Over the years, I have used various systems to motivate my students. I have always looked at the students in my classroom and tried to tailor my plan with their needs and personalities in mind. I love whole brain teaching and have used some of the strategies for my classroom in different patterns over the years, always adjusting things to fit my teaching style and students for that year.
When I became a fourth grade teacher, I came across "Super Improver" Wall. When students get to that age, they become very aware of areas of struggle and it is easy to get defeated or complacent with their effort. The "Super Improver" Wall shook my classroom up, motivated my students, and was easily managed. It added a team effort as everyone was excited to see each other level up.
Students are rewarded for making improvements in the classroom not for just making A's or the top grades in the class. I incorporated behavior and reading into my version of the system. When my students made gains in any area, I would reward them with "Super Improver" Points. After students received 10 points, they would get to pull a reward out of the jar and they would level up on the "Super Improver" Wall. The tickets in the jar were for various classroom rewards from selecting GO Noodle brain break for the day to show-and-tell. Some of the rewards would be for the whole class. This added to the surprise element and made it fun!
At the end of the year the students that achieved the top place, Legend, had their picture taken and placed on my website on the Legend page and received a basket of some of their favorite things. Combining this system with Class Dojo made it easy to keep track of anywhere!
This system allowed all students a chance to earn rewards in my classroom and gave them bragging rights as they received a certificate for each level they achieved.
Great Resources:
Whole Brain Website
Teacher Pay Teachers
When I became a fourth grade teacher, I came across "Super Improver" Wall. When students get to that age, they become very aware of areas of struggle and it is easy to get defeated or complacent with their effort. The "Super Improver" Wall shook my classroom up, motivated my students, and was easily managed. It added a team effort as everyone was excited to see each other level up.
Students are rewarded for making improvements in the classroom not for just making A's or the top grades in the class. I incorporated behavior and reading into my version of the system. When my students made gains in any area, I would reward them with "Super Improver" Points. After students received 10 points, they would get to pull a reward out of the jar and they would level up on the "Super Improver" Wall. The tickets in the jar were for various classroom rewards from selecting GO Noodle brain break for the day to show-and-tell. Some of the rewards would be for the whole class. This added to the surprise element and made it fun!
At the end of the year the students that achieved the top place, Legend, had their picture taken and placed on my website on the Legend page and received a basket of some of their favorite things. Combining this system with Class Dojo made it easy to keep track of anywhere!
This system allowed all students a chance to earn rewards in my classroom and gave them bragging rights as they received a certificate for each level they achieved.
Great Resources:
Whole Brain Website
Teacher Pay Teachers