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Classroom Level Intervention: Encouragement 2 x 10 Strategy

This is a deceptively simple and super-powerful relationship strategy for connecting with others we’re just not connected with.

Simply put, it’s spending 2 minutes a day for 10 consecutive days talking about anything other than what we’re having trouble with.

And in that time, we can flip a kid (or colleague) from at-risk to at-promise.

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Use with kids who:

engage in power struggles.

• don’t engage at all.

• are new.

• have many redirects.

• struggle with peer relationships.

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Discuss anything other than behavior or academics.

  • Inquire about hobbies, interests, extra-curricular, video games... etc.
  • Try to learn about or identify strengths
  • If student will not open up, talk about yourself, your life, movies, your wins and losses, sports, movies, etc...
  • Offer genuine compliments and “I’ve noticed this about you,” statements.
  • If appropriate share personal stories about yourself when you were that age.

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Classroom Level Intervention: Encouragement 2 x 10 Strategy

This is a realistic view of how to start a 2x10 with a student who’s a bit…unwilling. �After watching the video, advance to the next slide.

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Classroom Level Intervention: Encouragement 2 x 10 Strategy

Use this planning framework to track how you implement the 2x10 encouragement framework. �Here are three sentence starters to help practice encouragement:

  • Descriptive: I notice...
  • Appreciative: I appreciate...
  • Empowering: I have faith/know/trust you can......because... (provide evidence of their strengths or past observations)

Who might you use the 2x10 encouragement framework with?

Day

Encouragement 1

Encouragement 2

Observations

1

2

3

4

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Classroom Level Intervention: Encouragement 2 x 10 Strategy�REFLECTION

  1. What part of the video made good sense to you?
  2. Do you need to wait for a problem with a student to use this strategy?
  3. When do you have time in your day or even within class individual work time to meet with students individually? Brainstorm with your group to find at least 5 ways to make time in your day for this person you’re struggling with. Be prepared to share this list!
  4. Which student will you try this with? When?
  5. What questions do you still have?