This week was a fun week at school. As you know Wednesday was Halloween, so we decorated bags for the kids to take out trick or treating. Then I handed out candy to them in little individual pumpkin bags. They were so grateful! I also gave them each a Fall pencil. You would have thought that I had given them a sack of gold! The were so excited! It was very sweet!
Then today we had a little "Reward celebration" I promised that I would bake them brownies if they showed 10 acts of kindness. They have really been struggling with kindness and so we were trying to work towards that goal as we reviewed Ephesians 4:32 "Be Kind and Compassionate one to another. Forgiving one another, even as God forgave you in Christ." So they reached their goal yesterday. So last night I baked them brownies. Again, they thought I was the BEST for baking something (even though it came from a box)
We also took a little trip to a local park. We have no playground of our own. So this was something special! They earned this treat by getting at least a C or above as a class on 10 tests. It was hard and took a while, but they finally got there. It was so fun to reward them with those special treats today. Some may call this bribing, but i like to call it creating incentive!
11 comments:
WOW! Way to go Julie! I love your creativity in working with your class on their character and academic challenges. Great ideas!
By the way, your new profile picture is just GORGEOUS!
Julie, people who call that bribing aren't realizing that many of us in life work for the purpose of earning something in the end...not just personal satisfaction. In this case you were even teaching working together, supporting one another, and challenging each other to work towards a common goal and thus earn a reward as a group. I think it's great that you did these things for your class and I'm sure it helped you in the long run in getting your objectives accomplished. Good for you! :)
Thanks Suz... that is such an encouragement! Some of the ideas actually came from Mom Baylor :o) All that experience in teaching is helping me out. Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it. I know that you know what it is like in a tough classroom.
it sounds like you're doing such a good job with your class. i can't believe how much it sounds like the missionfield with the kids not having anything and even boxed brownies and pencil thrills them =) i'm proud of you and for all that you're sacrificing to work in a tough place. i love reading about your class, so keep the posts coming. =) love and miss you. by the way, your pictures of you and tim in the fall are beautiful!!
love,
beck
I too am very proud of you. Those are fantastic things to work toward - things that are hard to do when we are only trying to teach to a test. It makes me smile to think of their gratefullness - remember last year looking for end of the year gifts knowing that a pencil wouldn't make your previous students excited. God is good to us. He gives us all good things in His time.
You are such a great teacher!
Those are very good ideas. I am sure you are a wonderful teacher!! I remember that when I baked chocolate brownies for my students when they filled a marble job, one of my kids remarked, "Miss Varner, you are such a great cook...you make the best double chocolate chip brownies!!" To which I laughed on the inside thinking theses are just box brownies. I am so glad that you were able to have a great week with your kids. These are the kinds of things that make teaching so worth it and so much fun and get you through the hard times. Keep up the good work in touching these students' lives for the Lord.
Thanks for all of the encouragement guys... I really needed it this crazy monday morning!
Ha! I love it! It is great that the still appreciate the small things in life. It makes your bribery, um, I mean incentives work so much better. Believe me girl, I knew all about incentives!!! Hello Fun Friday!!
Oh, by the way, love the picture of you and Tim! You guys are so cute! I miss you!
Hey, Julie,
Sharon Eilers here. Ben talks about "Baylor" all the time, and when he does I wonder what you are up to. I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying those 4th grade "bundles of joy"! : )
Way to go girl! All your creativity is amazing and look at how God is blessing all your hard work and patience!
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