1. How Full Is Your Bucket? Courtney Clifford, LCSW Positive Behavior Support Coach With help from: Jill Donley, St. Vrain Sch. Dist Nancy George-Nichols, Douglass County

2. How many of you have heard… I shouldn’t have to reward them for something they should already be doing! I shouldn’t have to reward them for something they should already be doing! Rewarding students inhibits their ability to develop “intrinsic motivation” Rewarding students inhibits their ability to develop “intrinsic motivation” How can I possibly have time to teach and reward all the time? How can I possibly have time to teach and reward all the time?

3. The Theory of the Bucket and the Dipper… Everybody has an invisible Bucket. We are at our best when our bucket is overflowing…

4. The Theory of the Bucket and the Dipper… … and at our worst when they are empty…

5. The Theory of the Bucket and the Dipper… Everyone also has an invisible dipper. In each interaction, we can use our dipper either to fill or to dip from others’ buckets.

6. The Theory of the Bucket and the Dipper… When we choose to fill another’s bucket, we in turn fill our own…

7. Negative Culture… Negative Culture… It’s much easier to tell people when they did something wrong… It’s much easier to tell people when they did something wrong… Negativity permeates our society at all levels Negativity permeates our society at all levels Parents call teachers to complain Parents call teachers to complain Teachers call parents when there is a problem Teachers call parents when there is a problem Parents focus on bad grades, not good grades (77% in the US). Parents focus on bad grades, not good grades (77% in the US).

8. What does the Research Say? Gallup surveyed more than 4 million employees, including over 10,000 business units and more than 30 industries, and found that individuals who receive regular recognition and praise experience … Gallup surveyed more than 4 million employees, including over 10,000 business units and more than 30 industries, and found that individuals who receive regular recognition and praise experience …

9. Increase in individual productivity Increase in individual productivity Increase in engagement among their colleagues Increase in engagement among their colleagues Are more likely to stay with the organization Are more likely to stay with the organization

10. More Research… Negative work and school environments increase “actively disengaged” employees and school dropout rate… Negative work and school environments increase “actively disengaged” employees and school dropout rate…

11. More Research… John Gottman’s study, cited in Blink John Gottman’s study, cited in Blink Analyzed over 3,000 couples Analyzed over 3,000 couples Within one hour could predict divorce rate with 95% accuracy based upon the ratio of positive to negative interactions between the couple… Within one hour could predict divorce rate with 95% accuracy based upon the ratio of positive to negative interactions between the couple… Reducing the time observed to 15 minutes decreased this accuracy to 90% Reducing the time observed to 15 minutes decreased this accuracy to 90%

12. So- What is the ‘Magic Ratio’? Research shows that a ratio of: Research shows that a ratio of: 5 Positive Interactions to every 1 Negative or Neutral Interaction Is the ratio that predicts successful relationships.

13. Research about Kids… Study done by Elizabeth Hurlock in 1925 Study done by Elizabeth Hurlock in 1925 Fourth and sixth graders Fourth and sixth graders Math tests Math tests Progress over 5 days (after baseline) Progress over 5 days (after baseline) 3 groups plus a control group 3 groups plus a control group

14. More research… Group 1: Praised in front of the classroom for their performance Group 1: Praised in front of the classroom for their performance Group 2: Criticized in front of the classroom for their poor performance Group 2: Criticized in front of the classroom for their poor performance Group 3: Ignored completely, but present in the classroom Group 3: Ignored completely, but present in the classroom Group 4: removed from classroom (control) Group 4: removed from classroom (control)

15. The Result? Group that was praised: 71% increase in score Group that was praised: 71% increase in score Group that was criticized: 19% increase Group that was criticized: 19% increase Group that was ignored: 5% increase Group that was ignored: 5% increase Control group: less than 5% increase Control group: less than 5% increase

16. Bucket Filling… Bucket filling is most effective when it is individualized, specific and deserved. Bucket filling is most effective when it is individualized, specific and deserved.

17. Kids Know… Most kids know how an adult feels about them Most kids know how an adult feels about them Body Language Body Language Tone of voice Tone of voice Words Words Some kids misinterpret direct and implied messages whereas others overreact…

18. How do you fill someone’s bucket? Four Specific Strategies for Increasing Positive Emotions

19. Strategy #1: Prevent Bucket Dipping Teach your students what bucket dipping is Teach your students what bucket dipping is Call attention to bucket dipping and bucket filling Call attention to bucket dipping and bucket filling Teach your students how to Fill Buckets Teach your students how to Fill Buckets Reward Bucket Filling Reward Bucket Filling

20. Strategy #2: Make Best Friends Tell the most important people in your life how important they are and why Tell the most important people in your life how important they are and why Become known for noticing when others do a good job Become known for noticing when others do a good job Make the tough kid your best friend! Make the tough kid your best friend!

21. Strategy #3: Give Unexpectedly Give a small token of appreciation Give a small token of appreciation Write a drop for someone else’s bucket! Write a drop for someone else’s bucket! Be specific, make it individual, and make sure it’s deserved!

22. Strategy #4: Reverse the Golden Rule Do unto others as they would have you do unto them Do unto others as they would have you do unto them Make your energy and effort at filling someone’s bucket specific and meaningful to that person! Make your energy and effort at filling someone’s bucket specific and meaningful to that person!

23. Tips for Educators: Be specific about the behavior Be specific about the behavior Praise effort and behavior, not ability or attribute Praise effort and behavior, not ability or attribute Avoid praise that hints at past negative behavior or weaknesses Avoid praise that hints at past negative behavior or weaknesses Praise should be a congratulations, not a wish that the student should do something else. Praise should be a congratulations, not a wish that the student should do something else.

24. Tips for Educators, Continued… Structured reinforcers (Pride Tickets) structure adults responses… force us to give postives Structured reinforcers (Pride Tickets) structure adults responses… force us to give postives When appreciation and positive interactions at a 5:1 level are habits, the reinforcer is no longer necessary. When appreciation and positive interactions at a 5:1 level are habits, the reinforcer is no longer necessary. Changing student behavior is first and foremost about changing adult behavior. Changing student behavior is first and foremost about changing adult behavior.

25. How Full Is Your Bucket? The Research… Positivity works!!! How Full Is Your Bucket? The Research… Positivity works!!! The #1 reason people leave their job is that they don’t feel _____________ Appreciated!

26. Positivity Works! Bad bosses can increase the risk of a stroke by ___% Bad bosses can increase the risk of a stroke by ___% 33%!!! 33%!!!

27. Positivity Works!! The Cost of disengagement: $200- 300 ______ per year The Cost of disengagement: $200- 300 ______ per year Billion!!!! Billion!!!!

28. Positivity Works! __% of Americans reported receiving no recognition last year __% of Americans reported receiving no recognition last year 65%!!!! 65%!!!!

29. Positivity Works! __ out of __ people say they are more productive when they are around positive people __ out of __ people say they are more productive when they are around positive people 9 out of 10 9 out of 10

30. Positivity Works!! Increasing positive emotions can lengthen life spans by ___ years Increasing positive emotions can lengthen life spans by ___ years 10 years! 10 years!

31. To Begin Filling Someone’s Bucket… Complete the drop for another staff member, a family member, or a student. Complete the drop for another staff member, a family member, or a student. Choose two activities you will try when you get back to your classroom to fill other people’s buckets. Choose two activities you will try when you get back to your classroom to fill other people’s buckets. Share with your neighbor your plans… Share with your neighbor your plans…

32. Resources… Gladwell, Malcolm; Blink; Time Warner Book Group, NY NY; 2005 T. Rath and D. Clifton; How Full is Your Bucket- Educator’s Edition; Gallup Press, New York; 2005