Spark Student Motivation- Brownie Points

It's Saturday, which means I get to spend some time catching up from my LONG week. I'm linking up with Head Over Heels for Teaching for Spark Student Motivation Saturdays.

This week I will be sharing my Brownie Points system I have been using all year. I saw the idea last summer on Pinterest and knew I wanted to use it. Thanks First Grade Sweeties for the awesome idea! I apologize in advance for the poor picture. I couldn't find a more up close picture.

This motivator is used to encourage my class to act appropriately in all parts of our school. My homeroom students earn a brownie to be added to the pan anytime they get a compliment from someone else. Once the pan is full, I make brownies and bring them to class. So far they have only earned brownies once this year, but they are a few pieces away from getting them again.

I love that this motivator is cheap to start. All you need is construction paper, a cheap pan from dollar tree, and an empty box of brownie mix.

My students love when I add a brownie to the pan. If a teacher gives them a compliment when I am not around, they will make sure to ask that person to tell me.

This motivator is by far not my idea, but it has worked well for me this year. I am positive I will continue to use it next year. Hope you enjoyed learning about one of my most yummy motivators!

Five For Friday- May 3rd

 

Time to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! I had a LONG, but fun week.

1. Counting Down to the end of school

I saw this idea somewhere to count down to the last day of school. Pinterest perhaps? Anyhow, each balloon has a number on it and a slip with a special treat inside it for my homeroom. Each morning we pop the balloon and get to do whatever is on the slip. Since my students switch classes each day I did make the rule that they only got to do the special activity or get the treat if they got good reports from the other teachers. I know that probably makes me look mean, but I REALLY need them to keep their behavior in check for the next few weeks.

 

 

2. Tiger Safari

This week the Tiger Safari came to our school. They brought several animals for the students to pet and learn about. The kids got so excited to see all the animals! Sometimes I forget that even my big kids get excited about little things.

 

3. We got an award

I'm sure it seems silly, but I got so excited the day the custodian walked into my room and said it was so clean she didn't need to vacuum. I was already happy, but when I came in the next day to this certificate it put me over the moon. It's the little things that get me through the crazy times at the end of the year.

 

 4. The Great Pencil Challenge

I saw this last week on Ladybug's Teacher Files and got beyond excited. My co-teachers loved the idea, so they started it the same day as well. I started this challenge on Monday, and guess what? Most of them still have the same pencil! This is almost a miracle as they were losing a pencil a day and even some losing a pencil per class. Woo hoo!

5. Getting ready to party

Our schools 65th birthday party is next week. Today one of my co-teachers was gone, and we had to spilt her class. So we decided to start working on some decorations for the party. They turned out super cute. My favorite is the one that says "I like Central Elementary because Ms. Bateman is Awesome."

 

 

I'm so excited to have some new followers! It makes me so happy to see that other people are reading what I say. I'm also learning so much and getting tons of ideas from everyone. Hope your week was awesome!