1. SUMMER FINALLY ARRIVED! It only rains at night (on a good day.)
2. I've been reading books I bought from Second Hand Book Stores! (Going to read "A Beautiful Mind" Next!!!)
3. And most of all, I've had Writer's Block! (Even now, as I am on the 3 bullet of my list. I do not have a title)
So hopefully this post will end my writer's block for a while.
Every year, we undergo the same problems. If we compiled a list of teacher problems, I bet the following would make an appearance.
1. Classroom Management
2. Organization
3. Syllabii
4. Seating Charts
5. Rewards
The List goes on and on!
Today, I am going to describe a classroom management tool that rewards a group of students, instead of a single student. I got the idea while reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for like the two millionth time.
"'Welcome to Hogwarts,' said Professor McGonagall. 'The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.
'The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
So, my grand scheme is to break my students into four groups. Every class I teach will have students that belong to each group. I am currently thinking that the students will be broke into their class status ... Seniors, Juniors, Sophmores, and Freshmen.
Students will be broken into the four "Houses," Senior Maroons, Maroon Juniors, Sophmore Maroons (Still Working on It), and New Maroons (Still Working on It).
Each group will be given a colored banner (It will be made by me using felt and will display the class colors.)
Seniors -- Maroon and Gray Banner with Maroon wording
Juniors -- Maroon and Gray Banner with Gray Wording
Sophmores -- Maroon Banner with Gray Wording
Freshmen -- Gray Banner with Maroon Wording
I will change these the banner to the group who has the most Group Points every Friday to display until the following week.
How will the points be displayed? In the book, points were displayed with giant hourglasses that were filled with precious stones of the house color. My point system will be displayed proudly on a poster I plan to make soon! This poster will be displayed where students can see it as they walk in the classroom (to get the added effect, OH LOOK WE'RE IN THE LEAD or WHO LOST ALL THOSE POINTS!)
The most difficult part is how to award points fairly?
Right now, I have the following organized and prepared to use
EARNED POINTS
1. When I do a homework check, every student who turns in their homework on the day it is due, will earn their group 5 Points.
2. When I give a test, I will average the students scores in each group and award the group 2 times the averaged score of the test (rounded up).
3. When I give a quiz, I will average the students scores in each group and award the group the average score of the quiz (rounded up).
LOSE POINTS
1. If I send a student to the office, his/her group will lose 20 points.
2. If a student is late to class, they will recieve a tardy and lost 10 points from their group.
3. If a student is given a verbal warning, they also lose 10 points from their group.
These are what I have so far, If you have more ideas let me know in the comments.
At the end of the six weeks, the group with the most points recieves a "Group Code." The group code is a mystery and there are only 6 in existance. Once the class has been informed they are the winner for the six weeks, I will have them vote for their award, which is a MYSTERY, but are VERY nice rewards (Still thinking about it!)
If you have any suggestions, Please leave a comment below!
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