How NOT to Reward Your Students and a FREEBIE!

There are so many different philosophies surrounding student rewards. As a busy teacher, it can be so easy to gravitate towards what is most comfortable or the latest trends rather than best practice.

Last year I began teaching at a new school that frowned upon the use of a treasure chest. Despite knowing that fact I had a hard time letting go of my old friend. In fact, I actually continued to use it despite the school policy. (Shh! Don't tell my principal.) 

This year I finally got the courage to ditch my treasure chest. The following are FIVE ways to NOT reward your students that I learned in the process.

1. Announced Rewards

Rewards are most effective when they are given without warning. For example rather than saying, "You will get to go outside when you finish your work." Try saying, "I love how hard you worked on that assignment, why don't you go out to recess early."

2. Rewards As Bribes

You don't want to bribe students to do their work. Make sure that you are providing students with assignments that are meaningful and rewarding in themselves. By challenging students with purposeful assignments you avoid the dreaded question, "What do I get out of it?"

3. Careless Rewards

Everyone likes to be appreciated for their hard work. Even teachers enjoy being rewarded and celebrated for their efforts. Why then should we expect our students' work to go unrecognized? When you give a reward, present it as appreciation for the behavior. For example, "I love how you showed patience helping another student with his work, would you like to be the assistant teacher for the rest of the week?"

4. Tangible Rewards 

The use of intangible rewards is important because these rewards have been shown to increase student's intrinsic motivation. On the other hand, tangible rewards, such as my prize box, have been shown to decrease intrinsic motivation over time.

5. Inconsistent Rewards 

Just as it is best practice to use logical consequences in the classroom, we should be using logical rewards as well. Rather than giving students candy for staying focused during a lesson give them the extra time that they saved as free time.



What is your favorite way to reward students? I have compiled a list of 102 free classroom rewards that you can download for FREE by clicking on the image.

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!


We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your feedback in the comments. We can't wait to connect with you!

-Carly

For more information on how to use classroom rewards effectively check out Angela Watson's Podcast "Responsible Rewards: Using the 'Now-That' Principle"

Why I Quit Trying

A wise Jedi master once said, "Do or Do Not. There is no try." 

Now, how does this apply to teaching you might say? 

Well, I'm glad you asked. 

Raise your hand if in the past you have set out to try something and failed miserably. (Now I know that this could be quite awkward if you are reading this in a public place such as a Starbucks). 

However, odds are that many of us can relate to trying and failing. So then where do we go from here? What seems to be the problem?

Well, my friend,  the problem lies with the trying. We need to stop trying and start doing!

We also need to know when not doing is the answer. Teachers have so much on their plate. It is important to recognize that it is okay to say "NO" sometimes.

According to an article from the Washington Post, teachers work an average of 10 hours and 40 minutes per day. If you do the math that's a whopping 53 hours a week! 

I wonder how many of those hours are spent trying vs. doing. 

According to numerous studies it has been shown that working longer hours actually decreases your productivity. 

In other words in an attempt to try to do more we are actually accomplishing less. 

I know at this point you might be thinking, "Is a 40 hour work week even possible for a teacher?" Between all of the meetings, professional development, planning, grading... it seems as though only someone with superpowers could accomplish all of those tasks in 40 hours or less. 

So how do we get it done?

It all comes down to prioritizing what needs to be done vs. trying to do everything. 

In the words of Elsa sometimes we need to just... 🎶Let it go🎶

That parent that is calling you for the third time this week, and after hours I might add...Let it go!

The bulletin board outside your room that hasn't been updated since last month...Let it go!

Those closets and drawers in your classroom that are overflowing, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about...Let them go!

The big key in all of this is after you let it go...DON'T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT!

There will be time for those things later. The important thing is to take care of yourself so you are able to take care of your students. That is after all what is most important.

It is okay to cut yourself some slack every once in a while. Let me say that again. IT IS OKAY TO GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE!

So teacher friends your next step is to figure out what things on your list you need to do and what things you need to let go.

Good luck and may the force be with you!

Carly

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!


We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your feedback in the comments. We can't wait to connect with you!

FREE and Engaging End of the Year STEM Project!

Congratulations you have almost made it to the end of the school year! As you begin wrapping up standardized testing season I'm sure you have begun to experience the burn out that is common around this time in the school year. Your kids are experiencing it as well. Why not take some time to recharge? Why not spend some time reigniting your students' passion for learning? Why not try an engaging STEM project???!!

**CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR THE FREE DOWNLOAD**

The best thing about this project is that all of the materials you need are things commonly found in the classroom. Divide your students into groups of 2-3. The materials needed for each group include:

• 1 piece of construction paper (any color)
• 1 piece of printer paper
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 ruler
• 1 strip of masking tape measuring 12 inches long

Give each group of students 30 minutes to make the longest paper chain possible with the materials provided. Students are not allowed to use any extra materials other than the ones provided by the teacher. 

At the end of the 30 minute time limit have two students from each group come up to the front of the classroom to have their chain measured. One student will hold each end of the paper chain. If your students have had a lot of practice with measurement you could even have each students help with measuring. The only catch is that if the chain breaks during the measurement process the students in the group must decide which of the broken sides they want measured. The team with the longest paper chain will be declared the winner.

I hope your students enjoy this activity just as much as mine did!

-Carly

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

Three Effective Ways to Motivate Students on Standardized Tests

April showers not only bring May flowers they also signal that it is that time of year again...time for standardized testing. 

As testing time approaches follow these three simple steps to help you Keep Calm and Test On.

Step 1: Pretesting Motivation
Spend some time the week before the test investing students by explaining why they are taking these tests and why it is important for them to do their best. It can be helpful to have your administrator or an older student visit your class to help prepare students as well. 

Get the younger grades involved making encouraging posters for the hallways. The more people your students know are behind them the more invested they will be. 

Here is and example the Kindergarten team made for my third graders this year.

Step 2: Daily Testing Motivation
Standardized testing is more of a marathon than a sprint. Students will need daily encouragement as well to keep them motivated throughout the week. Each day of testing write your students an encouraging note on the board. Use this note to remind students of test taking strategies and show students that you believe in them.


In addition to the whole class encouragement write individualized notes, and encourage parents to send in personalized notes for their students. 

Step 3: End of Testing Motivation
Decide with students as you prepare for testing how you will celebrate their success as a class. This may be in the form of a field trip, movie day, or other class party. Allow students to come up with ideas and vote in order to ensure investment. 

Providing students motivation before, during, and after testing is the best way to keep your students engaged throughout the entire testing process. 

If you have any additional motivating hacks for standardized tests leave them in the comments section.

Keep Calm and Happy Testing!

-Carly

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

Teaching Students How to Retell Using the Five Finger Retell

Comprehension is a very important skill for students to master in order to become proficient readers. As a teacher in a school with a high population of ESL learners I have found that comprehension can be a difficult skill to master. Students learn comprehension through strategies, and the most basic comprehension strategy that students need to learn during the first few weeks of school is the five finger retell.

Using the five finger retell students learn the order of a retelling as well as what elements from the story should be included. A basic retelling should include:

• Characters
• Setting
• Problem
• Important Events
• Solution

As the year progresses students in the upper grades as well as higher level readers in the lower elementary grades should be going deeper with their retell by including details such as character attributes and motivations. They should also be able to pull out big ideas such as morals or themes from the story.

For more information and a full lesson plan that can be used with any text click on the pictures. 

What strategies have you used to increase student comprehension in your classroom?

-Carly

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

Teaching Students How to Pick a Just Right Book

Research shows that to increase achievement in reading students need to read books at their independent level. We often refer to these books as just right books. This is an important skill that students need to be taught during the first few weeks of school. 

Before I am able to test each student's reading level at the beginning of the year I teach my students how to pick out just right books using the five finger rule.

How do you use the five finger rule?

1.) Students will select a book that interests them.

2.) Students will turn to a random page with text.

3.) Students will hold up a fist and begin reading.

4.) For each word that students come to that they are unsure of they hold up a finger.

4.) When students get to the end of the page they look at how many fingers they are holding up.

5.) The bookmarks above show what the amount of fingers mean. The majority of books students read independently should be in the 2-3 finger range. 

For the full lesson plan, anchor chart, worksheet, and student bookmarks click on the pictures.

What is your favorite way to teach students about just right books?

-Carly

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

5 Behavior Motivating Hacks Every Teacher Should Know

Welcome to the first few weeks of school! As exciting as it can be as a teacher and student to be starting with a clean slate, when it comes to reteaching procedures and expectations even the veteran teachers among us want to pull their hair out.

As you find yourself teaching and reteaching expectations and practicing procedures here is a list of 5 behavior motivators for students to keep in mind:

1. Start by Creating Clear Expectations and Setting a Positive Classroom Culture

Most behavior issues can be eliminated by setting clear expectations for students and creating a positive classroom environment. Two things that I do to keep a positive classroom culture are shout outs and bucket fillers.

Shout outs is a time of the day when teachers and students recognize another person in the classroom for an academic or behavior reason. For example, "I would like to give a shout out to Suzy for organizing the classroom library during recess."

Bucket fillers are similar to shout outs. Read the story Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. Talk with students about how everyone has an invisible bucket that they carry around with them. We can either be bucket fillers by saying and doing positive things for others or a bucket dipper by saying or doing negative things to others. You can choose to have a physical representation of this in the classroom such as a bucket for students to fill up with slips of paper to recognize and encourage other students.

2. Positive Reinforcement is More Effective than Negative Reinforcement

For example substitute, "you guys should be able to line up in 10 seconds" with "do you think we can do better? I think we can line up in 10 seconds. Let's try it again."

Set goals with students. I write these goals on the board just like an objective to remind students what we are working towards.

3. Have a Class Compliment Chart

In my classroom I have a laminated hundreds chart that we use as our compliment chart. When the students get a compliment from another teacher or administrator we draw out numbers and those numbers are then crossed off the chart.

If another teacher gives the students a compliment we draw out three numbers, if the compliment is from an administrator we draw out five numbers, and if it is from a substitute teacher we draw out ten numbers. Students can earn compliments for being quiet in the hallways, following directions during specials, as well as other good behaviors that are recognized.

When students get ten numbers in a row they earn whatever reward was agreed upon. My students voted to earn a sports party.

4. Have students Earn Points 

It seems so simple, but students love to earn points in their table groups. As a teacher it also helps students hold each other accountable. The table that earns the most points at the end of the week can earn lunch with the teacher or whatever agreed upon reward.

My students are not in table groups often enough to earn points. However, I use points when lining up. I have two lines. Students can earn points for their line by being quiet and straight. The line with the most points gets to go into the lunchroom first.

5. Leadership List

Have a secret list of students that are following directions throughout the day. When we go out to recess I recognize those students on my list and let them go play first. Students love the mystery behind this motivator, and it is a great way to recognize and reward students for their leadership.

Remember to stay consistent, keep it positive, and try out some of these positive behavior hacks. Share your favorite behavior motivators in the comments. I hope your year is getting off to a great start teacher friends!

-Carly

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!