I have been teaching the same group of students for two years. You would think that expectations would be clear by now. However, after every break, we still go through a rough patch where students act like it is the first time they have ever been to school. Last year, I used a Jack and the Beanstalk behavior and homework incentive board. It worked well. This year, though, since they were 5th graders now, I wanted to do something a little less juvenile. So, we started the year with Homeworkopoly. I got it from Pinterest during the summer and I was so thrilled to put it together. It really seemed like a great alternative to my fairy tale system. And I am sure that for some, it is a great method. However, for my students and me, I quickly realized that it was not the best. Each day, I wouldn't get time to check all of their homework in time to let them roll. The brain binders weren't "fun" for them...they saw it as more work. So, I set out to make my own.
Several of my students run with me in the schools G.O. F.A.R. (Go Out For A Run) club. They enjoy it. I feel like it keeps me motivated. It's something that brings us together as a class. Using this common activity, I decided to make a Color Me Rad behavior and homework race.
Each student gets a colored paper t-shirt marker with their name on it. They start at various points on the board because putting all of them a the starting line would be far too congested. When students turn in their homework, I check it (usually before the end of the day). If they have completed all of their homework, they receive a token at the end of the day. If they have had good behavior, they receive another token at the end of the day. Some days I offer bonus tokens for homework. Sometimes a positive behavior can earn students bonus tokens.
At the end of the month, students count their tokens. Each token is worth 20 yards on the track. So, if they have earned 20 tokens, for example, they move their t-shirt marker 400 yards. On the board there are markers at 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1,000 yards. Each of these markers has its own prize, such as a homework pass, an ice cream pass, lunch with the PE teacher, etc. Every time a student makes a complete lap (1,000 yards), they get to put a multi-colored hand print on the board, much like the color bombs in the Color Me Rad 5k.
So far the students are really enjoying this. Of course, I didn't get to build the board and implement the concept until January 2nd, so students haven't splattered the board yet...but they can't wait! And, best of all, I have a 98% homework completion rate now!
Several of my students run with me in the schools G.O. F.A.R. (Go Out For A Run) club. They enjoy it. I feel like it keeps me motivated. It's something that brings us together as a class. Using this common activity, I decided to make a Color Me Rad behavior and homework race.
Each student gets a colored paper t-shirt marker with their name on it. They start at various points on the board because putting all of them a the starting line would be far too congested. When students turn in their homework, I check it (usually before the end of the day). If they have completed all of their homework, they receive a token at the end of the day. If they have had good behavior, they receive another token at the end of the day. Some days I offer bonus tokens for homework. Sometimes a positive behavior can earn students bonus tokens.
At the end of the month, students count their tokens. Each token is worth 20 yards on the track. So, if they have earned 20 tokens, for example, they move their t-shirt marker 400 yards. On the board there are markers at 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1,000 yards. Each of these markers has its own prize, such as a homework pass, an ice cream pass, lunch with the PE teacher, etc. Every time a student makes a complete lap (1,000 yards), they get to put a multi-colored hand print on the board, much like the color bombs in the Color Me Rad 5k.
So far the students are really enjoying this. Of course, I didn't get to build the board and implement the concept until January 2nd, so students haven't splattered the board yet...but they can't wait! And, best of all, I have a 98% homework completion rate now!
RSS Feed