The Power of Five POSITIVE Post-It Notes

The narrative goes a bit like this.

Ms. Jen will notice five positive moments in our session today. As you work, I will stop and jot down what I notice. Can you show my mom is the first student question almost always? Yes, of course, you can keep the notes, too.

The lesson begins. Right away, I notice active listening. I noticed you were looking at the steps in our schedule when I was giving directions. I jot this specific positive feedback down.

Next notice, active engagement: I noticed that when reading newly learned words, you tapped each letter sound and blended the sounds to say the word. I stopped and jotted.

Third notice, fluency, and automaticity - I noticed your whole word reading when you saw a familiar word - The jots grow longer, sticking one jot below the previous jot.

Fourth notice: The student waits respectfully while Ms. Jen sets up for the next activity. I add another Post-it note and write. The excitement and pride are heard and seen in young readers' confidence, who notice themselves as readers, writers, thinkers, and so much more.

Fifth jot! I noticed you keep your learning materials and space neat and organized - Will you write that down? Why, of course! Yes, that's my 5th jot - a moment of silence, in awe of the accomplishment before them as if it was the first time they were aware of their positive scholarly characteristics, even though they repeat these acts over and over just without the feedback.

It just takes one positive note to channel a growth mindset. Imagine the effects of two, three, four, or five specific positive notes and jots. In return, we are creating authentic ownership of learning and opening the door for corrective feedback to be meaningful and emotionally manageable.