lenny

Vibe Check: Cultivating Positive School Culture

user image

Lesson Plan

Cultivating Positive School Culture

Teachers will explore and plan three simple daily practices—personalized greetings, shared norms co-creation, and positive reflections—to immediately foster a more positive school culture.

A strong, positive school culture enhances student engagement, staff morale, and academic success. Embedding quick daily rituals builds trust, clarifies expectations, and highlights wins, creating an uplifting environment for everyone.

Audience

K–12 Teachers

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive mini-presentation with discussion and planning.

Materials

Vibe Check Slide Deck, - Daily Greeting Cards Template, - Shared Norms Poster Template, and - Positive Moments Reflection Handout

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up

2 minutes

  • Greet participants warmly and set a positive tone.
  • Icebreaker: Each person shares a recent classroom win (30 seconds each).

Step 2

Core Strategies

9 minutes

Step 3

Discussion

3 minutes

  • In pairs, discuss which of the three strategies resonates most and why.
  • Invite two pairs to share their next-step implementation ideas with the group.

Step 4

Wrap-Up

1 minute

  • Summarize the three key practices and their benefits.
  • Challenge each teacher to implement at least one strategy this week.
  • Distribute any remaining Daily Greeting Cards Template for immediate use.
lenny

Slide Deck

Vibe Check: Cultivating Positive School Culture

Tier 1 PD • 15 minutes
Strengthen relationships, shared norms, and positivity through daily practices.

Welcome everyone to our 15-minute PD “Vibe Check.” Today we’ll explore three quick, daily rituals to boost school culture. Encourage participation and keep it light and upbeat.

Session Objectives

  • Explore three simple, daily strategies to foster a positive school culture
  • Plan how to implement personalized greetings, shared norms, and positive reflections
  • Commit to using at least one strategy this week

Introduce objectives: what we’ll learn and why it matters. Emphasize actionable take-aways.

Strategy 1: Daily Greeting Cards

  • Greet each student by name at the door
  • Use a quick card or note to personalize the interaction
  • Builds trust and connection before class starts

Describe and model a personalized greeting. Show how to use the Daily Greeting Cards Template. Highlight eye contact and name use.

Strategy 2: Shared Norms Poster

  • Invite students to list 3–5 desired behaviors
  • Record responses on a visible poster
  • Refer to norms daily to reinforce expectations

Explain co-creating norms with students. Display the Shared Norms Poster Template. Encourage brainstorming and consensus.

Strategy 3: Positive Moments Reflection

  • Each week, jot down one positive moment per class
  • Share reflections in team huddles or bulletin board
  • Highlights successes and motivates everyone

Demonstrate filling out the Positive Moments Reflection Handout. Stress celebrating wins and boosting morale.

Pair Discussion

  • Which strategy resonates most with you, and why?
  • What’s one small first step you’ll take this week?

Facilitate a 3-minute pair discussion. Encourage sharing of insights and next steps. Invite volunteers to report out.

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

  • Three quick rituals: greeting cards, shared norms, positive reflections
  • Challenge: implement at least one practice this week
  • Share your successes at our next staff huddle!

Summarize the three strategies and issue the challenge. Thank participants for their energy. Remind them to grab any extra greeting cards.

lenny

Worksheet

Daily Greeting Card Template

Student Name: ____________________________ Date: _______________



Greeting Note:











From: ____________________________

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Shared Norms Poster Template

Group/Class: ______________________ Date: _______________



Our Shared Norms:



  1. _____________________________________________________

  2. _____________________________________________________

  3. _____________________________________________________

  4. _____________________________________________________

  5. _____________________________________________________



lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Positive Moments Reflection Handout

Teacher Name: ____________________________ Week of: _______________



Instructions: Each week, jot down one positive moment per class. Reflect on why it matters and any next steps you’ll take to share or build on this success.

  1. Date: ________________ Class/Group: ____________________

Positive Moment:








Why it mattered / Next Steps:








  1. Date: ________________ Class/Group: ____________________

Positive Moment:








Why it mattered / Next Steps:








  1. Date: ________________ Class/Group: ____________________

Positive Moment:








Why it mattered / Next Steps:








  1. Date: ________________ Class/Group: ____________________

Positive Moment:








Why it mattered / Next Steps:








  1. Date: ________________ Class/Group: ____________________

Positive Moment:








Why it mattered / Next Steps:








lenny
lenny