Fun Ways to Motivate Students to Achieve Goals

When it comes to a difficult task, it is hard to stay motivated!  Personally, I find it easier to motivate students to work hard at a common goal if they know what's in it for them.  Honestly, I have to set a personal reward so I work hard to achieve my goals.  While some may say that rewards-based incentives don't work, I say it builds discipline.  It makes the success so much sweeter when you know you can relish in your favorite episode of Real Housewives because you finished grading all the quizzes!  Click the image below to download this freebie for your classroom:

FREE WAYS TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS

-extra recess

-pajama day

-no homework pass

-lights off learning

-competitive indoor games

-principal / announcements shout out

-student choice music playlist

-kahoot

LOW COST WAYS TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS

-seasonal food related days (ex: National S'mores Day, Hot Cocoa, Lemonade, etc.)

-blow bubbles outside

-root beer floats

-teacher brings class snack

-Little Caesar's pizza party

-arts & crafts project

-donuts or donut holes for the class munchkins

-technology games (Heads Up - there is a free version also)

MATERIALS NEEDED TO CREATE YOUR "DONUT WORRY, WE GOT THIS!" TRACKER

(items below include affiliated links)

-brownie pan

-super magnets (if attaching pan to metal surface) or mounting tape (if attaching pan to other surfaces)

-magnetic tape (to attach to back of donuts & text)

-laminator & film (to preserve donuts & text)

Now that we have covered different ways to motivate your students to achieve goals, let's talk about how to track these goals.  You can use a system like filling up a small cake pan with magnetic donuts or brownies.  If you want the class to focus on role model behavior even when you are not around, then write it down and post this goal near the door to remind them. For example, the goal my class was working towards achieving was, "When given the option of being right or being kind, choose kind." in an attempt to promote responsibility and respect when interacting amidst differences in opinions.  This helped to minimize the class behavior issues my students were exhibiting in the form of petty arguments and squabbles after recess, specials or transitions.

Then, anytime the class receives a compliment from a special areas teacher, the principal, or a lunch duty aide for exceptional behavior, then a magnet can be placed in the pan!  Some teachers only require 12 to fill up the pan, but my class had to reach 15 to achieve their goal.  This visual tracker helps students notice how close or far they are from an incentive.  Also, another fun twist is making principal comments double the points, so they can earn twice the amount from an administrator!

As a class, we can keep track of goals using a tracker like the one below.  This is a sample page from my Student Goal Getter Data Binder kit.

Hispanic Heritage Month Picture Book Recommendations

Representation matters!

  You may feel like you have heard that phrase a lot this past summer, especially with the 2020 Census going on.  However, it really does.  When I think back to my childhood as a Mexican-American kid going to school in a predominately white neighborhood, it was hard for me to see people that looked like me achieving success.   With Hispanic Heritage Month starting this week, I am going to share some of my favorite classroom read alouds that celebrate my culture!

Aside from my parents, the working Hispanic adults around me during my elementary days were often seen as the landscaping and janitorial staff at my school.  Despite the fact that I went to a Spanish-named elementary school, I did not feel represented much except for the Friday mornings we all danced the Macarena (part of growing up in the 90s)!

It is amazing to me that the only Hispanic person I read about or learned about as being successful and making a difference in our country was Cesar Chavez (probably because he was born in my home state of Arizona).  The reading book list did offered diversity by exposing me to African Americans and their plight through slavery, but I didn't feel connected to my ancestors or read about people like me.  To help your Hispanic students feel represented, I encourage you to make time to incorporate Hispanic Heritage Month into your instructional day.  Just share about the life of one Hispanic leader a day, and in 10 minutes or less,you can build character education, classroom community, teach tolerance & embrace diversity! (I wish one of my teachers had done this when I was in elementary school.)

So, as an undergrad I earned my elementary ed degree with an emphasis in multiculturalism and began to build up a library with bilingual books.  First, I added in titles from people I knew: Gloria Estefan wrote a picture book about her dog, The Magically Mysterious Adventures of Noelle the Bulldog (so cute - I cherish this story because its theme is all about being true to yourself!)  

Then, my crush growing up, Oscar de la Hoya, wrote an inspiring bilingual picture book called Super Oscar (another win!)  

Later, I discovered Monica Brown and even attended some of her book signings when she was in town at the local bookstore for Me llamo Celia / My name is Celia. 

Of course, I had to own a copy of Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez which tells more about the life of Cesar Chavez.  I feel connected to him because he looks an awful lot like my paternal tios (uncles) and he died on my birthday, along with the AZ connection.  In my opinion, this book is a classic!

 This year, I've been adding to my collection again: Sebi and the Land of Cha Cha Cha (written by actress/singer, Roselyn Sanchez for her daughter), it is filled with beautiful, vivid illustrations that depict her island of Puerto Rico.

Dreamers is written by the amazing Yuyi Morales, so there's enough said.  It was hard for me to get through that one and keep a dry eye.  I recommend this when you want to share an inspiring read!

My latest addition is Selena: Queen of Tejano Music which I knew I had to have as soon as I knew it existed.  The text is very detailed and lengthy, it almost reminds me of a modern-day My Family by Sandra Cisneros.  However, it is all about the life of our beloved Selena Quintanilla!  

For the older students who want a novel to read independently, anything by Pam Munoz Ryan is great.  

-Esperanza Rising

-Becoming Naomi Leon

-Mañanaland is on my wishlist (it just came out in the spring of 2020) 

In case you missed it, I would like to share my Hispanic Heritage Month teaching slides with you.  I've already done the difficult planning and researching for you!  Each school day showcases a new Hispanic leader (wide variety of influencers from all walks of life: athletes, civil rights activists, entertainers, and intellects).  Not to mention, each Hispanic leader comes to life with a kid-friendly video clip for student engagement!  Click the image below if you are interested:

Respectfully representing,

Google Forms for Distance Learning

One of the hardest parts about distance learning is so much of the instructional materials become so dry and it's easy for students & teachers to lose interest.  When your students need a break from reading passages and you need to escape grading Google Classroom assignments, then rely on Google Forms for its amazing ability to self-correct questions!

Another struggle during distance learning is determining how to translate science instruction into an online learning platform.  So, I found the educational and engaging YouTube videos I would have shown to introduce a scientific concept in my brick & mortar classroom, and created, "Watch and Learn" activities.  Animal adaptations, animal behavior, extreme weather, earth and space science are all represented.

How Does It Work?

1. Simply assign the Google Form as a shared link or assignment in Google Classroom.

2. Students simply watch a 5 minute or less video clip on a nonfiction science topic (animal adaptations, tornadoes, volcanic lightning, etc.) and answer the 5-point question quiz.  

3. When they've finished answering the questions, they will receive immediate feedback on how well they understood the topic.  

It doesn't get much simpler to engage kids digitally with digestible, fun learning experiences!

Each Watch and Learn set includes 5 digital learning activities for Google Forms.  You can assign one each day, or you can assign it once a week so it becomes something your class can earn for attendance (or whatever you're trying to work towards as a team goal)!  

If you are interested in sampling these Google Forms Watch and Learn activities, you can try the End of Year set for free (available here.)  Teachers and students alike love these Google Forms digital learning activities!

If you would like to incorporate these distance learning activities into your lesson plans and score the best deal possible, check out the bundled set with 30 Google Forms!