How P2 Changed the Dynamic at Donald J. Yacks Elementary

This article was written by Brianna Roach, a 2nd grade teacher and one of the P2 leaders at Donald J. Yacks Elementary in Harrison Township, Michigan, part of L’Anse Creuse Public Schools. This is Brianna’s eighth year at Yacks and her fifth year teaching 2nd grade. Yacks is a PreK–5 building now in its second year of implementing P2.

The Positivity Project (P2) has been a great addition to the school day for Yacks Elementary students and staff. All ages and grades respond well to the program. As a second-year implementing school, we have started to build on the foundation set last year, using collaboration and plans drawn from that first year’s progress. We have strengthened the way P2 is used at Yacks Elementary overall.

How Teachers Use P2 in the Classroom

Our classrooms use the daily slides, read-alouds, mindful movement, and breathing exercises to support student understanding of character strength topics. Using the daily slides and some of the Tier 2 materials has helped teachers implement the program in a way that their students respond to each day. With just a few minutes each day, teachers can communicate expectations through character strengths. This practice has changed the dynamic of our school culture by giving adults and students a common vocabulary for behavior and character.

Morning Announcements

We have noticed students using character strength vocabulary to describe characters when retelling or summarizing a text. The program supports positivity and collaboration by building peer relationships, and it strengthens relationships between students and staff as well. This creates a connection within our school community that was not as strong before.

This year, we have been consistent with our daily morning announcements, which helps keep the language and learning common across grade levels. The announcements also hold classrooms accountable for completing lessons. Because they are easy and take so little time, they remind students that all staff is on board and encourage them to use and understand the character strengths so they can be the best version of themselves within our school community.

How We Share P2 With Families

Our school Administrative Behavior Aide, Katie Ashley, supported me as a P2 leader this year in creating streamlined social media posts that we use to share our P2 learning with families each week. We used the parent letters to create a simplified version of a communication that can be shared on all platforms the school uses. Each post includes a brief synopsis of the character strength for the week, a question families can ask their students at home, and an invitation to share how their family is using that strength.

P2 Displays Around the School

Our school created a display in our main display case showing the P2 character strengths in a way that matches our underwater school theme, since our mascot is a Marlin. It stays up for students to notice and spend time with daily or as needed. As we did last year, we posted questions near the display to help students de-escalate in difficult moments. Having those questions posted keeps the P2 materials in use even in challenging situations, which strengthens how consistently the program is used across our school community.

At the beginning of the school year, teachers used the character strengths survey to choose their top three character strengths. We have those posted outside each staff member’s classroom or office to support consistency and presence throughout the building.

This year, our support staff member Holly Traykovich added displays to our school hallways. These displays are interactive and appropriate for students at all grade levels. One includes QR codes students can scan to access surveys that help them discover their personal strengths. Another provides breathing exercises for mindfulness. The last one offers opportunities to spread kindness in connection with P2 character strengths. These displays give students one more connection to the program, and they remind staff that P2 is the foundation of our school culture. They give staff another simple resource that students can turn to on their own.

What Has Changed in Two Years

Our school is a perfect place to implement a program like this. We have many students who can use extra support and encouragement each day. Using P2 to meet those needs is simple and enjoyable for teachers. The minimal prep required lets teachers keep their focus on planning academic activities. Teachers feel they can realistically meet student needs alongside their academic work because the program is so organized and easy to implement.

As a P2 leader in my building, I have seen and heard a change in many students because of the program. Students identify their own strengths and the strengths of others, and they use the terms in an academic setting. In less than two years, we have seen an increase in P2 language, an increase in student and staff buy-in, and an overall improvement in how students consider others and use character strength vocabulary in their academic work.

Our New Year Assembly

With the coming of the new year, our school will come together for an assembly where we will review the character strengths we have already learned this year and preview those still to come. We will discuss the “why” behind P2 to keep everyone excited for the program. Collaborating as a school continues our efforts toward consistency and accountability for all students and staff.

What We Hope to See Next Year

As we move forward with P2, we hope to keep seeing an increase in positive relationships within the learning environment, built on the understanding and use of character strengths. We also hope to see more student engagement and participation with the daily P2 lessons. We have already seen this school year, and we know we can increase engagement further as we continue to dedicate ourselves to the program.

P2 helps our school maintain a consistent way of communicating expectations between grade levels, support staff, and families, all to help students make wise choices and stay true to who they are. The impact on our school community has been significant.