Engagement Strategies That Work Part 2: Happy Chappy
I've been in a lot of classrooms this year as a literacy coach, and let me tell you—I’m learning so much! One of my core beliefs is to always be a life-long learner, and I’m constantly on the lookout for new ways to improve my practice, gain fresh ideas, and stay inspired.
I spend a lot of time with second-year teachers, and I’ve been picking up so many great insights from them. In the next few blog posts, I’ll be sharing some of the positive incentives and engagement strategies that really work in the classroom and bring in a lot of joy. Stay tuned!
Part 2: Happy Chappy
I love my partner, and let me tell you, he LOVES ranch dressing. I mean, seriously loves it.
Recently, he bought Burt’s Bees chapstick that was—you guessed it—ranch flavored. And right now, there’s a carrot-flavored chapstick sitting in my work bag. CANYOUBELIEVEIT?
I hate to break it to you, but the ranch chapstick is sold out at the moment, which is no surprise since we already have two packs at home. LOL. Honestly, if I had a student with a ranch obsession, I’d definitely use that chapstick as a positive incentive!
Speaking of which, have you heard of Happy Chappy or Smelly Spots?
I've seen a bunch of teachers I support using Happy Chappy in their classrooms, and here’s how it works: Let’s say you spot a student going above and beyond during the ‘we do’ portion of your phonological awareness warm-up. You grab a smelly chapstick, dab a little circle on the back of their hand, and while you’re doing it, give specific feedback about what they’re doing well. Be super clear so other students can follow the example if they want their own happy chappy!
For example, early in the year when we’re still building routines, I might say, “I noticed you were sitting up tall with your legs in a pretzel, participating loud and proud. You were listening and participating in the warm-up. You’re trying your best! Keep it up!”
Every time the student smells their hand, they’ll be reminded of what they did well, and the scent brings those positive vibes rushing back. Plus, students love to show off their Happy Chappy to others, explaining why they earned it. This not only boosts their confidence but also helps strengthen the connection between school and home.
And here’s the thing…
There’s so much research linking scent to memory. When you use smelly spots, you’re literally creating positive, lasting memories around learning. How cool is that?
Keep an eye out at the grocery store for seasonal chapstick scents—I bet there’s a pumpkin spice smell just waiting for you to snag!
I'm excited to share more strategies that I've seen make a difference and bring more joy into the classroom, leaving students highly engaged. Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned one, there's always room to learn and grow. I’d love to hear what’s been working in your classrooms, too—let’s keep the conversation going! Send me a message letting me know which flavors your students like best!
Stay tuned for the next post, where I’ll dive deeper into another incentive that can transform your classroom dynamic when students get a little too excited and start blurting out while you’re trying to teach.
PS This also works with smelly, washable markers!
