, make a copy for each student and any teacher/adult who works in your room.
As I pass out the name list, I instruct the students to put an X by their name to ensure they don’t write one about themselves. After that we have a discussion about inside (character) traits and outside (physical) traits and which ones should be used for this task. For example, I might tell them that telling someone their shirt is nice, but doesn’t really tell them about the kind of person they are. Although the ultimate goal would be for each student to write a compliment regarding a character trait, I do allow for students to compliment a physical trait as long as it's appropriate and the student writing can't think of anything else. Giving evidence to support their compliments is also encouraged. I also post our character education traits and the Positivity Project principles for them to use as a resource.
After they have finished their compliments, I make sure I look over each of them. I make the students clean up their writing or make the compliments more complete. Once everyone is corrected and ready to go, the cutting begins. Soon each student will have a compliment strip for each kid and each adult in the room.
The posters will then be placed on the tables/desks around the room so each person can see where to place the compliments.The students voraciously pass out the paper strips to each poster; it's similar to the Valentine card exchange that happens at this time of the year. Everyone is eager to read what other people are complimenting. They take an interest in their posters and their classmates' posters as well.
As soon as the last compliment is passed out, the gluing begins. The strips are glued in a row under the name. Each student will soon have a poster full of compliments about themselves. Students are invited to either keep the poster at school or take it home; it's up to them. These posters will serve as confidence boosters and a keepsake for not only the current school year but for years to come.