Want to build a positive classroom culture where inquiry-based learning can thrive? Trying using Shout Outs!.
Shout Outs are positive, public comments given from one student to another - or from a teacher to a student. Shout Outs acknowledge and reinforce positive behavior, and if they happen from peer to peer, they allow students to recognize each other for a job well done. There are a number of ways that you can give Shout Outs: in verbal or written form, with the whole-class or within small groups.
Whatever the format, when creating Shout Outs, keep these considerations in mind:
Create a ritual around the Shout Outs, so students understand their significance and importance to the class.
Model specificity in your own Shout Outs and discuss with students the power of specific vs. general Shout Outs.
Don’t overuse Shout Outs or rush through them at the end of a work period. These actions can signify to students that Shout Outs are unimportant.
As students begin to understand the language and rituals of Shout Outs, they'll start to look forward to these moments. Also, remind students that they can always give informal Shout Outs when they see one of their peers doing something that is remarkable. Want to download a printable Shout Out template? Find one here.