Positive reinforcement is a strong motivator, especially in the classroom. In a study by Christina Kennedy about the effects of positive reinforcement on classroom behavior, Kennedy concluded that it is highly effective and vital for a communicative and healthy environment for students.
Shout outs are Carlmont’s way of incorporating that positive reinforcement into the school. They are slips of paper found in the office that staff members can use to acknowledge the good deeds done by other teachers or students. Sometimes students even get to send them to one another. Carlmont has used shout outs for about five years now, and the administration believes it has changed the campus for the better.
They could be sent out for a variety of things, including a student helping in the classroom, working hard to improve a grade, helping a fellow student, or a teacher getting help from another teacher. The administration’s goal with the system is to create a positive climate. Slips to write shout outs on are kept at the secretary in the office, Mrs. Eggli’s, desk. Every month, the staff are reminded to recognize someone they saw as helpful or kind in some way and to send them a shout out. Then, throughout the month, they are distributed randomly to the students.
Gregg Patner, the Administrative Vice Principal, is an advocate of the system and is helping to encourage teachers to engage in the activity.
“The goal is to recognize good effort, attitude, or accomplishment,” Patner said. “It’s a great way to share positive comments to one another, and I believe it has impacted [the] school climate positively.”
Students receive them all the time, even for small things. It’s a way to highlight the small acts of good done throughout the day by everyone in the hopes of increasing kindness around campus.
“One time I got a shout out because I stayed behind in class to organize all the papers my teacher had, and she gave me a shout out,” said Reign Miller, a junior. “It made me feel really good.”
This system allows teachers to easily give recognition to students who have put time and effort into school or just being a good person around campus.
“I have seen it encourage students who were maybe down that particular day or just not really feeling motivated,” said Kelly Redmon, an English teacher. “I have seen them kind of pick up because of it. It was just timely for them, so that was kind of cool.”
Shout outs create an easy communication line between teachers and students.
“I feel like this is our way, as staff, of pushing more good vibes [because] there’s just so much negative stuff out there,” Redmon said. “So when we can acknowledge someone doing something right, we should, and it’s really an effective way to do that.”
