I make a class board. It is a competition board based upon stars. I give three stars per week.
One based on students doing their homework, class attitude, and finally class behavior.
The kids love it but I teach 4 and 5th grade elementary level.
The prize at the end of the semester is a pizza party, with juice drinks or cola or water (some kids don't drink soda) as well as a move or activities. It depends on how much time we have and how good the class has been.
the visual representation works well because each class sees how everyone else is doing and this creates a competitive spirit between the classes. Each week the kids come in and talk about where they are as a class and start counting out how many stars it will take them or how many weeks it will take them to take the lead or catch up or win etc..
The board itself takes some time to make. A good day or so. The first semester i used a thermometer style with each week of the semester on it. It was simple enough.
the second semester I designed a race course track. Just a linear one with a starting and finishing line. I got pictures from google images of trophies and starting and finishing lines and glued them on. Each class had a car pinned to the board. It was basically a picture glued onto a piece of foam board about 3mm in thickness.
Each week if they got 3 stars then they could move the racing car up three levels, one level representing a star. If you want I can post pics of them tomorrow so ye can get an idea of them.
They are nothing special but they worked a treat with all sorts of issues, most notably homework and class discipline. I found that if someone didn't do their homework the class would get annoyed with the students and usually it didn't happen again. there is a fine line with that though and you as a teacher have to be careful that they don't go overboard and start picking on the kid or go too far. I found making the kid apologize in front of the class for letting his/her team down and treat it lightheartedly worked in almost all situations. but then again this is something you have to figure out on a class by class basis. I am really lucky in that I have really good kids in my school...
If classes fall too far behind then bonus point starts can be given for extra special behavior or attitude etc. These ideas are very flexible and can be adapted in a myriad of ways depending on your students and classroom environment...
Hi, Kevin, I'd like to see a visual of what you've done. If you don't mind posting a pic. It sounds very interesting.
sure, I'll post it tomorrow morning. I forgot my camera this morning...But I'll definitely post it tomorrow for you
Hi Kevin, hate to bother you but do you have the pics of your board. Thanks.
