Promoting Primary School Students’ Daily Report Card Participation Through the “Carrier Pigeon”

The Daily Report Card (DRC) is an evidence-based classroom management strategy that is frequently accepted and used by teachers. However, there are considerations that may increase the effectiveness and reduce common barriers for executing the DRC in school settings. The purpose of this paper is to describe the “Carrier Pigeon” as an example of a DRC implementation strategy that aims to increase student engagement and intervention effectiveness for primary school students who display disruptive behaviors. Following a general overview of the program, ways to incorporate the Carrier Pigeon narrative into its development, utilization, and progress monitoring are outlined. Next discussed are fundamental methods used to create well-defined target behaviors to promote classroom success. Finally, an example of the Carrier Pigeon’s implementation is provided along with further discussion regarding ways to avoid and/or troubleshoot potential implementation barriers.