For my 3rd and 5th graders my
co-teacher and I have a homework, preparation and attitude chart in the front
of the class. The students are broken up into teams. Each team has the
responsibility to do their homework, bring their pencil cases, notebooks and
textbooks. If the students have these things they can have check marks for homework
and preparation. For attitude marks, the goal can change from each class. For example,
one class will gain marks for their concentration in listening, others can gain
points for just turning to the correct page in the textbook. So, the attitude
points are based within the mood of the class that day.
The point of all this is to gain “magic balls” in their
classroom jars. If you receive marks in homework, preparation and attitude for
the day, the team will receive a sticker for each goal. At the end of the week,
the team that collects 6 stickers will have gained a “magic ball” for their
class jar. Unknown to the students, there will be a special reward at the end
of the month for the each grade that has the most “magic balls” in their jar.
My co-teacher and I choose this set up so it holds the
students responsible for doing their homework, preparation and to participate. We
hope that this helps promote a long working effort for the students to better
themselves each day. Not only does it provide teamwork, but also healthy
competition among the teams within the class and the grades.
So far, the system is working and they students are
becoming prepared and raising their hands more during class time. I hope the
moral message being sent is that each person’s hard work can benefit others as
well. Also, working for a long term goal instead or being rewarded instantly
helps them gain an internal perspective that the best things are ones you wait
for.
At this moment, the biggest obstacles are students that
do not participate or are dominated by more advanced students. Rules in this
case can be changed for the students who do not actively participate. I could
pick random “star” students from each team (making sure it was a
low-participator), and the “star” student can gain 2 bonus points every time
they try to answer. This way, they know that they are important and try to help
their team.
I wonder what the Korean education system's stance is on the intrinsic versus extrinsic rewards debate. Does your co-teacher embrace the "magic balls", or does she want students to develop their own personal motivations to learn English?
ReplyDeleteHaha, I want everyone to embrace the 'magic balls'... All jokes side... the entire Korean education system itself is based on extrinsic values. Everything at the end of the rainbow for Korean students is having a job and creating a family that society deems proper. The point of the set-up in my class is to promote competition, teamwork and working for long term rewards as opposed to instant gratification. Hopefully by the end of the year the students can internalize what they have achieved rather than what they have won.
DeleteVictor - this is awfully similar to your reading homework question, obviously. effect ion must be about teaching practice - the specific details of things that happen in class, with specific students. This is fa too general to qualify as reflection on teaching practice. I am growing a little concerned that you haven't begun reflecting, in the real sense of the word...
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